Workers' Comp Insurance for Contractors
Workers' comp insurance covers medical care, lost wages, and disability benefits when an employee is hurt on the job — and in California it's mandatory the moment you have a single employee. We shop your workers' comp across competing carriers so a required policy doesn't cost more than it should.
What it covers
- Medical treatment for work-related injuries and illness
- Temporary and permanent disability benefits
- Lost-wage replacement while your employee recovers
- Employer's liability protection if you're sued over an injury
- CSLB compliance — certificates filed the way the board wants them
- Experience-mod (X-Mod) guidance to keep future rates down
It's the law — and the net is widening
California requires workers' comp for every employer with even one employee. The state is also phasing in coverage requirements for licensed contractors without employees — several classifications already must carry it, and by January 1, 2028 every active CSLB license will need workers' comp regardless of headcount.
Construction rates punish the unprepared
Construction is a high-rate class, and your X-Mod follows you carrier to carrier. Getting the classification codes right and managing claims well is the difference between a premium you can live with and one that eats your margin.
How we make it simple
We verify your class codes are right (misclassification is the #1 cause of overpaying), shop the policy across carriers that want California contractor business, and keep your CSLB filing current — so the board, your GC, and your crew are all covered.
Workers' Comp — frequently asked questions
Yes. California Labor Code requires every employer with one or more employees to carry workers' compensation insurance — no exceptions for part-time or family. For licensed contractors, the CSLB also requires certain classifications (including concrete, HVAC, asbestos abatement, and tree service) to carry workers' comp even with no employees, and that requirement extends to all license classifications by January 1, 2028. Working without required coverage risks license suspension, stop-work orders, and personal liability for injuries.
Workers' comp is priced per $100 of payroll, and the rate depends on your classification codes, your claims history (X-Mod), and the carrier. Construction classes run higher than office work, which is exactly why shopping matters — carriers price contractor classes very differently. We audit your class codes first, since misclassified payroll is the most common reason contractors overpay, then take your account to multiple markets and let them compete.
Increasingly, yes. California is phasing in workers' comp requirements for licensed contractors regardless of whether they have employees: several classifications already require it, and by January 1, 2028 every active CSLB license must carry coverage. Beyond the law, many GCs already require subs to carry workers' comp even solo — without it, you may be counted under their policy and back-charged. We'll tell you exactly what your classification requires today and what's coming.
Your experience modification (X-Mod) compares your claims history to other businesses in your class — 1.0 is average, below saves you money, above costs you. Many project owners also screen bids by X-Mod, so a high mod can lock you out of work entirely. We help you understand what's driving your mod, manage claims so small injuries don't become big reserves, and time your carrier moves to keep it working in your favor.
Ready to quote your workers' comp coverage?
One conversation and we take it to the market. Big or small… we write them all.