# Insurance for tattoo and piercing studios in Germany

> A tattoo lasts a lifetime, and unfortunately so does a mistake. Infections, allergic reactions to ink, a spelling mistake in the lettering or a piercing that hits a nerve: clients then demand compensation and the cost of laser removal or a cover up. This page shows how to protect yourself and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-tattoo-studio.php  
Updated: 2026-09-18

## Does insurance pay if a client is unhappy with the design?

No, if it is only a matter of taste. Public liability pays for harm to health, meaning infections, allergies and scars, and with some insurers also for the consequences of a genuine mistake such as a misspelt name. That can add up to laser treatment by a doctor, a cover up and compensation. Have the client sign off the design, spelling and placement before you start; it is your best protection.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** No insurance is required by law. The German Tattoo Inks Ordinance (Tätowiermittel-Verordnung), the hygiene rules of the federal states and inspections by the local health office (Gesundheitsamt) do apply, though
- **Biggest risk:** Infections, allergic reactions and faulty designs leading to claims for compensation and removal
- **Basic cover from:** about 300 euros a year for public liability for a tattoo artist working alone
- **Statutory accident insurer:** BGW, the Berufsgenossenschaft for health and beauty; membership is compulsory for studios with employees
- **Often forgotten:** Guest artists: someone who tattoos at your studio for just a few days is often not covered by your policy
- **WZ 2025 / NACE:** 96.99 Erbringung von sonstigen überwiegend persönlichen Dienstleistungen a. n. g.

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Infection after tattooing:** Bacteria in the fresh wound, contaminated ink, poor hygiene: infections are the classic health claim in a studio.
- **Allergy to pigments:** Red and yellow inks in particular trigger reactions, often only weeks later. Treatment takes a long time, and sometimes the tattoo has to be removed.
- **The wrong design:** Two letters swapped in a name, a mirrored design, the wrong part of the body. The client demands laser removal, a cover up and compensation.
- **A piercing in the wrong spot:** A piercing hits a nerve, a cartilage piercing becomes badly infected. Not every policy covers piercing automatically.
- **Guest artists and conventions:** Guest spots and conventions are part of everyday life, but insurance for outside artists and other locations is not.
- **Hands, back, needlestick:** Hours of working bent over, needlestick injuries from used needles: the work takes its toll on body and health.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 2, Theft 2, Cyber 2, Downtime 3, Health 3

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): Covers infections, allergic reactions, scars and follow up costs such as laser treatment, provided tattooing and piercing are named in the policy. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Replaces couches, machines, inks, steriliser and fittings after fire, water and burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Occupational disability** (Strongly advised): Your hands are your capital. Income protection pays if you can no longer tattoo. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Depends on the business): For tattoo machines, power supplies, autoclave and drawing tablets, which fail after a breakdown or fall. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Business interruption** (Depends on the business): Pays rent and lost income if the studio has to close after water damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For disputes over deposits, design rights and leases, and for fending off unjustified claims. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Depends on the business): For appointment booking, your Instagram account and client data, which can be locked or leaked in an attack. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php

## What it costs: example prices

Tattoo studios pay more than hairdressers or beauty salons, because every treatment breaks the skin. What matters is the number of artists, turnover, piercing and whether guest artists or conventions are covered.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Tattoo artist working alone, 3 million euros cover | about 300 to 650 euros a year |
| Business liability | Studio with three artists, piercing and guest artists | about 600 to 1,300 euros a year |
| Business contents | Fittings, machines and supplies worth 30,000 euros | about 100 to 300 euros a year |
| Occupational disability | Tattoo artist aged 30, 1,500 euros monthly benefit | about 900 to 1,800 euros a year |

For comparison: Public liability for a tattoo studio costs roughly as much per year as a medium sized tattoo with a three to four hour session.

