Gym insurance: All you need to know

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Page written by Chris Godfrey. Last reviewed on April 24, 2024. Next review due April 6, 2025.

No matter if they’re pumping iron to build muscle, swimming laps to lose weight, or playing sports for fun or competition, more than 11 million UK fitness lovers visit gyms and fitness centres every year. With such large numbers using these facilities, gym owners and operators need comprehensive gym insurance to offset business risk.

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Why do you need gym insurance?

The UK is on a fitness boom and gyms and fitness businesses are busier than ever. Unfortunately, with this good news also comes some bad: High levels of foot traffic, heavy weights and machinery, and trip and slip hazards such as shower floors, make gyms more vulnerable to accidents and personal injuries than many other businesses.

Claims for back and limb injury, crushed fingers and toes and stolen personal property are common to the industry – and the potential for compensation claims, some of which could run into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds is ever present. This is why gym owners, fitness centre operators, and personal trainers need gym insurance to protect them if the worst should ever happen.

What insurance do gyms need?

Gym insurance is an umbrella term for a range of business insurances that can provide protection against almost every type of negative event. Important insurance includes:

Public liability

Public liability insurance protects your gym or fitness business if someone is injured, or their property is damaged because of the services that you or your business provides. This type of cover, also known as PL or Liability Insurance, is designed to protect your business against third party claims for injuries or property damage from a customer or client, passer-by, or a visitor to your gym – whether you’re at fault or not.

Employers’ liability

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement for most UK employers. EL protects you and your employees, (including those who no longer work for you), should they be injured or become unwell as a result of working for your business. EL typically covers the associated legal and compensation costs, and other damages of such events, but it can also cover accidental injury or damage caused by an employee to a third party, such as your customers.

Buildings & contents cover

Building and business contents cover for gyms can help to rebuild or repair your building (if you own it) and replace the contents of your business premises in the event of fire, flood, theft, and accident. Use building insurance to protect the fabric of your building and contents insurance to pay for new fixtures and fittings, equipment, stock and samples and employees’ personal belongings if they’re damaged, lost, or stolen.

Business interruption cover

Business interruption insurance covers you for lost income if you or your gym is unable to operate due to an unexpected event. This would include incidents such as: Fire and flooding at your premises. Power blackouts. Major equipment failure. Supply chain issues beyond your control.

Fantastic claims handling

Gyms can be very busy places with large numbers of people using heavy machines and lifting heavy weights. This means the potential for accidents and personal injury is high – and so is the risk of compensation claims from your customers. When seeking gym insurance, you need to know that if someone makes a claim against you or your business, an expert claims handler will be on your side. Register with Swoop to find out more about this important necessity and to discover the insurers with the best claims handling reputations.

What does gym insurance cover?

Gym insurance can cover fitness businesses – including personal trainers – against:

The costs of any claims by third parties or your employees for personal injuries or property damage they say has been caused by your business. The cover may also include your legal expenses or those claimed by the other party
Claims from third parties who say they have been harmed by the products you sell
Loss of equipment, stock, fixtures and fittings due to fire, flood, theft or vandalism
Downtime or closure of your gym due to damaged equipment or premises
Damage to or complete loss of your business premises if you own the building
Damage to your business reputation or loss of trust by your customers

How much does gym insurance cost?

Premiums for gym insurance can start at less than £28 per month, but just as no two fitness businesses are alike, no two gym insurance needs are the same. The price you pay will depend on your business type, where you are located, your turnover, the risks attached to what you do or sell, and a variety of other factors unique to your gym.

How Swoop can help

All business involves risk, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer the consequences if things go wrong. Don’t let your clients’ enthusiasm to lose weight and get fit cause your fitness business to lose money or go broke. Contact Swoop today to compare top-quality gym insurance from a range of providers and to discuss all your business insurance needs.

Written by

Chris Godfrey

Chris is a freelance copywriter and content creator. He has been active in the marketing, advertising, and publishing industries for more than twenty-five years. Writing for Barclays Bank, Metro Bank, Wells Fargo, ABN Amro, Quidco, Legal and General, Inshur Zego, AIG, Met Life, State Farm, Direct Line, insurers and pension funds, his words have appeared online and in print to inform, entertain and explain the complex world of consumer and business finance and insurance.

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