As a newly started personal fitness coach, you might wonder how to ensure you are safe at work. The fitness industry in the United States has grown immensely lately. Fitness training has become a lucrative job. You help others lead healthier lives while being a part of one of the growing markets in post-pandemic America.
As lucrative as it is, gym coaching comes with certain risks, too. Purchasing a solid insurance policy is essential to stay protected at all times. After all, this job involves dealing with heavy weights and strenuous exercises that might lead to unwanted accidents. Customer dissatisfaction is also a fundamental factor to consider.
But there’s no need to dread this – many companies provide fitness instructor insurance. We will look at the two most common types of insurance policies – general and professional liability, and help you choose the right one for your job. Read on to learn more about what separates general and professional liability insurance.
General Liability Insurance (GLI)
General liability insurance is the foundation of any successful fitness instructor. It is a US-specific type of policy, often described as the first line of business coverage. As the name suggests, it covers all risks typically occurring during a fitness coaching program.
This type of policy mainly applies to property damage and injuries occurring to you or your client. Whether you are working as part of a gym or solo, you need it to stay protected in case of unwanted situations.
What Does General Liability Insurance Cover?
GLI can help you cover any type of unforeseen complications. Imagine a weight torn falling apart during a workout session with a client, or they trip and damage a venue’s flooring. This insurance policy will deal with repair costs, potential medical expenses, and settlements.
Furthermore, a GLI can also protect from harsh realities like break-ins and stolen equipment. Depending on the specifics of the policy, general liability insurance can also help you in unforeseen setbacks. Muscle tears or other injuries during client sessions can put you back for weeks or months, significantly impacting your work. The policy is broad, which is good, as it acts as a “general” safety net that keeps your business afloat during difficult times.
Professional Liability Insurance (PLI)
Professional liability insurance is more of a precision tool in your kit than general coverage. Also found under the name “malpractice insurance,” it provides financial protection in the face of legal challenges emerging from your professional decisions. Simply put, professional liability insurance keeps your image intact when it’s under scrutiny. It protects against unsatisfied customers and other claims of negligence made by your clients.
What Does Professional Liability Insurance Cover?
Fitness professionals are tasked with a tough job. They must deliver the desired results to their clients, but the delivery depends on the customer’s will and effort. As you might be able to tell, this can often lead to dissatisfaction that is not entirely or even remotely your fault. A client might also claim negligence if injured during a workout. These claims can result in court-mandated refunds. They also hurt your brand and repel potential future clients.
PLI for fitness trainers will cover all costs related to the above scenarios. It activates after a claim against your business has been made. You can best recognize it by wordings such as “negligent act” or “negligent error.” If proven applicable, the policy will reimburse you for all losses arising from those claims. Besides dissatisfaction and negligence clauses, this insurance also covers situations like discrimination lawsuits, missed deadlines, and other breaches of contract.
Comparing the Two Types of Fitness Instructor Insurance
For fitness instructors, differing between general and professional liability insurance can be tricky, especially since many insurance companies provide both types of insurance under one policy. But to better understand them, look at it this way:
- General insurance is a policy used by all types of businesses. It protects you from unfortunate events outside your control that can happen at any time.
- Professional insurance protects you from unsatisfactory clients whose dissatisfaction stems purely from your personal and professional decisions. It has a smaller but more precise scope.
While general liability covers a broad spectrum, professional liability focuses on the specifics of your fitness guidance. The two may fall under the same pretext but often come as separate options. The main reason companies distinguish them is the activation clause. GLI is typically activated after an occurrence, while PLI is only activated after a claim by a client has been made.
Do You Need Both?
Now, the question isn’t which one of these insurance policies is better. It is a decision on how best to incorporate both liabilities into one insurance policy. You need a strategy to ensure you cover all bases for your future fitness coaching career.
Whether renting gym locations or providing training sessions in private facilities, general liability insurance is necessary. Fitness equipment is not cheap, and you don’t want to rely on it forever enduring the tasking workouts.
A professional liability policy, in contrast, may look less urgent. However, you never know what future clients you will be working with. Risking potential brand damage is not worth the cost of a yearly PLI. That’s why finding a company that offers them as one or creating a combination of both is the way to go. The expenses might be more significant upfront, but the long-term benefits are invaluable.
Key Takeaways
In the fast-paced fitness world, every step matters. Here, insurance is like your workout buddy. It will help you navigate challenges and build your brand for the future. With two main types of insurance policy available – a general and professional liability, you should combine the two for best results. One will cover misfortunate costs, while the other will protect your image from negligence claims.
Whether teaching yoga on the beach or leading intense workouts, having both types of insurance is like having a well-planned workout routine. It covers all bases, is balanced, and prepares you for success. So, in the world of fitness instructor insurance, the answer to “Do you need both?” is a definite YES.
If you have any remaining questions about these fitness instructor insurance policies, do not hesitate to contact our team at API Fitness. We can help you create the best policy depending on your needs and preferences, so contact us at your earliest convenience.
