Workers Compensation Insurance for Small Business, Explained

Workers' Compensation Insurance

The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that 17.3% of small businesses employ at least one worker, which means approximately 1 in 5 small business owners is legally required to carry a current workers’ compensation insurance policy.

“Approximately 1 in 5 small business owners is legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.”

Workers’ compensation is the system put in place to cover medical expenses and lost wages for employees when they’re injured at work. Not only is it meant to protect your employees, but it also protects you should your employee choose to sue for damages.

Workers' compensation insurance definition: While often used interchangeably with "workers' compensation," workers’ compensation insurance is the policy most employers purchase annually to provide coverage. A workers’ comp policy serves both employee and employer with the following benefits:

Medical care for injuries an employee sustains in their line of work
Vocational rehabilitation to return the worker back to health and transition them back to the workforce
Disability benefits if the worker is unable to return to work after the injury
Death benefits paid out to surviving family in the event of an employee fatality
Employer liability in the event of potential negligence
Legal costs if the work comp claim is challenged or if an employee sues the employer for damages

Want the 2-minute explanation? Read The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Workers’ Compensation.

The History of Workers' Compensation

The history of workers’ compensation in the U.S. goes back to worker protections that arose from the Progressive Era in the early 20th century.

After a deadly fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City, state legislatures began to require employers to compensate workers for injuries sustained on the job, regardless of fault. The insurance product followed soon after to help employers afford work comp claims, by offering no policy limits on employee medical care.

Workers' Compensation Insurance Requirements for Small Businesses

Workers’ compensation is mandated across the U.S., but because it’s regulated at the state level, each state has its own requirements. Familiarize yourself with your state’s rules to make sure you’re in compliance. Generally speaking, though, if you employ at least one person, there’s a good chance you’re legally required to carry a workers’ compensation insurance policy.

Keep in mind: you must abide by the rules of the state in which your employees are performing work — not where your business was founded or is currently headquartered. Whether or not it’s required, workers’ comp insurance protects small business owners by covering medical expenses and lost wages for injured workers, and pays for employer legal defense fees in the event of a lawsuit.

Here are some of the factors that vary from state to state.

Public vs. Private

States may determine how a business obtains a workers’ compensation policy, including whether small business owners can purchase a policy from any state-licensed insurer, or if all employers must buy from the state fund. (More on this below.)

Employee Limits and Definitions

In most states, any employer with one or more employees is required by law to carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, there are some states where this doesn’t hold true. However, there are some states (like Georgia) where this doesn’t hold true. Instead, workers’ compensation coverage isn’t required until a company reaches three or more employees.

Furthermore, how an employee is defined differs. Most states agree that the employee limits apply to full- and part-time employees, but they may differ in how they treat sole proprietors, partners, members of an LLC, independent contractors, "gig economy" workers and family members.

Out-of-State Work

All workers’ compensation policies, by default, provide coverage within state lines. Some states offer reciprocity with other states, or honor an All States Endorsement. This can be added to a policy by your insurer to allow coverage to apply in any non-monopolistic state for temporary work or business-related travel.

If your employees are traveling across state lines for work, or your business is moving or expanding to another state, check the requirements there before employees begin work.

Workers' compensation across state lines: If your employees are traveling across state lines for work, or your business is moving or expanding to another state, check the requirements there before employees begin work.

Small Business Workers' Compensation Insurance

For very small businesses — those with five or fewer employees — workers' compensation insurance works largely the same way as it does for larger organizations. But keep in mind:

A very small business may not meet the minimum employee limit to mandate workers' compensation insurance coverage. This means a policy can still be purchased, but it is optional.
Premiums are based on payroll, so workers' compensation insurance costs will increase or decrease with total payroll.
Some cost-saving benefits, like self-insurance and Experience Modifiers, may not be available to very small or very young businesses.

Workers' Compensation Insurance Cost

As an employer, workers’ compensation is a necessary cost to budget for the upcoming year. But how much should you set aside? First, it’s important to understand how policy costs are calculated.

Workers’ Compensation Rates

Workers’ compensation rates are key to determining the cost of a workers’ comp policy. Rates are set by your state’s rating agency or bureau using four different factors: class code, location, payroll, and experience.

Class Code

Every business is assigned an industry classification code that’s used to communicate the relative risk employees face and to recommend a baseline cost to insure workers in that business. In some states, this base rate is assigned and cannot be altered by the insurer.

