Workers' Comp for Solo Landscapers

You do landscaping by yourself. Do you need workers' comp?

You work alone. You mow, trim, and dig. But a client or a bank asked for a workers' comp certificate. What does that mean for you?

Workers' comp is a kind of insurance. It pays if a person gets hurt on the job. But if you work alone, you may not need it. But someone asked for a certificate. So now you need to know what to do.

Why would someone ask for a workers' comp certificate?

A certificate proves that a business has insurance. If a client or a bank asks for it, they want to know that you are protected if someone gets hurt while working for you.

But if you work alone, you may not have any employees. So the certificate might just show that you have insurance for your own job. But workers' comp usually covers people who work for you — not you, the owner.

What is a ghost policy?

If you work alone, you can still get a workers' comp certificate. But you may not need real coverage for anyone else. That kind of policy is called a "ghost policy." It proves that you have insurance, but it does not cover you if you get hurt.

Some people call it a fake policy. That's not true. It is real insurance. But it only proves that you have coverage. It does not protect you. You can learn more about ghost policies and how they work for solo businesses like yours.

Do I need workers' comp if I work alone?

In most places, you are not required to have workers' comp if you work alone. But there are a few exceptions. Some states, like California and New York, require even owners to have coverage. So you should check your state's rules.

Also, if a client or a bank asks for a certificate, they might require you to have coverage. So you might need to get insurance just to satisfy them. You can start your quote to see what options are available to you and how much it would cost.

What happens if I get hurt and have no coverage?

If you get hurt and you do not have insurance, you will pay for your own medical bills. Workers' comp usually does not cover the owner unless you choose to be covered. But that costs extra. So if you work alone, you might not want to pay for that.

If you do not have coverage and you get hurt, you will need to go to the doctor and pay for everything yourself. That can be expensive.

How do I get a workers' comp certificate?

To get a certificate, you need to buy a policy. If you work alone, you can get a ghost policy. That proves you have insurance but does not cover you if you get hurt.

You can buy a policy from an insurance company. You tell them what kind of work you do and how many people you have. They will give you a price. Then you pay for the policy and get a certificate to show to the person who asked for it.

You can start your quote to find the right policy for you.

What if I change my mind later?

If you get a ghost policy and later hire someone, you need to change your policy. Ghost policies only work for businesses with no employees. If you hire someone, you need real coverage for them.

Also, if you decide you want coverage for yourself, you can choose to add yourself to the policy. But that costs extra. You can talk to your insurance company to see if that is an option.

What if I do not want coverage at all?

If you work alone and no one is asking for a certificate, you might not need workers' comp at all. But if you start working with others or get asked for a certificate, you will need to get coverage.

Not having coverage is okay if you are not required to have it. But if you get hurt, you will pay for everything yourself. So it is a choice. You can take the risk, or you can buy insurance to protect yourself.