What workers' comp costs for a solo handyman
You're a one-person handyman. Someone asked you to send a certificate of insurance. You need coverage. You want to know what workers' comp costs and what makes the price change.
The cost of workers' comp for a solo handyman depends on two main things: your state and the kind of work you do. Your quote shows your exact price before you pay.
Workers' comp is not the same as other kinds of insurance. It only pays for work-related injuries to people who are covered by the policy. It does not cover you if a customer sues you — that is general liability, and it’s a different kind of insurance. We don’t sell that kind here.
For a one-person business like yours, the policy can be a ghost policy. That means it shows you have coverage for the business — but it does not cover you, the owner, if you get hurt at work. You reject coverage for yourself when you buy it. If you want a policy that pays you when you get hurt, you need regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy.
Your state decides part of the cost
Your state has rules about workers' comp. Some states have high costs, some have low. You can’t change your state, but you can see what your state charges when you get your quote.
A ghost policy is priced at the program's minimum premium for your state: one flat price. You can't get a ghost policy for less than that in your state. The quote will show you the real number for your state.
The quote and policy documents show how long your policy lasts and the exact dates.
The kind of work you do affects the cost
The work you do every day is called your class code. Class codes are like numbers that help set the price. A handyman who fixes electrical problems has a different code than a handyman who does plumbing. Each code has its own price. Work above 15 feet can’t be covered by this program, so if any of your handyman work goes that high, you need regular workers' comp instead. That’s why it’s important to tell the truth about the kind of work you do when you get your quote.
Class codes are used only for workers' comp. They do not decide what the policy covers — the policy covers work-related injuries to covered people no matter what your code is. Class codes just help decide the price.
When you get your quote, you can choose the right class code for the work you do. That helps give you the most accurate price.
What a ghost policy costs, all in
A ghost policy has one flat price. Your state and your trade set it. It does not go up when you work more hours, and it does not go down when you work fewer. You pay the whole price by card, in one payment. These prices include the $250 Audit Fee — Powered by Audit1, which shows on its own line at checkout.
In Illinois, a ghost policy costs $1,500 ($1,250 plus the $250 fee). In Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota and Virginia, it costs $1,250 ($1,000 plus the $250 fee). In Iowa and Indiana, the price is the price of your trade plus the $250 fee, and your quote shows it.
A blanket waiver of subrogation is optional. It adds $150.
A ghost policy does not cover the owner
You — the owner — are not covered by a ghost policy. You reject coverage for yourself when you buy it. That means if you get hurt at work, the policy does not pay your medical bills or lost wages. It exists to show proof of coverage to the client, contractor or landlord who asks for it.
A 👻Ghost Policy never covers the owner; if you want coverage for yourself, you need regular workers' comp.
Your quote shows your exact cost
Your cost depends on your state and the work you do. Your quote shows your exact price before you pay. The quote is free and takes only a few minutes.
When you get your quote, you’ll see the cost for your situation.
What happens if you cancel the policy
The premium is fully earned. 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.
Next steps
You now know what affects the cost of workers' comp for a solo handyman. The cost depends on your state and the kind of work you do. Your quote shows the exact cost.
Go to start your quote and see what your policy costs. You’ll see your price right away.
