Contractor Insurance You Can Trust
Workers Compensation Insurance for Contractors
One job site injury can end your business. The right workers comp policy keeps you legal, protects your crew, and ensures a claim never costs you more than your deductible.
- ✓Covers medical bills and lost wages for injured workers
- ✓Ghost policies available for solo contractors needing a COI
- ✓Pay-as-you-go billing ties premium to actual payroll
- ✓Same-day certificates for job starts and GC requirements
✓ 20+ Years Experience
✓ Same-Day COI
✓ Licensed All 50 States
Or call (234) 231-8427 — Mon–Fri, 9 AM–5 PM EST
Sound Familiar?
The Workers Comp Problems Contractors Face Every Day
“I can’t afford to lose a week of work to an injury.”
Workers comp replaces your employee’s lost wages so you don’t have to dig into operating capital to keep them whole while they recover.
“The GC is demanding proof of coverage before I can start.”
We issue same-day certificates of insurance so you’re never stuck on the curb watching another crew start a job that should be yours.
“My audit came back and I owe thousands more than I expected.”
Pay-as-you-go billing eliminates audit surprises by calculating your premium against real payroll each pay cycle — not a year-end estimate.
“I work alone. I don’t even know if I need this.”
Solo contractors often need a ghost policy just to bid on jobs. We’ll tell you exactly what your state requires and what clients expect before you lose a bid.
What Workers Compensation Insurance Actually Does for Contractors
Workers compensation insurance pays for medical treatment, lost wages, rehabilitation, and death benefits when an employee is hurt on the job. It’s a no-fault system — your employee doesn’t need to prove you were negligent, and you don’t need to dispute liability. The claim goes through the policy, both parties are protected, and you keep building.
For contractors specifically, this matters more than almost any other trade. Job sites are inherently hazardous. Falls from ladders and scaffolding, tool lacerations, electrical burns, material handling strains — the Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently ranks construction among the highest-injury industries in the country. A single hospitalization can exceed $100,000 before rehabilitation begins.
Workers comp shifts that catastrophic exposure off your personal balance sheet and onto a policy designed to handle exactly that risk.
Medical Benefits
Covers all reasonable and necessary medical treatment from the date of injury through maximum medical improvement — ER visits, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, and follow-up care.
Lost Wage Replacement
Pays a percentage of the injured worker’s average weekly wage — typically 66.67% — for each week they can’t work due to the injury.
Rehabilitation
Funds vocational retraining and physical rehabilitation when an injury prevents the worker from returning to their previous role or trade.
Death Benefits
Provides weekly payments and funeral expense coverage to the surviving dependents of a worker killed on the job.
Employer’s Liability
Part B of your workers comp policy defends you against lawsuits filed by injured employees who allege negligence beyond normal comp claims.
Compliance Protection
Keeps you compliant with state mandates, preventing stop-work orders, fines, and loss of contractor license that operating without coverage can trigger.
Who Needs Workers Comp — And When You Can Skip It
Workers comp requirements depend on three things: your state, your business structure, and how many people work for you. Most states trigger mandatory coverage the moment you hire your first W-2 employee. Some states require it even if you’re a solo proprietor working under a general contractor.
Even when coverage is technically optional, skipping it is rarely smart. GCs increasingly require proof of workers comp — including ghost policies — before allowing any subcontractor on site. And a serious injury without coverage can mean a lawsuit filed directly against you personally.
Sole Proprietors
Generally exempt from mandatory coverage in most states unless required by a client contract. A ghost policy allows you to show proof of coverage while excluding yourself from payroll.
LLCs and S-Corps
Owners can often file exclusions to remove themselves from coverage. However, the business must still cover all W-2 employees regardless of ownership structure.
General Contractors
GCs with W-2 field workers always need coverage. When using uninsured subs, many states allow the GC’s carrier to extend coverage — then charge you for it at audit.
Specialty Trades
Roofers, electricians, plumbers, and ironworkers are high-risk trades. Carriers underwrite these carefully — placing with the right carrier at the right class code saves thousands per year.
