You do landscaping alone. Do you need workers' comp?
You do landscaping by yourself. You use a shovel, a lawnmower, and maybe a truck. You don’t have any employees. But someone asked for a certificate. That means they want proof that your business has workers' comp insurance. You need a policy that can do that, even if you work alone.
Workers' comp is a type of insurance that pays for injuries at work. Most states require it once a business has employees, and a client can ask for it even if you work alone. If you do landscaping, you might get a cut from a tool, twist your back lifting something, or fall. The insurance helps if that happens to anyone who is covered by the policy. But the owner is not covered. That means the insurance doesn’t pay for your own injuries. You reject coverage for yourself when you buy the policy.
Why do you need workers' comp if you work alone?
Some people, like a client or a landlord, will ask for a certificate. It shows that your business has workers' comp. You might need it to get a job. You might need it because your state says you do. The certificate proves the insurance exists. It doesn’t prove you are covered, but it proves the business is covered.
The certificate is a piece of paper or a PDF. It shows the type of insurance, the dates it’s active, the carrier, and the policy number. It also shows the limits: for workers' comp, benefits follow state law ("per statute"), and the employers' liability limits are listed. But it doesn’t show all the details of the policy. If someone asks for the certificate, you need to give it to them. So you need workers' comp, even if you work alone.
How does a one-person landscaping business get workers' comp?
You can get workers' comp online. You don’t need to talk to an agent or wait for a call back. You answer some questions about your business. Then you see your price. The price depends on your state and the kind of work you do. You can buy the policy right then. After Cimarron issues it, you get a certificate you can send to the person who asked for it.
The policy you get is called a ghost policy. It’s for businesses with no employees and no subcontractors. It proves that your business has workers' comp. But it doesn’t cover you, the owner. That means if you get hurt, the insurance does not pay your medical bills. You reject coverage for yourself when you buy it. 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.
What does the insurance cover?
Workers' comp covers injuries that happen at work. It pays for medical care and lost wages if someone gets hurt. But it only covers people who are listed in the policy. As the owner, you are not listed. So the insurance does not pay for your injuries. A 👻Ghost Policy never covers the owner; if you want coverage for yourself, you need regular workers' comp.
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 you hire someone later, you need regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy. The cost depends on the kind of work you do and where you live. The quote will show the real price.
What if you don’t have workers' comp and get hurt?
If you don’t have workers' comp and get hurt, you might have to pay for your own medical bills. You might not get help for lost wages. Workers' comp pays for the care and the lost time. But only if you are covered by the policy. If you are not on the list, it doesn’t help you. On a ghost policy, the owner is never on the list.
So if you do landscaping and work alone, you can get a policy that proves your business has insurance. That’s the ghost policy. It does not cover you, the owner. If you want a policy that pays you when you get hurt, you need regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy.
How to get started today
If you do landscaping alone and someone asked for a certificate, you need workers' comp. You can get a policy that proves your business has it. You can buy it online. You answer some questions. You see your price. You buy the policy. You get a certificate you can send to the person who asked for it. The price depends on your state and the kind of work you do. The quote will show the real price.
You can start your quote now. It takes a few minutes. It shows the real price for your state and your work. After you pay, Cimarron issues your policy within 24 business hours of your payment and signed documents, and then you get a certificate. It helps you satisfy the person who asked for the certificate. Get your quote in minutes.
