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Tailor Insurance

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What Is Tailor Insurance?

Tailors Insurance is a type of commercial insurance that protects tailoring businesses from financial loss. It covers risks like public liability, equipment damage, and employee injuries.

In the UK, 99% of private businesses are SMEs, yet half are underinsured. While not legally required, many venues and markets demand liability insurance before renting space, making it essential for tailors.

Consider these scenarios:

  • You spill something on an expensive bridal gown and ruin it.
  • A customer trips over a cable in your shop and threatens legal action.

Tailor insurance protects you from these unexpected events, helping you stay focused on your craft without the stress of financial loss.

Why Do I Need Tailor Insurance?

Whether you run a tailoring business or work alone, the workload and responsibility can be stressful. You handle customers’ valuable garments daily, meaning you’re accountable if something goes wrong. Even minor claims can be expensive, which is why tailor insurance is essential to protect you from unexpected costs and give you peace of mind.

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Security Of Your Business

Unexpected Risks & Claims

Unfortunately, many tailors don’t realise the need for insurance until it is too late. You can’t expect your work to be risk-free. Consider this scenario: You're using the sewing machine to finish stitching the hem of a client's fancy suit. The cloth snags and tears, resulting in permanent damage to the trousers.

Your client decides to sue you for the damages. Your public liability insurance will cover the cost of replacing the suit. That’s how it will allow you to resume your business without any strain.

Public Liability Client Claims Business Continuity
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Protection Against Client Injury Claims

Injury & Compensation Costs

You also need insurance because clients frequently visit your shops for fittings and consultations. Comprehensive liability insurance protects you in case they get hurt at your premises. It covers the cost of compensation and legal claims resulting from such injury.

For example, a client is trying on a suit you've altered. He accidentally trips over a measuring tape left on the floor. He needs immediate medical attention. After medical diagnosis, the X-ray scans show that he has fractured his wrist.

Without insurance, you are responsible for his medical expenses. Similarly, the client might demand compensation for the lost wages. However, having the right insurance can cover all these claims for you.

Client Safety Compensation Liability Cover
3

Safeguard Your Expensive Equipment

Tools & Machinery Protection

Professional tools like sewing machines, sergers, specialised irons, and other equipment are very expensive. But they are also very important for your business.

Consider this: You're completing a rush order for a wedding party. Your industrial sewing machine breaks down. Now, without it, you can't complete the order on time. It will result in not only losing the client but future referrals as well. However, insurance for tailors ensures that you can quickly repair or replace these tools if they get damaged or stolen.

Equipment Breakdowns Repair & Replacement
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Defend Your Intellectual Property

Designs & Legal Costs

Your unique patterns, designs, and techniques are valuable intellectual property. The tailor's insurance can cover legal costs if:
• Someone infringes on your designs
• You're accused of infringing on others' rights

For instance, you've developed a unique pattern for a popular signature jacket. After some time, you discover that a competitor is using the same pattern and claiming it as their own. You can sue them for infringement. This insurance will help you by covering all the legal fees incurred following the claim.

IP Protection Design Rights Legal Defence

What Are The Different Types Of Tailor Insurance?

Public Liability Insurance

This insurance is essential if a third party suffers injury or the property of any member of the public is damaged because of you. It protects your interests and is very crucial for tailors who interact with the people in their shop or home studio. This insurance provides coverage in the following scenarios:

A customer came with a relative to your boutique to clear out payments. The piece of fabric on the ground causes him to slip sustaining an injury. As it deals with a public member, this insurance will cover the compensation costs of hospital and related claims.
You accidentally damage a client’s property while working at their home for a fitting. This insurance would cover the repair or replacement costs.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

PI insurance provides you coverage if the client suffers any kind of loss due to your mistake. It can either be your negligence or due to the wrong advice you gave. It is particularly essential for small businesses. The insurance will provide complete coverage, so you don’t have to worry about unexpected losses.
As a tailor, you mostly design pieces and offer advice, so this insurance could be great for you. It protects you if your customer is dissatisfied with your designs. It also helps you if they face a loss because of your mistake.

For example, you’re commissioned to create a suit for a wedding. Now, the client claims it doesn’t meet the agreed specifications. To provide you with coverage and support, this insurance will pay for legal costs or any other related compensation

Legal Expenses Insurance

This insurance covers the costs if someone sues you or if you need to make a claim against someone else. Here are the scenarios covered by legal expenses insurance:

Nature of Scenarios Instances
Contract Disputes with ClientsYour client refuses to pay for a wedding suit. Legal insurance can help by recovering unpaid invoices if you file a claim.
Trademark DisputesAnother tailor opens a shop with the same name as yours. They ignore your cease and desist letter. The legal expenses insurance would cover the costs of protecting your brand identity through formal legal proceedings.
Employment DisputesOne of your employees claims they were unfairly dismissed. Despite documenting the cause, they file a claim against you. This insurance will protect your interests here.
Property DisputesYour landlord attempts to increase your shop’s rent beyond your lease agreement. Legal insurance will cover the cost of legal advice and proceedings if the case goes to court. 
Tax InvestigationsHMRC launches an investigation into your business tax returns. Insurance will pay for legal representation. 

