Insureon's pet groomer customers paid a median $50 a month ($598 a year) for general liability and $80 a month ($962 a year) for a business owner's policy (BOP), and $88 a month ($1,057 a year) for workers' comp (Insureon, updated July 10, 2025). Which policies a grooming business needs, including cover for the pets in your care, is in our dog groomer insurance guide. This page is about price.
Mobile groomers pay more for general liability: a median $65 a month ($780 a year) among Insureon's mobile groomer customers, before any commercial auto for the van. MoneyGeek, which models quotes rather than reporting what customers paid, puts a fixed-location shop at $59 a month on average across six coverages.
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How much does each policy cost a groomer?
A BOP is the policy most shops start with, because it bundles general liability with cover for tables, tubs, dryers and stock. These are Insureon's figures for its own customers, read from its groomer and mobile groomer cost pages on October 10, 2026.
| Policy | Shop groomers, per month | Shop groomers, per year | Mobile groomers, per month | Mobile groomers, per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability | $50 | $598 | $65 | $780 |
| Business owner's policy (BOP) | $80 | $962 | $80 | $956 |
| Workers' compensation | $88 | $1,057 | $97 | $1,160 |
| Errors and omissions (professional liability) | $88 | $1,051 | $88 | $1,051 |
| Cyber | $129 | $1,552 | $129 | $1,552 |
| Commercial auto | $245 | $2,942 | $245 | $2,942 |
Sources: Insureon groomer costs (updated July 10, 2025) and Insureon mobile groomer costs (updated July 11, 2025). Insureon's headings call these averages; its method note says they are the median cost of policies for pet groomers (or mobile pet groomers) who apply for quotes with Insureon. General liability and the BOP are at $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, with a $500 BOP deductible for shops and $375 for mobile groomers. Insureon describes the errors and omissions, cyber and commercial auto figures as costs for small businesses including groomers, and the mobile workers' comp figure as the cost for pet care businesses including mobile groomers, not groomer-only medians.
A BOP includes general liability, so you buy one or the other. For mobile groomers without an office, Insureon says business personal property cover, added to a general liability policy, may fit better than a BOP. Workers' comp only applies once you hire; see the workers' comp cost guide for how it's priced.
What does MoneyGeek's model say?
MoneyGeek models prices instead of reporting what customers paid. Its general liability figure is higher than Insureon's and its workers' comp figure lower.
| Policy | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Professional liability | $30 | $356 |
| Workers' comp | $34 | $403 |
| Commercial property | $35 | $418 |
| Cyber | $75 | $895 |
| General liability | $79 | $949 |
| Commercial auto | $102 | $1,230 |
| Average across all six | $59 | $709 |
Source: MoneyGeek dog grooming insurance cost, updated September 14, 2026, read October 10, 2026. These are modeled averages for a fixed-location shop with one to four employees, built from just over 6 million standardized estimates across 10 major insurers, at $1 million / $2 million general liability limits and state-minimum commercial auto.
The two sources answer different questions. Insureon reports the middle of what its groomer customers bought; MoneyGeek prices a standard shop at standard limits in every state. Use Insureon to see what groomers who buy through it actually pay and MoneyGeek to see how price shifts by state.
Is a pet in your care covered, and what does that cost?
Usually not by general liability alone. Insureon says that because of the care, custody and control exclusion, pet grooming businesses aren't covered for pet injuries under general liability, and that animal bailee coverage can be added to the policy as an endorsement to fill the gap. None of the cost sources above publishes a price for it, so get it quoted on its own line.
Questions to ask your insurer:
- Does my quote include animal bailee cover, and what is the limit per animal and per year?
- Does it cover illness, escape and death as well as injury?
- Is there a separate deductible?
- Does it apply in my van and at clients' homes, not just in the shop?
- Does it cover boarding or daycare if I add them?
The dog groomer insurance guide explains how this gap works.
What moves your price?
What you offer, how many dogs you handle, who works for you and where you operate move the price most.