_Guide figures excluding German insurance premium tax, as of September 2026. Liability comes from publicly quoted tariff examples; contents and income protection are guide figures from our own quoting experience. Income protection depends heavily on age and health._

- [Finanzchef24: Betriebshaftpflicht für Tattoostudios](https://www.finanzchef24.de/versicherung/taetowierer)
- [berufshaftpflichtversicherung-experten.de: Betriebshaftpflicht Tätowierer](https://berufshaftpflichtversicherung-experten.de/betriebshaftpflicht-taetowierer/)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Solo** (tattoo artist or piercer working alone, including guest spots): Business liability. Together: about 300 to 650 euros a year
- **Studio** (your own studio with fittings and several artists): Business liability, Business contents, Business interruption. Together: about 800 to 1,800 euros a year
- **All round** (studio with guest artists, conventions and online booking): Business liability, Business contents, Business interruption, Electronic equipment, Business legal expenses, Cyber insurance. Together: about 1,800 to 3,500 euros a year

## The worst day in the tattoo studio

Six things that really happen in tattoo and piercing studios, all on one single Friday. Tap through the day and see who pays.

- 11:00: A client gets in touch with a badly infected forearm tattoo. Antibiotics, hospital, scarring, compensation. (€6,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 12:40: A letter is missing from the lettering, though the template was correct. Laser treatment by a dermatologist and compensation. (€5,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 14:20: After a cartilage piercing in the ear, an infection develops and leaves a permanent deformity. (€4,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 16:10: The autoclave breaks down; a replacement is needed immediately, otherwise you are not allowed to keep working. (€3,200, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 18:30: Black ink drips onto the pale leather sofa in the waiting area of a rented studio you are using for a convention. (€1,800, Paid by: Business liability)
- 23:30: Break-in at the studio: machines, power supplies and inks are gone. (€9,500, Paid by: Business contents)

**Damage so far:** €30,000

## Practical tips from your broker

- Have tattooing, piercing and, if relevant, permanent make up named separately in the policy.
- Expressly include guest artists, guest spots abroad and conventions if you do them.
- Choose at least 3 million euros cover and check whether follow up costs such as laser removal and cover ups are included.
- Only use inks that meet the Tattoo Inks Ordinance and EU rules, and keep the batch numbers.
- Have the client sign off design, spelling, size and placement before you start, and photograph the stencil on the skin.
- Do not offer laser removal: since the end of 2020 it has been reserved for doctors in Germany and cannot be insured in a studio.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We know where tattoo policies are thin:** Guest artists, piercing, follow up costs for laser: as a broker we compare several insurers on exactly these points and show you the differences.
- **Claims practice from our own handling:** In boat insurance we settle claims ourselves. After an infection or a design error, we know which records decide the dispute.
- **Studio and hands protected:** Liability, studio, equipment and your income protection are handled together, so that your income is protected too.
- **A family business since 1989:** Our advice costs you nothing; the insurer pays our commission. You have a fixed contact person, not an anonymous portal.

## FAQ

### Does a tattoo studio have to be insured in Germany?

There is no legal obligation. But many landlords and conventions ask for proof of liability cover, and a single health claim can reach five figures.

### What does public liability for tattoo artists cost?

For tattoo artists working alone it is usually between 300 and 650 euros a year, for studios with several artists and piercing between 600 and 1,300 euros.

### Are guest artists covered by my studio's policy?

Only if it says so in the policy. Otherwise every guest artist needs their own liability cover. Ask to see proof before anyone tattoos at your studio.

### Does insurance pay for removing a faulty tattoo?

Yes, if you are liable for the mistake and follow up costs are included. Laser treatment by a doctor can cost several thousand euros over several sessions.

### Can I laser off tattoos in my studio?

No. Since 31 December 2020, removing tattoos and permanent make up by laser has been reserved for doctors in Germany.

### Am I insured with the BGW as a tattoo artist?

Your employees are, automatically. As a self employed person you can take out voluntary cover with the BGW, which is advisable given needlestick injuries and the risk of infection.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. Free of charge and without obligation: the insurer pays our commission. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-tattoo-studio.php#anfrage

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NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.