Employers' Liability Insurance:

If you have employees, either full-time, part-time or temporary, you’ll need employers liability insurance. It provides coverage for claims made by employees if they’re hurt because of work.

Imagine this: a seamstress who has worked for you for several years is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. She sues you, claiming that this occupational injury is a result of a bad work schedule.

Now, the employers’ liability insurance would cover:

  • Compensation claims like medical fees.
  • Legal defence costs if the case goes to court.

Product Liability Insurance:

Liability insurance for products becomes crucial for tailors who want to sell their creations or modify customers’ garments. You can receive protection when your products cause harm to a customer’s property or well-being.
For instance, you designed a bridal dress using an uncommon fibre blend. On her wedding day, the bride develops a severe allergic reaction to it. She requires immediate medical attention. This ruins her special day.
Now, the client is suing you for negligence. The resulting compensation cost can put a strain on your financial condition. However, if you have product liability insurance, it will act as a safeguard. It will cover the following for you:

  •  Medical costs
  • Legal representation if case goes to court
  • Penalty or fine

Building Insurance

Building insurancecovers buildings (walls, floors, roof, and often permanent fixtures like built-in cupboards, plumbing, or electrical systems) if something goes wrong. This insurance typically covers:
  • Repair or damage brought on by an explosion, hurricane, or violence
  • Fixtures and parts that sustain corrosion
  • If you are in charge of the underground wires and pipelines

For instance, a tailor rents a small boutique situated in Manchester. One night, a severe electrical fault starts a fire, which destroys the walls, floor, built-in wardrobes, and the reception counter. While the fire is contained, the building experiences extensive smoke and structural damage.
If the lease agreement expects the tenant to pay for internal structural repairs, the tailor may find itself spending thousands of pounds on repairs and temporary closure while it rebuilds.

But if you have building insurance, it will pay for the repair of the building structure, smoke damage remediation and even temporary accommodations so the business can continue without interruption. The tailor only pays for any excess that has been agreed upon.

Content Insurance

This insurance is applied in case something happens to your fixtures, operational equipment or fittings. Whether your business is based at home, online, or on the high street, you should have contents insurance for businesses for anticipated risks.

Claims covered by this insurance against your business may include:

  • A vintage glass cabinet is badly damaged, followed by a break-in at your premises. Such insurance will cover the expense of repairing or changing damaged equipment and the recovery of any stolen items, enabling you to reopen sooner.
  • A leaking radiator damages some office furniture, which needs to be replaced or restored. The cost of replacing the furniture will be paid by contents insurance, so you can get back to work without the stress of an added bill.

Tax Enquiry Insurance

Tax enquiry insurance (also referred to as tax investigation insurance) protects you against the professional costs associated with dealing with an HMRC enquiry or investigation.
The review processTax Enquiry Insurance from HMRC is long, stressful and expensive, even without any wrongdoing. This insurance will help you to pay for the accountants or lawyers to handle the enquiry in your name. It will cover

  • Accountant’s fees during an HMRC investigation
  • Legal representation (if required)
  • Enquiries into VAT, PAYE, income tax and corporation tax.
    Consider a situation where David has a tailoring shop and files his taxes properly each year. However, HMRC flags one return for review due to inconsistencies in expense claims.
    David hasn’t done anything wrong, but he needs professional help in responding in the right way. His accountant’s fees are taken care of by his tax enquiry insurance, saving him hundreds of pounds and giving him peace of mind throughout the process.

What Are The
Optional Add-ons for Tailor Insurance?

You can tailor your policy according to your requirements by adding the following covers.

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Tools Insurance

Tool insurance protects your business if essential equipment is accidentally lost, stolen or damaged on your premises. It can also cover portable equipment such as laptops, mobile phones or cameras.

For example, you’ve bought a new embroidery machine. During an important corporate order, the machine breaks down. Without insurance, you’d not only lose the cost of repairs but also the income.
Equipment breakdown insurance will cover both the repair and lost income.

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Goods in Transit Insurance

Insurance for goods in transit protects goods from theft, loss, or damage while they are being driven from one location to another for commercial purposes

The cover is very important for businesses like tailoring shops that send or receive valuable items like customer garments, fabrics, sewing machines or custom clothing.

Consider the following situation,

A tailor in Leeds, Lina, sends a batch of custom-made suits to a corporate client through a courier. On the way, the delivery van is broken into, and the parcel is stolen. Lina would have to remake the suits at her own cost if there was no goods-in-transit insurance.