- Services. Insureon and MoneyGeek both name the services you offer. MoneyGeek says treatments beyond cuts and baths, such as medicated dips, teeth cleaning or de-shedding, change your risk profile.
- Dog volume and breeds. MoneyGeek says more dogs a day means more exposure to bites, allergic reactions and property damage, and that shops regularly handling large or aggressive breeds may face a surcharge or higher required limits.
- Staff. Insureon lists the number of employees. MoneyGeek says whether you employ groomers or rent stations to independent contractors affects both your obligations and your exposure.
- Mobile or shop. Insureon's mobile groomer customers paid $65 a month for general liability against $50 for shop groomers, and a van adds commercial auto.
- Owning or leasing. MoneyGeek says an owned building needs property cover for its full replacement cost; a tenant insures equipment, supplies and improvements.
- State. MoneyGeek's modeled general liability average runs from $34 a month in Arkansas to $153 in Rhode Island, workers' comp from $21 a month per employee in South Dakota to $80 in California, and commercial auto is highest in Michigan at $196 a month per vehicle.
- Equipment, revenue, limits and deductibles. All on Insureon's list.
How can you lower your premium?
MoneyGeek and Insureon name these levers:
- Compare quotes on the same limits. MoneyGeek says to give every insurer the same per-occurrence limit, aggregate limit and deductible, so you compare price, not coverage.
- Right-size your cover. MoneyGeek suggests reviewing staff count, weekly volume and service mix before renewal.
- Bundle general liability and property with one insurer. MoneyGeek says that typically lowers the combined premium, and Insureon says a BOP typically costs less than buying the two separately.
- Pay annually if your insurer charges installment fees for monthly payments (MoneyGeek).
- Cut incidents. MoneyGeek suggests signed intake forms flagging breed and bite history, non-slip matting, restraint training and regular hazard walk-throughs.
- Classify employees correctly and run a risk management plan to keep workers' comp down (Insureon).
Online insurers that sell groomer insurance
If you'd rather buy direct online, these sell cover to grooming businesses. Compare at least two on the same limits.
ERGO NEXT has a pet grooming page covering general liability, workers' comp and commercial property, and says you can save up to 10% when you bundle two or more of its policies (NEXT).
biBERK sells direct to small businesses, without brokers, and lists pet services among the businesses it insures. It is part of the Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group, whose major insurance subsidiaries are rated A++ by AM Best, and it says buying direct can cost up to 20% less (biBERK).
Coverdash shows real-time quotes from more than 40 carriers side by side and lets you download a certificate of insurance once you buy (Coverdash). Confirm the carriers it shows will add animal bailee cover.
Get your own price
Have your services, dogs per day, staff and payroll, equipment and van values, and any past claims ready, using the business insurance quote checklist. Then compare business insurance quotes from more than one insurer, and ask each about animal bailee cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does dog grooming insurance cost per month?
Insureon's pet groomer customers paid a median $50 a month for general liability and $80 for a BOP, plus $88 a month for workers' comp if they had staff. MoneyGeek's modeled average for a fixed-location shop is $59 a month across six coverages.
How much does dog grooming insurance cost per year?
At Insureon's medians, $598 a year for general liability, $962 for a BOP and $1,057 for workers' comp. MoneyGeek's modeled average works out to $709 a year across six coverages.
How much more does mobile grooming insurance cost?
Insureon's mobile groomer customers paid a median $65 a month for general liability against $50 for shop groomers, and $97 a month for workers' comp against $88. A van also needs commercial auto, which Insureon puts at $245 a month for small businesses including mobile groomers.
Does general liability cover a pet injured while I'm grooming it?
Insureon says no: the care, custody and control exclusion leaves pet injuries out of general liability, and animal bailee cover can be added as an endorsement. No published source gives a price for it, so get it quoted.
Why is my quote higher than the median?
Insureon's medians come from groomers who apply for quotes through one marketplace. Extra services, high dog volume, large or aggressive breeds, staff, a van, a high-cost state or past claims can all push your price up.
