How can I get home insurance with a small business?

My daughter lives with us and has a one-chair hair salon in our finished basement, which is covered by her own insurance/liability company. I am looking for homeowner's insurance and am having a hard time finding it because of her little business.

You can find homeowners insurance for your situation by looking for a policy that includes a business use endorsement or a "rider." Most standard companies struggle with home salons because of the foot traffic (clients walking through your home), which they see as a higher risk for accidents.

Even though your daughter has her own liability insurance, your home insurance company still needs to know about the salon to ensure your overall property is covered.

Your Best Options

• Add a "Rider": Ask for a Permitted Incidental Occupancy endorsement. Since it is only a one-chair salon, many companies can simply add this to a standard policy. It is usually the easiest and cheapest way to get covered.
• In-Home Business Policy: If a standard company won't cover you, you can look into a specific home business insurance plan. This is designed for small setups like your daughter’s and sits alongside your homeowners coverage.
• Specialty Carriers: If big-name insurers are saying no, "surplus lines" or specialty companies often say yes to homes with small businesses.

The trick is being upfront with the agent. Telling them your daughter is already insured for her professional work is a great selling point! To find companies that are friendly to home businesses, you can compare options in our 2026 Homeowners Insurance Guide.