Whether you operate out of a single salon suite or own a private storefront, Commercial General Liability (CGL) is your first line of defense against physical accidents that occur in your space.
1. What is Commercial General Liability?
CGL covers claims of third-party bodily injury and physical property damage resulting from your business operations or premises conditions. It pays for injured visitors' medical expenses, property repairs, and legal defense costs if you are sued.
2. Why Suite Landlords Demand CGL
Landlords of salon suites (such as Sola Salon Studios, Salon Republic, or Phenix) require every tenant to carry at least $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 in CGL and provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming their corporate entity as an Additional Insured. This ensures that if a client trips inside your room, the landlord's master policy is shielded from primary liability.
3. Bodily Injury vs. Property Damage
- Premises Bodily Injury: A client steps off your hydraulic table, catches her foot on a massage blanket, falls, and fractures her hip. CGL covers ambulance transport, emergency room bills, and legal defense.
- Third-Party Property Damage: While preparing hot towels, water overflows from your towel cabi, seeping into the luxury clothing boutique below your studio. CGL reimburses the ruined inventory.
4. What General Liability Does NOT Cover
CGL strictly excludes injuries arising from your licensed aesthetic services (chemical peels, waxing burns, microdermabrasion). You must pair CGL with Professional Liability for complete protection.