Who must carry workers' comp in Iowa?

Most employment relationships are covered; no minimum number is stated. (Source: Compliance, Iowa DIAL Workers' Compensation.) Many one-person businesses buy a ghost policy anyway, because a general contractor, a client or a licensing office asks for a certificate of workers' comp.

Who writes UNO ghost policies in Iowa?

Cimarron Insurance Company writes every UNO ghost policy in Iowa. UNO Insurance is not an insurer.

How fast can I get a ghost policy in Iowa?

The quote takes about 3 minutes. Cimarron issues your policy within 24 business hours of payment and signed documents, and the certificate of insurance is ready to download after the policy is issued.

Does a ghost policy in Iowa cover the owner?

No. A 👻Ghost Policy never covers the owner; if you want coverage for yourself, you need regular workers' comp.

[ Ghost policy · Iowa ]

Can I get a ghost policy in Iowa?

Yes. UNO Insurance (unoinsure.com) sells ghost policies — owner-only workers' comp for a business with no employees — in Iowa, written by Cimarron Insurance Company. The premium is from $164 to $809 a year, depending on your trade's class code, plus the $250 Audit Fee, paid together in one payment. The owner rejects coverage, and the policy gives you the certificate a contract or license asks for.

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How much does a ghost policy cost in Iowa?

The yearly premium is set by your trade's class code: from $164 to $809 in Iowa. Add the $250 Audit Fee — Powered by Audit1, and you pay both together, in one payment. Each trade's premium is listed below.

If a contract asks for a waiver of subrogation, a Blanket Waiver of Subrogation adds $150 a year.

What does Iowa law say about workers' comp?

Who must carry it: Most employment relationships are covered; no minimum number is stated. Source: Compliance, Iowa DIAL Workers' Compensation
Owners and officers: Up to four corporate officers (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer) may reject coverage in writing. Source: Iowa Code 85.1(5)

Read from Iowa's own pages on October 16, 2026. Rules change: check the source before you rely on one.

Even where the law does not require it, one-person businesses buy a ghost policy because a general contractor, a client, a franchisor or a licensing office asks for a certificate of workers' comp.

Who can get a ghost policy in Iowa?

A one-person business where the owner does all the work. You're a fit if:

You're the only person working.
You have no W-2 employees and no plans to hire.
You use no subcontractors of any kind — not even ones who carry their own insurance — and no 1099 workers or day labor.
No family member helps with the work, paid or unpaid.
Your work never takes you above 15 feet.
Your business is in Iowa.

If anyone else works for you, you need regular workers' comp, not a ghost policy. Work above 15 feet is an automatic decline, so roofers and other work at heights can't be covered.

Which trades can get a ghost policy in Iowa?

Cimarron Insurance Company writes 79 trades (class codes) in Iowa. Each one's yearly premium is next to it.