But, with her policy, her lost items have full value covered by her, which she can then replace without financial loss.

This cover does not include normal wear and tear, poor packaging or handling by the sender or delays or indirect losses (unless specifically included)

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Short-term Income Protection

This insurance gives you a financial safety net if a sickness or accident prevents you from working. The income of tailors is often dependent on whether they can physically sew, cut, fit and meet client deadlines, so any interruption to health will cost them money.

This is a type of policy that guarantees you get a fixed income for a fixed period, generally ranging from 6 months to 1 year, before you are qualified to get back into work.

For instance, Amira, a bridal tailor in Birmingham, breaks her wrist in an accident and misses 10 weeks of work. Without short-term income protection, she would suffer a serious financial strain.

However, her policy comes into effect after a short waiting period and gives monthly payments, which help her pay for expenses and get back on track without stressing.

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Personal Accident Insurance:

Although working for yourself can be fantastic, you will not be paid for sick leave. If you require time off because of an illness or accident, it can be a serious problem for you. However, if you have personal accident insurance, it will take care of it.

For example, if you get in an accident or get diagnosed with an illness, you may require some time off work. You will be paid a lump sum amount to cover the lost wages. It makes sure you are financially protected in every situation.

Tailors meeting with clients

How Can I Get Cheaper Tailor  Insurance?

If you want to reduce your insurance costs, you have to take some steps. However, none of these methods will work unless you maintain adequate protection. Here are some things you should consider:

  • You can purchase multiple types of coverage from the same insurer. It often results in discounts.
  • You can always opt for a higher excess, which usually lowers your premiums.
  • You should avoid making small claims. Your claims history is very important to keep your premiums down.
  • Before buying insurance, research thoroughly. To locate the most affordable coverage, you need to compare quotations from several insurers.
  • Make sure that you don’t overinsure by overestimating the value of your equipment. However, you need to ensure that you have enough coverage to shield yourself.

What Professions Are Covered Under Tailor Insurance?

Tailors and Dressmakers

Professionals who design, create, and repair clothing for clients.

Suit Makers:

Tailors who specialize in crafting custom suits and formal wear.

Home-based Tailoring Businesses

Tailors who operate from home, providing bespoke or alteration services.

Alteration Specialists

Experts who adjust and modify garments for a better fit.
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Costume Designers

Creators of custom costumes for theatre, film, and events.

Fashion Designers with Tailoring Services

Designers who offer both fashion design and garment construction.

How Much Does Tailor Insurance Cost?

The cost of tailor insurance can be dependent on various factors. These factors are the following:
The types and extent of coverage you need

  • The size and nature of your business
  • The value of your equipment
  • Your claims history
  • The location of your business
  • Number of employees
  • Your annual turnover

There is competitive pricing that can meet the needs and budgets of transportation businesses. Being underinsured will leave you vulnerable, so make sure you have the correct level of coverage. You must be financially protected if a claim is made against you.

tailors shop

Frequently Asked Questions

Do social workers need business car insurance?

Yes. If you drive for work (e.g., client visits), personal car insurance won’t cover you. Business car insurance protects against job-related accidents and liability.

Is temporary insurance valid on any car?

Most cars are covered under this type of insurance. However, rentals, imported cars, and vehicles over a certain weight or value limit and significantly modified, are excluded.

Is Tailors Insurance essential for all tailoring businesses?

Yes, you can begin offering other services that require you to use different skills or do different things. If you’re in this spot, you need to update your policy before you start this new work.

So, if you don’t have the right type of cover in place to do the work you do, you may find yourself unable to claim on your policy if things go wrong.

Can Tailors Insurance cover damages to my tailoring equipment?

Yes, if your tailoring equipment is damaged, tailor insurance will pay for its replacement or repair.

Does Tailors Insurance provide coverage for business interruption?

Yes, tailor insurance can cover income loss resulting from business interruptions brought on by natural disasters like floods or fires.

Can Tailors Insurance cover my sewing equipment?

Yes, your sewing supplies are covered by tailor insurance. It is covered under tools insurance.

Does Tailors Insurance cover accidents at work?

Yes, accidents at work can be covered by tailor insurance. It safeguards both your company and your personnel. Specifically, employers’ liability insurance covers injuries to your staff at your workplace, while public liability insurance covers injuries to clients or visitors.

What happens if I damage a client's garment?

An accidental damage to a garment will usually be covered by your professional indemnity insurance. The policy will cover client compensation. You need this protection to protect your professional integrity and finances.

Would I be covered if I run a home-based tailoring business?

Yes, home-based tailors are also covered under this insurance. For tailors, it is a specialized coverage designed to help safeguard the unique needs of tailoring businesses operating from the comfort of a residential space. 

This coverage can provide a comprehensive safety net, recognizing the distinct challenges faced by at-home tailors.

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