Yes, you need insurance before your first HVAC job.
If a customer asks for proof of insurance before your first job, you need to have it ready. You can get insurance before you start working. This makes sure you are ready when the job begins.
You need workers' compensation insurance. A ghost policy does not cover you, the owner. You reject coverage for yourself when you buy it, so it pays no medical bills or lost wages to you.
You can get a ghost policy. It proves your business has insurance, even if you have no employees. This helps you show a certificate when a customer asks for it. A ghost policy is for the owner only. That means no employees and no subcontractors of any kind, even subs who carry their own insurance or hand you a certificate. If anyone else works for you — an employee, a subcontractor, a 1099 worker, day labor, or a family member who helps — you need regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy. The policy is real. UNO sells it in 14 states, and your quote will tell you if yours is one of them.
Work above 15 feet can't be covered by this program. If any of your HVAC work goes that high, you need regular workers' comp instead.
Get your quote in minutes to find out the price for your state and kind of work.
What needs to exist before you start your first job.
Before you take your first HVAC job, you need a few things ready. They should be in this order:
- Get your workers' compensation insurance. A customer might ask for proof before the job starts. You need to show a certificate of insurance (COI). The COI shows the insurance carrier, the policy number, and the coverage dates. It does not show all the policy terms, but it proves the insurance exists.
- Get a certificate of insurance ready. This is what a customer usually asks for. The COI is a document that proves your business has insurance. It shows the coverage limits and the dates. You can get it after Cimarron issues your policy.
Start with your quote. It gives the real price and tells you if your state is covered. If not, you can look for another option or wait until you are in a covered state.
What happens if a customer asks for proof on day one.
If a customer asks for proof of insurance on the first day of your job and you do not have it, you might lose the job. Some customers will not let you work without it. You need to show the certificate of insurance before the job starts. This is common for larger jobs or when a customer is working with a property manager.
Here are some real situations:
- You get a job offer, but the customer says they need proof. You need to show the COI right away. If you do not have it, you might not get the job.
- You are working with a property manager. They often require proof before any work starts. They want to make sure the work is legal and that people are protected if they get hurt.
Buying insurance before you start helps you avoid these problems. It gives you a COI to show when you need it.
How to get insurance and a certificate.
You can get your quote in minutes. Cimarron issues your policy within 24 business hours of your payment and signed documents. Here is how:
- Get your quote. Go to our site and enter your state and the kind of work you do. This tells you the price and if your state is covered.
- Buy the insurance. If the quote looks good, you can pay for it right there, by card. The premium is fully earned, so once the policy is issued there is no refund. The process is online and takes just a few steps.
- Get your certificate of insurance. After Cimarron issues your policy, you get the COI. You can download it and send it to the customer when they ask.
You can do this all before your first job. Your quote is fast and simple, and Cimarron issues your policy within 24 business hours of your payment and signed documents. This way, you are ready when the job starts and the customer asks for proof.
Real examples of what can go wrong if you are not ready.
Not being ready with insurance can lead to real problems. Here are two examples:
- Example 1: You lose a job. A customer offers you a job to install a new HVAC system. They say they need proof before you start. You do not have insurance yet. You tell them you will get it soon. They decide to hire someone else who already has insurance. You lose the job.
- Example 2: You have to stop work. You start a job without a certificate. The property manager asks for proof before you go further. You do not have it, so you have to stop until you do. You lose time, and you might lose the job.
Buying insurance before you start helps you avoid these problems. It makes sure you are ready when the job starts and when a customer asks for proof.
If you want coverage for yourself.
A ghost policy does not cover you, the owner. It pays no medical bills or lost wages to you.
A 👻Ghost Policy never covers the owner; if you want coverage for yourself, you need regular workers' comp. This matters if you do risky work or work alone often. You should think about it before you buy the insurance.
Remember, a ghost policy does not cover you, the owner. It exists to show proof of coverage to the client, contractor or landlord who asks for it.
