Taxidermy Insurance Policy Information

Taxidermy Insurance. Taxidermists preserve animals, birds, and fish for display in homes, offices, museums, restaurants, and other retail establishments. The carcasses of the animals, birds, fish, and reptiles are received from customers. Unwanted biological materials are removed and discarded. The hide may be frozen for later use. To prepare, the hide is measured, treated with chemicals to prevent decomposition, fitted onto forms, and mounted on a board or other display piece.

The taxidermist completes the job by adding glass eyes, painting, and retouching the hide to provide a natural appearance. Occasionally artificial beaks, teeth or tongue are added. Some taxidermists also offer tanning and hide preparation services.

Whether you do taxidermy at home as a hobby or you make your full-time living from it, there are definitely some rewards that come from the process. But there are also things to worry about - especially if you are doing taxidermy as a full-time business. One of those things is insurance. Every business needs commercial insurance, and usually you need several types of insurance to make sure that your business is fully protected. But what about specialized occupations like taxidermy? How do you make sure that you are covered in all of the standard areas as well as the specialized areas that require taxidermy insurance?

Taxidermy insurance protects your business from lawsuits with rates as low as $47/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.

Below are some answers to commonly asked taxidermist insurance questions:

What Is Taxidermy Insurance?
How Much Does Taxidermy Insurance Cost?
Why Do Taxidermists Need Insurance?
What Type Insurance Do Taxidermists Need?
What Does Taxidermy Insurance Cover & Pay For?

What Is Taxidermy Insurance?

Taxidermy insurance is a type of insurance coverage specifically designed for taxidermists and their businesses.

It provides protection against a variety of potential risks associated with taxidermy, including theft or damage to mounted specimens, liability claims arising from damage or injury caused by specimens, and loss or damage to taxidermy equipment and supplies. The coverage may also include protection against damage or loss during transportation of specimens, business interruption, and other types of perils that could impact a taxidermy business.

This insurance is essential for taxidermists who want to protect their livelihood and minimize the financial impact of unexpected events.

How Much Does Taxidermy Insurance Cost?

The average price of a standard $1,000,000/$2,000,000 General Liability Insurance policy for small taxidermy businesses ranges from $47 to $59 per month based on location, size, payroll, sales and experience.

Why Do Taxidermists Need Insurance?

As a taxidermist, you face several potential risks that could damage your business, such as:

Property damage: Taxidermy requires the use of sharp tools, chemicals, and flammable materials, which can cause fire or other types of property damage.

Liability: If a client is injured on your property or if one of your mounted specimens causes damage to someone else's property, you could be held liable for their expenses.

Legal issues: Taxidermy laws vary by state and country, and you could face legal issues if you are found to be in violation of any regulations.

Loss of income: If your business is forced to shut down due to a natural disaster or other unexpected event, you could lose a significant amount of income.

Having insurance protects you against these risks and can help you recover quickly and effectively in the event of a loss. It also protects your clients by ensuring that they are not held responsible for any damages that occur while in your care.

What Type Insurance Do Taxidermists Need?

General Liability For Taxidermists

General liability insurance is a type of taxidermy insurance that is very common among businesses. Commercial general liability was created by insurance companies to sort of offer blanket coverage over many of the issues that business owners faced. Since they had so many of these things in common, it was determined that you could offer it under one package called business liability insurance in most of it would apply to just about any business owner out there.

General liability covers things like completed operations, product liabilities, things that happen on your premises and lots more. It can be customized for taxidermists as well. One example of liability insurance might be that someone visiting your taxidermy shop gets injured by one of your tools or even gets cut on one of your completed taxidermy projects.

Taxidermist's Professional Liability

You may want to consider some kind of extra insurance when you're working in taxidermy. The reason for that is that you will often be working with people's pets. This means that you only get one shot to get it right. If you mess up somehow and are not able to taxidermy their pet successfully, then there is no way that they can replace that.

Many taxidermists choose to get errors and omissions insurance if they're going to be working with people's pets so that they are covered in the event that they make a mistake and are not able to taxidermy someone's beloved pet properly or have made a mistake where something happens to it later on and it gets destroyed.

Commercial Property Insurance For Taxidermists

Property insurance is also pretty important for taxidermists. That's because your entire inventory is going to be located on your premises. Property insurance usually protects you from natural disasters and fires, floods in vandalism and other things that happen to your property. Each property insurance plan is a little bit different, but they all generally include protection from the major natural disasters out there and from fire, severe wind damage and vandalism.

This is important, especially if you have a retail location where you have set up shop and built a business that people know. If some kind of mishap wipes out your business, then you are either going to have to spend a great deal of out-of-pocket money to restore your business or have insurance that will pay for it.

Other Important Insurance Types

There might be other types of insurance that you need depending upon your operations:

Workers Compensation - For example, if it is just you that works at your taxidermy shop, then you don't have to worry about any of the concerns for insurance that businesses with employees have to worry about. But if you have even one employee that gets paid hourly or receives a salary, then you're going to have to offer workers compensation insurance. Workers comp pays for employees medical bills who are injured on the job and may even help them recover lost wages.

