Working as a Personal Trainer can be hugely rewarding. Doing something you love, working with the public, helping them to achieve their goals, and knowing that you helped them do that.
However, something you may not have thought about when it comes to your personal trainer career is the insurances that you require before you start out. Like any job when you work with the public, you need to know you’re protected should anything go wrong.
Below, we take a look at everything you need to know about Personal Trainer Insurance, from why you need it to the types of questions you should be asking when choosing your personal trainer insurance.
Why you need personal trainer insurance
If you’re wondering why you require insurance, think of it in the same way as you would a car. After all, you wouldn’t drive without insurance as it would leave you financially vulnerable, and personal trainer insurance acts in the same way, giving you:
– Security
– Protection
– Safety
– Help
– Confidence
– Coverage
Depending on the type of personal trainer insurance you have, you’ll be protected from:
– Injury
– Illness
– Damage to property and/or equipment
– Harassment claims
– Professional negligence claims
What to ask beforehand
Like any insurance policy, personal trainer insurance isn’t a one size fits all situation, and you need to ensure you’re covered for what you need.
Therefore, when shopping for a personal trainer insurance policy, you should be asking the following questions:
- Is my offering covered?
Most providers will cover fitness classes and one-to-one training sessions, but, if you’re an online trainer, train outside or offer something very niche, it may not be included.
- Will I be covered if I’m injured?
If you became injured yourself and are unable to work, your income will be hugely affected, therefore, you need to ensure you’re covered should such a situation occur.
- What is the excess?
If you have an excess, you’ll have to pay a small amount if you make a claim against your policy. It’s worth checking how much this is, and remember, the lower the excess, the more expensive your insurance premium will cost.
- Am I covered for legal expenses?
Interestingly, not all personal trainer insurance policies include this. It’s worth checking the small print because legal costs can be expensive and even work out higher than the claim itself.
And remember, if you aren’t qualified, you can’t get insurance, so don’t try and fit in any extra practice sessions in until you have those certificates in your possession.
The types of personal trainer insurance
Now that you know why you need it and what you need to be looking for when getting a policy, let’s take a look at the types of insurance you’ll need as a personal trainer.
Overall, there are five key types of personal trainer insurance, which are:
– liability insurance
– Professional indemnity insurance
– Sports equipment/premises cover
– Personal accident cover
– Loss of earnings cover
So, let’s take a deeper look at what these are.
Personal trainer liability insurance
At the very least, you’ll need this as it’ll cover you against claims made against you, which could include:
– Bodily injuries such as a torn ligament, sprain, or broken bone
– Claims of sexual harassment or sexual assault
– Product liability coverage, which applies to products and equipment such as resistance bands or recommended supplements
– Medical payments
While this is the minimum level of insurance you’ll need, it actually comes in two sections, which we’ve broken down below:
- Employer liability personal trainer insurance
This won’t apply to most personal trainers as you’ll be a sole trader. Instead, this only becomes relevant if you employ other members of staff.
- Public liability personal trainer insurance
This type of insurance covers you against claims made against you by third parties, such as a claim made by a client following an injury as a result of bad equipment.
Professional indemnity insurance
Even if you’ve done nothing wrong, if a client feels you’ve provided bad advice or guidance, they could make a claim against you. Defending these claims can be costly, which is where this insurance comes in to help. It’s always advised to ensure this is included within your policy.
Business premises and contents insurance for personal trainers
If you operate your own premises you’ll want to ensure it’s safe, in the same way you would your home. The same applies to the equipment inside or equipment you take with you to other premises. These can be expensive and you’ll want to ensure they are protected should they be damaged or stolen.
Personal Accident cover
Anyone can experience an injury, whether you’ve been doing the job for 12 months or 12 years, which is why you need to ensure you’re covered should you suffer a personal injury, regardless of its severity.
However, many insurers will only cover you if the injury is sustained on the job, so be sure to read the small print.
Loss of earnings cover
If you are injured and it prevents you from working, your earnings will suffer, and this will help to provide financial support whilst you’re unable to work.
While insurance may seem daunting, as you can see, once you know what you’re looking for it isn’t too difficult, and will ensure you’re protected while working your dream job.
To find out more about becoming a personal trainer, get in touch with Focus Training today.
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