What Workers Comp Costs — and How to Control It
Premiums are calculated as a rate per $100 of payroll, multiplied by your experience modification factor. Here are typical annual rate ranges by contractor trade.
| Trade | NCCI Class Code | Typical Rate Range | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofing | 5551 | $8.00 – $22.00 / $100 | Very High |
| Ironwork / Steel Erection | 5040 | $7.00 – $18.00 / $100 | Very High |
| Electrical | 5190 | $3.00 – $6.00 / $100 | Medium-High |
| Plumbing | 5183 | $2.50 – $5.00 / $100 | Medium-High |
| Carpentry (new construction) | 5403 | $4.00 – $9.00 / $100 | Medium |
| Drywall / Insulation | 5445 | $2.00 – $4.50 / $100 | Moderate |
| Painting (exterior) | 5474 | $3.00 – $6.00 / $100 | Moderate |
| Landscaping | 0042 | $2.00 – $4.00 / $100 | Lower |
Rates vary by state and are multiplied by your experience modification rate (EMR). A clean loss history can reduce premiums by 20–40%.
Why Contractors Choose Us
The Trade Safe Difference
We Shop Dozens of Carriers
As an independent agency, we compare rates and forms across multiple A-rated carriers — finding the best fit for your trade, payroll size, and loss history.
Same-Day Certificates
Need proof of coverage to start a job tomorrow? We issue certificates of insurance the same day — often within the hour — so you’re never held off site.
Hard-to-Place Risks Welcome
High EMR? Prior claims? Roofing or ironwork? We work in the specialty and non-admitted markets where other agencies stop — finding coverage when others say no.
Pay-As-You-Go Available
We set up pay-as-you-go billing tied directly to your payroll processor so premiums adjust with your actual workforce — eliminating surprise audits at year-end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is workers comp required for contractors? +
Requirements vary by state. Most states require workers comp if you have one or more employees. Even sole proprietors are often required to carry coverage to bid on commercial or government jobs. Operating without required coverage exposes you to stop-work orders, fines, and personal liability for injury costs.
How much does workers comp cost for contractors? +
Workers comp for contractors typically ranges from $1.00 to $4.00+ per $100 of payroll depending on trade, experience mod, and state. Roofers and ironworkers pay more than painters or drywall finishers. Your experience modification rate (EMR) is the single biggest factor after class code — a clean loss history saves real money.
What are ghost policies for contractors? +
A ghost policy is a workers comp policy where the owner excludes themselves. It provides a valid certificate of insurance with no actual payroll, used by sole proprietors to satisfy client or GC requirements without paying for full coverage they don’t technically need.
Does workers comp cover 1099 subcontractors? +
Generally no — 1099 subcontractors are not your employees. However, if they lack their own coverage, many states can reclassify them as employees and hold you liable for their injuries. Always collect certificates of insurance from every sub you hire.
What is an experience modification rate? +
Your EMR (experience mod) compares your claims history to other contractors in your trade. An EMR below 1.0 earns a discount — for example, a 0.85 EMR reduces your premium by 15%. An EMR above 1.0 adds a surcharge. The EMR is calculated using the past three policy years, excluding the most recent.
Can I get pay-as-you-go workers comp? +
Yes. Pay-as-you-go workers comp calculates premiums based on actual payroll each pay period instead of an annual estimate, eliminating large audits at year-end. It works best for contractors with fluctuating crew sizes — seasonal ramp-ups and slow periods don’t result in a mismatch between estimated and actual premium.
How do workers comp audits work? +
At policy end, your carrier audits actual payroll versus estimated payroll. If you paid more workers than projected, you owe additional premium. If less, you receive a refund. Carriers may also reclassify workers to higher-rated codes during audit if job duties don’t match the original classification.
Can owners exclude themselves from workers comp? +
Yes, in most states corporate officers, LLC members, and sole proprietors can file an exclusion, removing themselves from the policy to reduce premium. The rules vary — some states limit the number of owners who can exclude, and the exclusion must be filed with the state workers comp board to be valid.
Explore More About Workers Comp Coverage
Workers Comp Cost for Contractors
Workers Comp Class Codes for Contractors
Experience Modification Rate (EMR) Explained
Ghost Workers Comp Policies for 1099 Contractors
Pay-As-You-Go Workers Comp
Sole Proprietor Workers Comp Coverage
Workers Comp for LLCs, S-Corps, and Partnerships
Workers Comp Audits — What to Expect
Subcontractor Workers Comp Requirements
Workers Comp Exemptions by State
Workers Comp Claims Process
High-Risk Workers Comp Markets for Contractors
Get Workers Comp That Actually Works for Your Crew
One injury without coverage can cost more than years of premiums. Let us find the right policy at the right price — same day, no runaround.
Related Coverage