No matter what kind of property you own,
you will want to insure it. If you own a pet shop, it is likely
that the insurance that covers most retailers and property owners
won't be right for you. In this situation, the key is to invest
in specialty pet shop insurance that will pertain to your specific
needs and concerns.
There are many risks that pet store owners face that are not an
issue for other shop owners. One thing that you need to think about
is damage to or theft of your animals. This does happen and if
the theft involves a 1200 dollar parrot, this could be a huge set
back. Another thing you need to worry about is if a person is bitten
or clawed by the animals in your care, or if their property, like
clothing or jewelry is damaged. This can be a very touchy spot
in terms of coverage and without the proper precautions, you could
end up owing thousands of dollars!
Also keep in mind that a power outage could be a lot more detrimental
to you than to a bookstore. If you deal with exotic reptiles, a
power outage that results in an inability to maintain temperatures
could be a devastating set back. A uromastyx lizard, for example,
is adapted to living in the desert and needs a temperature of at
least 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This is one thing to keep in mind
while you are shopping for insurance.
It will be in your best interests to find a policy geared specifically
for pet stores, and the industry is large enough that you can choose
from several. You can even get more specific and find a policy
devoted to the kind of pet that you supply. It is one thing if
you have the normal array of tank pets and kibble, but if you are
in a niche market like large birds or exotic fish, you will certainly
be interested in the extra coverage. For almost every need and
risk that is run by a pet store, you can probably find some sort
of coverage for it if you look hard enough.
If you are looking for very specific coverage, you should see
what it would take to write it in. Some plans will specifically
address things like the malicious release of your birds, deliberate
attempts at poisoning the animals, even the death or illness caused
by your heating or cooling equipment failing. While not common,
all of these things are problems faced by pet shops, and insurance
companies are coming to realize that specialization is the key.
Shopping for insurance can be a wearying, tedious task, but it
is an extremely necessary one, doubly so if you are a pet shop
owner.