There are several types of business insurance you should compare if you run a martial arts school, studio or gym. These include:
Professional indemnity insurance
Teaching martial arts will always involve the risk of a student getting hurt, which could lead to a claim that the fitness advice you provided or techniques you taught were negligent or resulted in a personal injury. As such, professional indemnity insurance is essential for all martial arts instructors and is often a requirement to hire a studio or gym or to conduct classes in open spaces, such as a council-owned park.
This type of insurance policy covers you against claims that the teaching service you provided was negligent or fell short of expected professional standards. Cover is available starting from $2 million but can extend up to $10 million or more.
What it covers
- Cover for your legal defence costs
- Payment of compensation if there’s a successful claim against you
- Payment of court-awarded damages to the litigant
- Cover for the cost of disciplinary proceedings or accident investigations
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is also essential for anyone running a martial arts school or studio. It will cover you against claims that your business activity caused injury to a member of the public or damaged their property. This insurance can offer cover ranging from $5 million up to $20 million.
Since there can be some overlap between professional indemnity and public liability insurance, having both types of insurance as part of a package with the same insurer can make the process of submitting a claim far simpler.
What it covers:
- Third-party personal injury claims
- Damage to a third party’s property
- Legal fees to defend yourself
General business insurance
General business insurance may also be worthwhile if you have a training studio or fitness equipment to protect as part of your martial arts business.
This can include portable equipment insurance, which will cover all your training equipment if you do offer classes in the open air or public parks. Commercial vehicles aren’t included as part of this business insurance, so you may need separate commercial vehicle protection if you have a work vehicle or van which you use to transport your training equipment.
What it covers:
- Fire, storms, theft, vandalism and collision that cause damage to your business assets
- Specialist cover for portable equipment
Limited business interruption insurance