Jacobs & Associates offers a specialty Excess & Surplus Lines program designed for licensed tattoo parlors and body piercing studios. As an experienced E&S broker, we underwrite the unique professional-liability and premises exposures that body-art professionals face. This program gives agents access to flexible underwriting, industry-specific coverages, and carrier capacity for risks that may not fit admitted markets.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program is best suited for licensed, fixed-location operations that follow local health and sanitation rules. We are a strong market for:
- Independent tattoo artists and single-operator shops
- Multi-artist tattoo studios
- Body piercing studios and hybrid shops offering both services
- Studios with on-site retail of jewelry, aftercare, or body art supplies
We typically do not accept mobile, unlicensed, or noncompliant operations. High-risk activities outside standard tattooing and piercing (for example, illicit procedures or unregulated cosmetic services) are also outside our appetite.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
Jacobs & Associates places broad, tailored coverage to help clients manage the most common exposures in the body-art industry:
- Professional Liability — Limits available up to $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate
- Assault & Battery Sublimits — Option available for qualifying risks
- Sexual & Physical Abuse Sublimits — Coverage to address sensitive liability areas
- Theft Coverage — For on-site jewelry and retail inventory
- Medical Payments — Minor on-site incident coverage to protect premises exposures
- Equipment Breakdown — Included automatically to protect key studio equipment
- Inland Marine — Available for mobile gear or high-value instruments when eligible
These features are structured to address customer injury claims, professional errors, property loss, and equipment failures commonly seen in tattoo and piercing operations.
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
Submissions are evaluated individually. Our underwriters focus on:
- Licensing and compliance with local health codes
- Experience and training of artists and piercers
- Sterilization practices, consent forms, and written aftercare instructions
- Loss history, documented safety protocols, and premises security
Minimum premiums vary by exposure and location; the program is structured to be accessible for small and mid-sized shops. Provide complete applications, charts of operations, and photos when available to speed quoting and placement.
Territories and Availability
This program is currently available in Ohio (OH). All policies are placed on a non-admitted basis through our carrier partners: Western Heritage Insurance Company and Scottsdale Surplus Lines Insurance Company.
Why Work With Jacobs & Associates?
As a dedicated Excess & Surplus Lines broker, Jacobs & Associates combines niche industry knowledge with direct access to specialty carriers. We offer:
- Responsive underwriting for non-standard or underserved tattoo and piercing risks
- Flexible wording and sublimit options for sensitive exposures
- Guidance on documentation and loss-control items that improve placement prospects
Example placements you might bring to this market:
- An established two-artist shop expanding into retail jewelry sales that needs professional liability plus inventory theft protection.
- A busy piercing studio seeking limits and sublimits that address both piercings and ancillary retail operations.
Whether you have a startup studio or a seasoned operator moving into retail, Jacobs & Associates can help you find appropriate E&S capacity and tailoring. Submit complete applications through your usual channel to receive timely consideration.