Insurance for a yoga / fitness studio: what you need + typical cost.

For your business: GL + Property bundle is standard for studios. Add participant accident coverage as a rider.

What it covers in general: A Business Owners Policy bundles General Liability and Commercial Property into a single, discounted policy. Often includes business interruption insurance as well.

Typical annual cost: $750–$1,800 (median $990) · Insureon, Small Business Insurance Cost

For your business: Slip/fall, equipment injuries, and property damage to participants are standard GL exposures for studios.

What it covers in general: Covers claims of bodily injury or property damage that your business causes to others — a customer slipping in your shop, or a contractor accidentally breaking a client's window.

Typical annual cost: $500–$1,560 (median $540) · Insureon, General Liability Cost

For your business: Instructor errors causing student injury (spinal, joint injury from incorrect adjustments) are malpractice claims.

What it covers in general: Covers claims that your professional advice, service, or work product caused a financial loss to a client — also called Errors & Omissions (E&O) or malpractice insurance.

Typical annual cost: $700–$1,500 (median $876) · Insureon, Professional Liability Cost

For your business: Studios with employed instructors must carry workers comp. Independent contractors are typically excluded — verify.

What it covers in general: Pays for medical expenses and lost wages if an employee is injured or becomes ill because of their job. Also protects your business from employee lawsuits over workplace injuries.

Typical annual cost: $1,200–$8,000 (median $2,500) · Insureon, Workers Compensation Cost

For your business: Mats, equipment, mirrors, sound systems, and buildout are significant assets that need protection.

What it covers in general: Covers your physical business assets — building (if you own it), equipment, inventory, and furniture — against fire, theft, vandalism, and certain weather events.

Typical annual cost: $970–$1,570 (median $1,270) · Insureon, Commercial Property Cost

For your business: Member management software, class booking systems, and payment processing create data exposure.

What it covers in general: Covers losses from data breaches, ransomware attacks, and cyber fraud — including notification costs, credit monitoring for affected customers, legal fees, and regulatory fines.

Typical annual cost: $1,440–$2,160 (median $1,800) · Insureon, Cyber Liability Cost

For your business: Not needed unless the studio operates transportation for retreats or events.

What it covers in general: Covers vehicles used for business purposes — work trucks, vans, cars driven to client sites — against accidents, liability, and damage. Personal auto policies specifically exclude commercial use.

Typical annual cost: $1,760–$2,940 (median $2,350) · Insureon, Commercial Auto Cost

For your business: A serious studio injury could lead to claims exceeding standard GL limits.

What it covers in general: Adds an extra layer of liability coverage above your GL, Professional Liability, and/or Auto limits. Pays claims that exceed your primary policy limits.

Typical annual cost: $750–$1,500 (median $1,030) · Insureon, Umbrella Liability Cost

What's the difference between studio insurance and individual instructor insurance?

Studio insurance protects the business entity and the physical space. Individual instructor insurance follows the instructor wherever they teach. Many studios require their teaching contractors to carry their own individual policy on top of the studio policy — it's standard practice.

Do I need different coverage for hot yoga vs regular yoga?

Hot yoga has higher claim frequency (heat illness, dehydration, slips on wet floors) and most carriers price it 15-30% higher than ambient yoga. Disclose the hot-yoga component when applying — concealing it can void the policy at claim time. Some carriers won't write hot yoga at all; specialty markets (Alternative Risk Solutions, USLI) typically will.

How does workers comp work for a studio with mostly 1099 instructor contractors?

Same warning as for cleaning services and personal trainers: many states classify regular instructors as workers regardless of 1099 status, especially if they teach a fixed schedule. Worker's comp on instructors is typically $500-$1,500/year per instructor — much cheaper than a misclassification audit.