Hey everyone! Let’s cut to the chase – if you own or run a trampoline park, you’re probably not sitting around daydreaming about insurance. But as someone who’s been supplying trampoline park equipment for over 8 years now, I can tell you this: skipping the right insurance is like showing up to a dodgeball game without a helmet. It’s not if something goes wrong, it’s when. And more often than not, the parks that mess up their insurance end up closing their doors way before their time. Trampoline Park
First off, let’s get this straight: not all insurance for trampoline parks is the same. I’ve had clients come to me after a bad incident, panicking because their “basic business insurance” didn’t cover the guy who sprained his ankle doing a backflip on the foam pit. Or worse, the time a piece of equipment broke and took out a section of the wall – their old policy was so vague, the insurer wrote it off as “normal wear and tear.” That’s why today, I’m breaking down exactly what kind of coverage your park actually needs, and why as a supplier, we don’t just hand you equipment and dip – we make sure you’re set up with the right protection too.
Let’s start with the big one: general liability insurance. This is the baseline, right? But wait, don’t book the cheapest 1M dollar policy you find online. Trampoline parks have unique risks that regular retail or gym insurance doesn’t account for. I once had a kid slip on a loose mat and hit his head on a nearby pole. The parent sued for $75k, and the cheap general liability policy only covered $50k – out of pocket costs for the owner? $25k, plus legal fees. Ouch. A proper general liability policy for a park should cover things like slip-and-fall injuries, minor equipment-related accidents, and even advertising injuries (like if someone claims your social media post made them think they could do a flip and messed up). Pro tip: make sure it has “products-completed operations” coverage – that protects you after you’ve installed our equipment, so if a mat we supplied has a defect, you’re covered (and honestly, we stand behind our gear, but it’s nice to have that backup).
Next up: property insurance. Your park’s building, all the trampolines, foam pits, dodgeball courts, snack bar – that’s all your stuff. But regular property insurance usually doesn’t cover things like equipment breakdown from regular use, or even things like foam pit contamination (if a mold issue pops up in the foam, that’s not a standard claim). A lot of new owners think their landlord’s property insurance covers their gear – nope, that’s for the building structure, not your custom trampoline setup. I’ve seen parks lose $100k+ in equipment because a pipe burst overnight and water ruined the wiring under the trampolines. If you have specific stuff like laser tag stations, party room decor, or even arcade games, make sure those are added to your policy too – don’t assume they’re included in the “standard property” amount.
Then there’s workers’ comp. This one’s non-negotiable in almost every state, but you’d be surprised how many small park owners try to skip it. If an employee gets hurt setting up a new foam pit (yep, we help with installs and sometimes our crew trains the park staff, but if your guy messes up and falls, that’s on you), workers’ comp covers their medical bills and lost wages. I had a client a couple years back who hired a kid off Craigslist to help move a trampoline frame – the frame slipped and broke his arm. The owner didn’t have workers’ comp, so he paid over $30k out of pocket. That’s money that could’ve gone to new park attractions or a better snack bar (let’s be real, the snack bar is make-or-break for repeat customers). Also, make sure your policy covers temp workers too – a lot of parks hire extra people for weekends or birthday parties, and they forget to add them.
Wait, what about specialty stuff? Like, if you have a Ninja Warrior course, a go-kart track (wait, no, maybe just trampolines, but some parks add other stuff), or even a “silent arena” for older kids? There’s specific coverage for recreational activities, and regular policies often exclude those. I had a park owner who added a stilt walking area – his old general liability didn’t cover it, and when a kid tripped and scraped up his leg, the insurer almost denied the claim. We walked him through adding “recreational activity endorsement” a few months before that, so he was covered. Another big one: umbrella insurance. That’s like a safety net on top of your other policies. If you have a big incident – say, a group of 10 kids all get hurt in a foam pit and the total claim is $2M – your general liability might only cover $1M, and your property might not cover the medical stuff. Umbrella insurance kicks in for that extra amount. It’s not super expensive – usually a few hundred bucks a month – and it’s saved more than one of my clients from going under.
Now, let’s talk about the mistakes I see parks make with insurance, because that’s half the battle. First, underinsuring. I once worked with a park that had 15 trampolines, a 10,000 sq ft space, and their general liability was only $500k. When a patron broke their neck doing a backflip and the claim hit $1.2M, the owner had to sell his personal car and take out a small business loan to cover the rest. Second, not disclosing all their activities. If you host glow-in-the-dark jump nights, competitive trampoline tournaments, or even yoga classes on trampolines, you have to tell your insurance company. They charge a little extra, but if you don’t, you’re basically giving them a free pass to deny a claim. Third, skipping equipment-specific coverage. Our trampoline pads and safety nets are top-tier, but if a kid climbs over a net and gets hurt, you want that covered. Some policies only cover “intended use” of equipment, so if someone does something dumb, you’re stuck. But a good park-specific policy covers misuse, too – as long as you post clear signs, which you should be doing anyway.
