You Need Workers' Comp Insurance
You work alone. But if you are told to send a certificate, you need workers' comp insurance. It proves your business has a policy, even if you don't have employees. Many states do not require it for a one-person business with no employees, but a client can still ask for proof.
A ghost policy proves your business has coverage. But it does not cover you, the owner. It exists to show proof of coverage to the client, contractor or landlord who asks for it.
Get your quote in minutes to see how much it costs for your kind of work.
Your Work Defines Your Insurance
Your kind of work decides the price of your insurance. If you clean homes, that's the work you must tell the insurance company about. The price depends on the kind of work and the state you live in. You don't need to worry about class codes — your quote will tell you what code matches your work.
You don't need to find the code yourself — the insurance company does that part.
Always tell the truth about your work. The premium is fully earned, so once the policy is issued there is no refund. The one exception: if underwriting finds that your application is false before the policy is issued, you get a full refund.
Your Certificate Shows Coverage
When someone asks for a certificate, it's like a letter that says your business has insurance. The certificate shows the name of the insurance company, the policy number, and the dates the insurance works. It also shows the limits listed on the policy.
But the certificate does not show all the rules of the insurance. It's like a snapshot. If you want to know all the rules, you need to read the full policy. The certificate just proves coverage is there.
Learn more about certificates and how to send them to your clients or landlords.
What the Policy Does and Doesn't Do
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.
You, the owner, are not in the policy. You reject coverage for yourself when you buy a ghost policy, so it pays no medical bills or lost wages to you. If you want a policy that pays you when you get hurt, you need regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy.
This kind of insurance does not cover injuries to customers or damage to their property. That's a different kind of insurance called general liability. You might need that too, but it's not part of the workers' comp insurance you can get here.
Your Checklist for Getting Started
Here's a simple list to help you get started:
- Check if your state needs workers' comp insurance. Your state's workers' compensation office can tell you.
- Tell the truth about the kind of work you do. This helps get the right price.
- Know what it does not cover. A ghost policy does not cover you, the owner.
- Get your certificate. It proves your business has insurance.
- Send the certificate to the person who asked for it. They might need it before you start work.
Follow these steps to stay ready for any certificate request.
Get your quote in minutes. It shows what your insurance will cost.
What to Do If You Have Questions
If you're not sure about anything, go to the quote page and start the process. The quote will tell you what it costs. You don't need to talk to someone — everything is online. Your quote takes minutes.
If you're confused about the rules in your state, you can also look up your state's insurance rules. Every state has its own rules about what's required.
If you're not sure what a certificate is or how to use it, read more about certificates to learn what they are and how they work.
Next Steps for Your Business
Now that you know the basics, it's time to get your insurance. Start with the quote. Your quote will tell you everything you need to know about your insurance — what it costs, what it covers, and what it doesn't cover.
If you're ready, get your quote in minutes. It's the way to find out how much it costs for your kind of work.
Once you have your insurance, you can send the certificate to anyone who asks for it. This shows them that your business has workers' comp — and that you're responsible and ready to work.
