Trophies in your care, covered.
Coverage for customers' specimens and finished mounts, freezers, shop property, general liability and workers' comp for taxidermy studios and home shops.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched
Customers' trophies can't be replaced
A taxidermist holds other people's animals for months: hides in freezers, skins at the tannery, finished mounts waiting for pickup. A freezer failure, fire or break-in can damage dozens of customers' trophies at once, and most standard property policies cover only your own property.
Customers' property in your care can be covered with bailee coverage, and spoilage coverage helps when a freezer or the power fails. Shops also use tanning and preserving chemicals, so workers' comp and how you store them both matter.
- Bailee coverageCustomers' specimens and mounts in your care.
- SpoilageFreezer breakdown and power outages.
- PropertyShop, tools, forms and supplies.
- General liabilityCustomers visiting your shop.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Shop: address, and whether it's at your home.
- Customer work: number and value of pieces on hand in peak season.
- Freezers: how many, alarms and backup power.
- Chemicals: what you use and how they're stored.
- Staff and revenue: employees and annual figures.
- History: current policies and any losses.
Taxidermist insurance, answered
Is a customer's mount covered if my shop burns?
Only if you carry coverage for customers' property in your care. Without it, a standard policy usually covers just your own property.
Is a freezer failure covered?
Spoilage or equipment breakdown coverage often responds, subject to the cause and the policy terms.
Does homeowners insurance cover a taxidermy shop at home?
Usually not. Business property and customers' items are commonly excluded or tightly limited.
How is a customer's trophy valued in a claim?
Policies usually pay a stated value or the cost of the work, not sentimental value. Many shops also state limits in their work orders.
Do you offer taxidermist insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. Sam Alishahi is licensed in 48 states and Washington, DC and places policies there directly. In Florida and Washington, where Sam's licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime. The shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Send your shop details. I'll shop it.
Address, customer work on hand and freezer setup are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
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(877) 711-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
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