Business Auto - You might also have to get commercial automobile insurance. This will depend upon whether you have vehicles that you use specifically in your taxidermy business. Or whether you use your own vehicle enough in your business to have it qualify for any sort of tax write-offs. If that's the case, then you might have to get commercial automobile insurance. This is usually based on a policy of your insurance company, but it is nice to have because it covers your vehicles completely even if the other driver had no insurance on their vehicle.

Taxidermist's Risks & Exposures

Premises liability exposure is usually limited because there is little visitor access. If customers and visitors are allowed on the premises, floor coverings must be in good condition. Parking lots and sidewalks must be well maintained and kept free of ice and snow.

Products liability exposures come from damage done to the item being prepared, lack of accurate records verifying ownership, and disappointment when an item does not look the way the customer had hoped. The taxidermist should process the hides in a way that does not attract bugs or other vermin to the finished piece.

Environmental impairment exposure is high due to the potential for air, surface, or ground water, or soil contamination due to the disposal of waste chemicals, scrap, and hair. Disposal of wastes must adhere to all federal and state guidelines.

Workers compensation exposures can be high due to the handling of carcasses. Cuts while removing the skins and hides are common, as are puncture wounds, slips and falls on slick floors, back, and lifting injuries such as hernias, sprains, and strains. Bloodborne pathogens may pass disease from carcasses to workers. Inhalation of dander and feathers may induce allergic reactions. The use of chemicals can result in serious eye, skin, and lung injuries.

Some chemicals, particularly formaldehyde and arsenic, are toxic. Employees must be fully informed as to the potential effects of any chemicals, including long-term occupational disease hazards so that they can take action as quickly as possible. Grinding of fiberglass molds and forms can present an occupational disease exposure. Workers should be provided with personal safety protection such as gloves and masks.

Property exposures consist of a small office and processing area. Ignition sources include electrical equipment, heating, and air conditioning. Chemicals and flammables used in the preservation and hide preparation operations must be properly labeled, separated, and stored. Fire loads can be high as feathers, skins, and stuffing materials are combustible. There should be adequate ventilation to prevent the buildup of dust and chemical vapors which can ignite.

Poor housekeeping can be a serious fire hazard. Vandalism is a concern because of animal rights activists. Hides and skins can present a high exposure to theft, particularly if the taxidermist specializes in rare or exotic animals. Controls should be in place to prevent access to the premises after hours. Hides are often kept in freezers until the taxidermist has time for processing. Power outages could result in a spoilage and loss of income loss.

Crime exposures are from employee dishonesty. Background checks should be conducted on all employees handling money. Billing, ordering, and disbursements must be kept as separate duties and audited annually.

Inland marine exposure includes accounts receivable if the taxidermist offers credit, bailees customers, computers, and valuable papers and records for clients' and suppliers' information. The bailees customers exposure is high since the customers provide the carcasses to be preserved. These must be returned to the customer in good condition. All items must be clearly identified to be sure they are returned to their rightful owner. There must be a procedure in place for disposing of unclaimed items.

Business auto exposure is generally limited to the pickup of items to be processed and delivery of completed items. Drivers must be licensed with acceptable MVRs. All vehicles must be well maintained with documentation kept in a central location.

What Does Taxidermy Insurance Cover & Pay For?

Taxidermists may face lawsuits for various reasons, including but not limited to negligence, breach of contract, damage to property, theft or loss, and copyright infringement. Insurance policies can protect taxidermists from the financial burden of these lawsuits, providing coverage for legal expenses, settlements, and damages. Here are some examples:

Negligence: A taxidermist might be sued for negligence if they fail to exercise reasonable care in preserving and mounting an animal, resulting in damage to the specimen. Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, can cover legal expenses and damages related to such claims.

Breach of contract: If a taxidermist fails to deliver their work as agreed upon in a contract, a client might sue for breach of contract. Again, professional liability insurance can help cover the costs of defending against these claims and any damages awarded to the client.

Damage to property: A taxidermist may be sued if their actions cause damage to a client's property (e.g., dropping and breaking a valuable item during the taxidermy process). General liability insurance covers property damage claims, helping pay for legal expenses and potential settlements.

Theft or loss: If a taxidermist's workspace is burglarized or a fire destroys a client's property, the client may sue to recover the value of their lost items. A commercial property insurance policy can provide coverage for theft or loss of customer property, including the cost of legal fees and settlements.

Copyright infringement: A taxidermist might be sued if they replicate an artist's copyrighted work without permission. Intellectual property insurance can help cover the costs of defending against these claims, as well as potential settlements or damages awarded to the copyright holder.

Personal injury claims: A taxidermist could be sued if a client or visitor is injured on their premises or as a result of their work. General liability insurance covers bodily injury claims and can help pay for legal expenses, medical costs, and any settlements or damages awarded to the injured party.

Defamation: A taxidermist might face a lawsuit if they make false statements about a competitor that causes harm to the competitor's reputation or business. General liability insurance typically includes coverage for personal and advertising injury, which can help cover legal fees and damages related to defamation claims.

