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. It is required in most states if someone asks for it. 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 by default, the owner is not covered. That means the insurance doesn’t pay for your own injuries unless you make a choice to include yourself, and that choice costs more.
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 to rent equipment. 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, which are the maximum amounts the insurance will pay. 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. It will give you 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. It proves that your business has workers' comp. But it doesn’t cover you, the owner. That means if you get hurt, the insurance doesn’t pay for your medical bills. If you want to be covered, you need to make a choice. That choice is called an owner inclusion election. It costs more, but it adds you to the policy. You decide if you want it at the time you get your quote.
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. By default, you are not listed. So the insurance doesn’t pay for your injuries. If you want to be covered, you need to make the owner inclusion election. That adds you to the list of people who are covered. You pay more, but you get the same kind of help if you get hurt.
If you don’t make the election, the insurance still helps if you hire someone later. It covers them if they get hurt. But it doesn’t cover you. So if you want to be covered, you need to make the choice when you get your quote. You make the choice when you get your quote. 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. You might have to go through the legal system to get what you need. That can take a long time. It can be expensive. It can be stressful. Workers' comp helps you avoid all that. It 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.
So if you do landscaping and work alone, you need to decide if you want to be covered. You can get a policy that proves your business has insurance. That’s the ghost policy. If you want to be covered, you make the owner inclusion election. That’s a choice you make at the time you get your quote. You pay more, but you get help if you get hurt.
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. You can make the owner inclusion election at the same time. You decide if you want to be covered. You make the choice when you get your quote. 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. It gives you a policy and a certificate. It helps you satisfy the person who asked for the certificate. It helps you cover yourself if you want to. It helps you work safely and legally. Get your quote in minutes.
