What a Certificate of Insurance Must Show

If someone asked you to send a certificate of insurance (COI), you need to show proof that your landscaping business has a workers' compensation policy. A COI is a short document that shows you have coverage. It is not the full policy, but it gives the most important facts in a simple way.

Here’s what a COI for a landscaper must show:

You give the COI to the person who asked you for it. They check it to make sure you have the right kind of coverage in place.

What the Certificate Doesn't Show

The COI is not the full insurance policy. It leaves out important details, like:

If you want to know all the details of your policy, you need to look at the full policy documents. The certificate is just a quick way to prove you have coverage in place.

Why a Certificate is Needed for Landscapers

Landscapers are asked for a certificate of insurance because they work on job sites, often for clients or property owners. These people want proof that your business has workers' comp.

Even if you work alone, the person asking for the certificate still wants to see proof. It shows you are responsible.

Some clients or property owners may require a certificate. It helps them make sure you are covered before you start the job.

How to Get Your Certificate of Insurance

To get a certificate of insurance, you first need to buy a workers' compensation policy. This policy gives proof of workers' comp. You can get your quote in minutes and pay by card online. Cimarron issues your policy within 24 business hours of your payment and signed documents.

  1. Start your quote and tell us about your landscaping work.
  2. We will give you a real price for your state and the kind of work you do.
  3. Once Cimarron issues your policy, within 24 business hours of your payment and signed documents, you get the certificate of insurance. You can download it or print it.

You can share the certificate with anyone who asked for it. It shows your business is covered.

What a Certificate Shows for a Landscaper

As a landscaper, your certificate will show that you have workers' compensation for landscaping work. It will also show the limits: workers' comp benefits follow your state's law ("per statute"), and the employers' liability limits are listed.

Your quote uses the class code for landscaping in your state. A class code is a number that helps decide the price of the policy. This number may be different in other states. You can learn more about class codes.

The certificate has a box that shows if the owner is excluded. A ghost policy does not cover the owner. You reject coverage for yourself when you buy it, so the policy pays no medical bills or lost wages to you.

What to Do Next

If you were asked to send a certificate, the fastest way to get one is to buy a workers' compensation policy. This can answer the request of the person asking. Work above 15 feet, like work in tall trees, can't be covered by this program. If any of your landscaping goes that high, you need regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy.

Get your quote in minutes. It takes only a few minutes and shows the real price for your business. You can start right away. After Cimarron issues your policy, you get the certificate you need to send to the person who asked for it.

More About Certificates and Landscapers

Some people may ask for a certificate even if your state doesn’t require workers' comp. This is because they want to be safe. Always check with the person asking to make sure you understand what they need.

Remember, the certificate proves that your business has coverage. It does not prove that you, the owner, are covered, because a ghost policy does not cover you. If you want a policy that pays you when you get hurt, you need regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy.

Once you have the certificate, you can share it with the person who asked for it. You can also keep a copy for your records. This can be helpful if you need to show proof of coverage again in the future.