See the 79 trades

0042 LANDSCAPE GARDENING & DRIVERS$580
0917 RESIDENTIAL CLEANING SERVICES BY CONTRACTOR--INSIDE$435
2041 CANDY, CHOCOLATE, AND CONFECTION MFG$465
2070 DAIRY OR CREAMERY & ROUTE SUPERVISORS, DRIVERS$624
2105 FRUIT PACKING$557
2417 CLOTH PRINTING$277
2501 UMBRELLA MFG$357
2503 DRESSMAKING OR TAILORING CUSTOM EXCLUSIVELY$255
2585 LAUNDRY NOC & ROUTE SUPERVISORS, DRIVERS$507
2802 CARPENTRY SHOP ONLY & DRIVERS$530
2881 FURNITURE MANUFACTURING AND CABINET SHOP--ASSEMBLY BY HAND--WOOD$423
3365 WELDING OR CUTTING NOC & DRIVERS$545
3383 BUCKLE MFG. SILVER$308
3385 CAMERA REPAIR$255
4250 PAPER CORRUGATING OR LAMINATING$369
4299 PRINTING$325
4361 PHOTOGRAPHER ALL EMPLOYEES & CLERICAL, SALESPERSONS, DRIVERS$254
5022 MASONRY NOC$705
5146 FIXTURES OR FURNITURE INSTALLATION--PORTABLE--NOC$510
5183 PLUMBING NOC & DRIVERS$395
5188 SPRINKLER INSTALLATION & DRIVERS$476
5190 ELECTRICAL WIRING WITHIN BUILDINGS & DRIVERS$350
5191 OFFICE MACHINE INSTALLATION, INSPECTION, ADJUSTMENT, OR REPAIR$259
5192 VENDING OR COIN OPERATED MACHINES--INSTALLATION, SERVICE, OR REPAIR & SALESPERSONS, DRIVERS$469
5215 CONCRETE WORK--INCIDENTAL TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRIVATE RESIDENCE$622
5221 CONCRETE OR CEMENT WORK--FLOORS, DRIVEWAYS, YARDS, OR SIDEWALKS & DRIVERS$508
5223 SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION NOT IRON OR STEEL & DRIVERS$549
5348 CERAMIC TILE, INDOOR STONE, MARBLE, OR MOSAIC WORK$465
5437 CARPENTRY INSTALLATION OF CABINET WORK OR INTERIOR TRIM$545
5445 WALLBOARD, SHEETROCK, DRYWALL, PLASTERBOARD, OR CEMENT BOARD INSTALLATION--WITHIN BUILDINGS & DRIVERS$554
5474 PAINTING NOC & SHOP OPERATIONS, DRIVERS$650
5478 FLOOR COVERING INSTALLATION--RESILIENT FLOORING--CARPET AND LAMINATE FLOORING$443
5480 PLASTERING NOC & DRIVERS$697
5491 PAPERHANGING & DRIVERS$362
5537 HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR-CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS--INSTALLATION, SERVICE AND REPAIR, SHOP, YARD & DRIVERS$521
7219 TRUCKING NOC ALL EMPLOYEES & DRIVERS$809
7380 DRIVERS AND HELPERS NOC - COMMERCIAL$594
7605 BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM INSTALLATION OR REPAIR & DRIVERS$350
8001 FLORIST STORE & DRIVERS$375
8008 STORE--CLOTHING, WEARING APPAREL, OR DRY GOODS--RETAIL$263
8010 STORE--HARDWARE$331
8013 STORE--JEWELRY$185
8015 QUICK PRINTING--COPYING OR DUPLICATING SERVICE--ALL EMPLOYEES & CLERICAL, SALESPERSONS, DRIVERS$237
8017 STORE--RETAIL NOC$288
8018 STORE--WHOLESALE--NOC$449
8021 STORE--MEAT, FISH OR POULTRY DEALER--WHOLESALE$369
8031 STORE--MEAT, FISH OR POULTRY--RETAIL$312
8032 STORE--DRY GOODS--WHOLESALE$325
8102 BEAN SORTING OR HANDLING$307
8103 CLIPPINGS DEALER$388
8111 PLUMBERS' SUPPLIES DEALER & DRIVERS$389
8116 FARM MACHINERY DEALER--ALL OPERATIONS & DRIVERS$367
8235 SASH, DOOR, OR ASSEMBLED MILLWORK--DEALER & DRIVERS$558
8293 WAREHOUSING--FURNITURE & DRIVERS$689
8380 AUTOMOBILE--SERVICE OR REPAIR CENTER & DRIVERS$394
8392 AUTOMOBILE STORAGE GARAGE, PARKING LOT OR PARKING STATION, VALET SERVICE, CASHIERS OR COUNTER PERSONNEL & DRIVERS$360
8393 AUTOMOBILE--BODY REPAIR & DRIVERS$305
8601 ARCHITECTURAL OR ENGINEERING FIRM--INCLUDING SALESPERSONS & DRIVERS$189
8602 SURVEYORS, TIMBER CRUISERS, OIL OR GAS GEOLOGISTS OR SCOUTS, & DRIVERS$357
8603 ARCHITECTURAL OR ENGINEERING FIRM--CLERICAL$170
8720 INSPECTION OF RISKS FOR INSURANCE OR VALUATION PURPOSES NOC$237
8721 REAL ESTATE AGENCY--OUTSIDE EMPLOYEES & COLLECTORS$188
8742 SALESPERSONS OR COLLECTORS—OUTSIDE$190
8748 AUTOMOBILE SALESPERSONS$209
8803 AUDITOR, ACCOUNTANT, OR COMPUTER SYSTEM DESIGNER OR PROGRAMMER--TRAVELING$164
8810 CLERICAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES NOC$175
8831 HOSPITAL VETERINARY & DRIVERS$273
8868 SCHOOL--PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES & CLERICAL$210
9012 BUILDING OR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT--PROPERTY MANAGERS AND LEASING AGENTS & CLERICAL, SALESPERSONS$269
9014 JANITORIAL SERVICES BY CONTRACTORS--NO WINDOW CLEANING ABOVE GROUND LEVEL & DRIVERS$375
9015 BUILDING OR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT--ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES$411
9063 HEALTH OR EXERCISE INSTITUTE & CLERICAL$233
9083 RESTAURANT: FAST FOOD$266
9102 PARK NOC--ALL EMPLOYEES & DRIVERS$391
9402 STREET CLEANING & DRIVERS$512
9519 AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS--PORTABLE UNITS--INSTALLATION, SERVICE OR REPAIR & DRIVERS$496
9521 HOUSE FURNISHINGS INSTALLATION NOC & UPHOLSTERING$447
9522 UPHOLSTERING$460
9586 BEAUTY SHOP, BARBER SHOP, OR HAIR STYLING SALON$202

Compare every trade and price across all 14 states · Not sure which is yours? What is a class code?

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What is a ghost policy? The full guide

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