Environmental damage: If a taxidermist improperly disposes of chemicals used in the taxidermy process, causing environmental harm, they may be sued for damages. Environmental liability insurance can help cover the costs of cleaning up the damage, legal fees, and any settlements or damages awarded in a lawsuit.

In summary, taxidermists should consider various insurance policies such as professional liability, general liability, commercial property, intellectual property, and environmental liability insurance to protect themselves from potential lawsuits. Each policy can offer different types of coverage, making it crucial to work with an experienced insurance agent to tailor an insurance package that meets the unique risks and needs of a taxidermy business.

Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification

SIC CODE: 7699: Repair Shops and Related Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
NAICS CODE: 711510 Independent Artists, Writers and Performers
Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 9600 Taxidermist

7699: Repair Shops and Related Services, Not Elsewhere Classified

Division I: Services | Major Group 76: Miscellaneous Repair Services | Industry Group 769: Miscellaneous Repair Shops And Related Services

7699 Repair Shops and Related Services, Not Elsewhere Classified: Establishments primarily engaged in specialized repair services, not elsewhere classified, such as bicycle repair; leather goods repair; lock and gun repair, including the making of lock parts or gun parts to individual order; musical instrument repair; septic tank cleaning; farm machinery repair; furnace cleaning; motorcycle repair; tank truck cleaning; taxidermists; tractor repair; and typewriter repair.

Agricultural equipment repair
Antique repair and restoration, except furniture and automotive
Awning repair shops
Beer pump coil cleaning and repair service
Bicycle repair shops
Binoculars and other optical goods repair
Blacksmith shops
Boiler cleaning
Boiler repair shops except manufacturing
Bowling pins, refinishing or repair
Camera repair shops
Catch basin cleaning
Cesspool cleaning
China firing and decorating to individual order
Cleaning and reglazing of baking pans
Cleaning bricks
Coppersmithing repair, except construction
Covering textile rolls
Dental instrument repair
Drafting instrument repair
Engine repair, except automotive
Farm machinery repair
Farriers (blacksmith shops)
Fire control (military) equipment repair
Furnace and chimney cleaning
Furnace cleaning service
Gas appliance repair service
Glazing and cleaning baking pans
Gun parts made to individual order
Gunsmith shops
Harness repair shops
Horseshoeing
Industrial truck repair
Key duplicating shops
Laboratory instrument repair, except electric
Lawnmower repair shops
Leather goods repair shops
Lock parts made to individual order
Locksmith shops
Luggage repair shops
Machinery cleaning
Mattress renovating and repair shops
Measuring and controlling instrument repair, mechanical
Medical equipment repair, except electric
Meteorological instrument repair
Microscope repair
Mirror repair shops
Motorcycle repair service
Musical instrument repair shops
Nautical and navigational instrument repair, except electric
Organ tuning and repair
Piano tuning and repair
Picture framing to individual order, not connected with retail art
Picture framing, custom
Pocketbook repair shops
Precision instrument repair
Rebabbitting
Reneedling work
Repair of optical instruments
Repair of photographic equipment
Repair of service station equipment
Repair of speedometers
Rug repair shops, not combined with cleaning
Saddlery repair shops
Scale repair service
Scientific instrument repair, except electric
Septic tank cleaning service
Sewer cleaning and rodding
Sewing machine repair shops
Sharpening and repairing knives, saws, and tools
Ship boiler and tank cleaning and repair-contractors
Ship scaling-contractors
Stove repair shops
Surgical instrument repair
Surveying instrument repair
Tank and boiler cleaning service
Tank truck cleaning service
Taxidermists
Tent repair shops
Thermostat repair
Tinsmithing repair, except construction
Tractor repair
Tuning of pianos and organs
Typewriter repair, including electric
Venetian blind repair shops
Window shade repair shops

Taxidermy Insurance - The Bottom Line

To learn more about the different types of taxidermy insurance policies you should consider, and how much coverage you should have, speak to a professional insurance broker.

Additional Resources For Miscellaneous Insurance

Find informative articles on miscellaneous businesses including the types of commercial insurance they need, costs and other considerations.

Businesses need insurance for several reasons. Firstly, insurance protects businesses from potential financial losses that may result from unexpected events, such as accidents, natural disasters, or lawsuits. This financial protection can help businesses recover from unexpected events and continue to operate.

Secondly, business insurance can provide businesses with liability protection. This means that if a business is sued for damages or injuries that occurred on their property or as a result of their products or services, the insurance company will cover the legal costs and damages. Without insurance, businesses may have to pay these costs out of pocket, which can be financially devastating.

Thirdly, commercial insurance can also provide businesses with peace of mind. When businesses have insurance, they can focus on running and growing their business without constantly worrying about potential financial losses or legal issues.

Finally, business insurance can also be a requirement for certain businesses. For example, many businesses that work with the government or large corporations may be required to have certain types of insurance in order to do business with them.

In conclusion, businesses need insurance for financial protection, liability protection, peace of mind, and to meet certain requirements. It is an important aspect of running a successful business and can help ensure the long-term stability and growth of the company.

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