Wait, also – what about renters insurance if you’re in a shared space? Like, if your park is inside a mall or a rec center? A lot of small parks rent space, and their renter’s policy doesn’t cover commercial equipment. I had a client who rented a spot at a community center, and their renter’s insurance only covered the mats, not the trampoline frames. When a frame bent, they had to pay $8k to replace it out of pocket. We now make sure all our clients who rent space know to add commercial equipment coverage to their renter’s policy, or get a separate business policy.
As a trampoline park supplier, I don’t just sell you trampolines and safety gear. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of park operations, and insurance is one of those things that’s easy to put off until it’s too late. I once had a client who was so focused on getting the coolest foam pit and the best party packages that he forgot to update his insurance, and when a fire broke out in the electrical panel (something that even our quality control checks can’t 100% prevent), his policy didn’t cover the equipment because it was “non-standard” – his old policy didn’t include the Ninja course he added 6 months prior. He had to shut down for 4 months, lost all his summer business, and almost closed permanently. That’s the stuff we try to help you avoid.
Let me break down a quick, realistic coverage package for a mid-sized trampoline park (5-10k sq ft, 20+ trampolines, party rooms): $1M general liability (with products-completed and recreational activity endorsements), $500k property insurance (covers all equipment, building improvements, and inventory), $2M umbrella insurance, and workers’ comp for all full-time and temp staff. Total monthly cost? Usually between $800-$1,200, depending on your location. That might sound like a lot, but when you compare it to a single bad claim that could cost you $100k+, it’s a no-brainer.
Another thing: make sure you work with an insurance agent who specializes in amusement or recreational facilities, not just a general business agent. A general agent might not know that trampoline parks have higher injury risks than, say, a clothing store. I refer all my clients to a couple agents who focus solely on family entertainment centers, and they’ve helped hundreds of parks get the right coverage at a fair price. Don’t try to go with the cheapest agent – the wrong agent will leave you exposed.
And let’s talk about something not many people mention: insurance for “loss of business.” If your park has to close for a week because of a burst pipe, mold, or a big incident, loss of business coverage pays you for the income you lose during that time. I had a park that had to close for 2 weeks after a kid got hurt and their insurance required them to do a safety audit. They lost $20k in party bookings, and their loss of business coverage covered almost all of it. That’s huge – because even a short closure can put a big dent in your profits, especially if you rely on birthday parties and weekend crowds.
So, what’s the key takeaway here? Trampoline park insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing. It’s not just the basic policy you get for your coffee shop or retail store. It’s specific to your space, your equipment, your activities, and how many people you hire. As a supplier, we’re here to help – we can tell you what equipment has been the most problematic for parks in the past, so you can talk to your agent about getting coverage for those specific risks, and we can connect you with trusted agents who know the industry.
If you’re just starting out, or if your current policy is getting outdated (if you haven’t reviewed it in the last year, do it today!), hit us up. We don’t just sell gear – we help park owners set themselves up for success, and that means making sure they’re protected when things go wrong. Because let’s be real, even the best run park will have a slip, a broken mat, or a random incident. The difference between closing your doors and bouncing back is having the right insurance.
Trampoline Soft Play References:
- International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). (2023). Insurance Best Practices for Family Entertainment Centers.
- Small Business Administration (SBA). (2022). Risk Management for Recreational Businesses.
- National Safety Council (NSC). (2021). Trampoline Park Injury Trends and Mitigation Strategies.
- Insurance Information Institute (III). (2023). Commercial Property Insurance: What You Need for Amusement Equipment.
- U.S. Department of Labor. (2022). Workers’ Compensation Requirements for Temporary Employees in Recreational Industries.
Guangzhou Flyfun Amusement Equipment Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Flyfun Amusement Equipment Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional trampoline park manufacturers and suppliers in China, featured by quality products and good price. Please rest assured to buy cheap trampoline park made in China here from our factory. Customized orders are welcome.
Address: No.26 Dangang West Street,Shiji Village,Shilian Road, Shiji Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou City,Guangdong,China.
E-mail: 13416106505@163.com
WebSite: https://www.indoorsoftplayground.com/