Location

Like many industries, insurance is influenced by the economy and government regulation of each state, and this drives costs. In general, more strictly regulated and worker-favoring work comp systems like Florida and Massachusetts can expect higher rates than less regulated and more business-favoring states.

Payroll

It’s actually payroll — not the number of employees — that’s used to calculate the final premium cost. If your state has a higher cost of living with higher-than-average wages (for example, California and New York), you can expect work comp costs to be on the higher end of the national range.

Experience

New businesses and businesses with a history of claims will have a harder time securing coverage and may pay higher rates. After three years in business, you are assigned an Experience Modifier, which reflects the company’s workplace safety relative to others in the same class code. This Experience Mod is a mandated credit or debit that any insurer must apply to your final premium cost.

Business owners cannot control many aspects of a work comp premium, but you can save money on the cost of small business insurance by working with an insurance agency that has a strong network of business insurance carriers and by encouraging safe workplace practices. Many insurers also offer a variety of payment options to spread costs throughout the year.

To learn more, read our post on how to estimate what your policy will cost.

“You can control costs by working with an insurance agent that has a strong network of carriers, and by encouraging safe workplace practices.”

How to Buy Small Business Workers' Compensation Insurance

Check your state requirements to determine which employees need to be covered.
Calculate your payroll using the gross annual payroll of all employees the policy will cover.
Find a commercial insurance agency or carrier that is licensed to write in your state, and ideally one that specializes in small business workers' compensation.
Contact the insurance agency to request a quote. Have your payroll numbers and EIN nearby when you call or request a quote online.

For a detailed explanation, read How to Get a Workers' Compensation Quote: The Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide.

“Many independent agents can’t or won’t write work comp because it’s often more difficult and less profitable work for them. In this case, a work comp specialist can provide the guidance and policy you need.”

Workers' Compensation Insurance Companies

Whether your state has a private or public work comp market will dictate your options for insurance shopping. Here are some options if you’re a small business looking to purchase a workers’ comp policy.

A licensed insurance carrier, broker or agency

Most small businesses will start shopping with their local broker or insurance agency. However, serving small businesses isn’t profitable for most traditional insurance companies, thus insurance agents have little incentive to write policies for less than five employees or $250,000 in payroll.

WorkCompOne was created to address these challenges and connect small businesses with the workers’ compensation policies they need.

State fund

This is an insurance carrier run by the state government, which, in non-monopolistic states, competes with the private market. It can be a good alternative for businesses having a hard time finding coverage elsewhere.

Assigned risk pool

Because carrying insurance is legally mandated, employers have to find coverage somewhere. As a solution, some states offer an assigned risk pool for higher-risk businesses or businesses that have had multiple work comp claims.

If you’ve been denied coverage by several insurers, consider contacting your state’s assigned risk pool for coverage.

Get a Quote

Whether you’re experienced or a first-time buyer, purchasing workers’ compensation insurance for your small business all starts with getting a quote. To get started, you’ll need to provide information about your company and employees. Have the following in front of you before contacting an insurer:

Number of employees, and how many perform each type of work. If you already know the class code(s) that apply to your business, share them.
Total payroll for all employees. If you don't wish to be covered under the policy, ask whether your state allows you to be excluded.
Federal ID Number. If you are a sole proprietor, you can use your Social Security Number.
Copy of your workers’ comp insurance policy. If you have or had coverage, you’ll be asked about the details of that policy, including whether you’ve submitted any claims.
Experience Modifier. If your business has been assigned an Experience Modifier, have your Experience Mod rating sheet or policy in front of you.

That’s it! Requesting a quote can be done in less than 10 minutes.

Buy Small Business Workers’ Compensation Insurance

WorkCompOne offers a new, simpler way to get the work comp coverage you need. No more complicated forms, and no business too small.

We’ve helped thousands of small businesses get covered - Get your workers’ compensation quote today.

About WorkCompOne

If you’re a small business owner, you’re familiar with the frustrations of workers’ compensation insurance. The team at WorkCompOne knew there had to be a better way to connect small business owners with the work comp policies they need.

WorkCompOne is a Cleveland-based online insurance agency that’s changing workers’ compensation insurance. By bringing together best practices in technology and insurance, we’ve built an easy, new way for businesses to secure workers’ compensation insurance online.

Trusted by thousands of small businesses since 2012, WorkCompOne offers coverage to businesses of all sizes through its online platform, best-in-class customer service and partnership with leading national carriers. Learn more about the WorkCompOne solution.

Workers' Compensation Insurance for Small Business [Guide]