New York contractor workers' comp: what it costs

Real contractor policies we placed

None of these policies is in New York, and rates differ by state, so treat them as a sense of scale, not a New York price.

A heating and air conditioning contractor in Florida we insure pays $1,182 a year for workers' comp, written with AmTrust.

A remodeling contractor working on single-family homes we insure pays $1,237 a year for workers' comp, written with AmTrust.

A concrete block masonry contractor we insure pays $1,575 a year for workers' comp, written with The Hartford.

A home remodeler working on single-family homes we insure pays $2,565 a year for workers' comp, written with The Hartford.

A builder of new single-family homes we insure pays $3,562 a year for workers' comp, written with The Hartford.

A general electrical contractor we insure pays $3,774 a year for workers' comp, written with Employers.

Each line is one real policy we placed, not an average or a range. Your price depends on your payroll, the type of work, your state and your claims, and we can't promise a price until we see your details.

Who must carry workers' comp in New York

Virtually every employer in New York must carry workers' comp, and that includes part-time, temporary and seasonal workers. Family members working in a for-profit business count as employees, paid or not.

A sole proprietor, partnership or LLC with no employees doesn't need a policy. A corporation owned by one or two people who hold all the stock and offices, with no other employees, also doesn't. A corporation with more than two officers does.

New York Workers' Compensation Board: is coverage required? ↗

Construction and subcontractor rules in New York

Under New York's Construction Industry Fair Play Act, a worker doing construction for a contractor is presumed to be that contractor's employee. The contractor has to prove the person is independent, under a three-part test, or that the person's business is separate, under a twelve-part test.

The Board also notes that carriers often charge general contractors for every sub on the job unless the sub shows its own policy, and that GCs routinely require it. That is why many one-person contracting businesses in New York buy a policy that covers themselves.

What we need to quote

Send the items below. If you also work outside New York, list each state and the payroll for work there.

We can't promise a price before we see your details. We will tell you what we found and what each quote assumed.

Annual payroll, split by the type of work each person does.
Number of full-time and part-time employees.
Years in business.
Claims in the past few years, or a note that there were none.
Whether your subcontractors carry their own workers' comp.

Your startup action list

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Annual payroll, split by the type of work each person does.
Number of full-time and part-time employees.
Years in business.
Claims in the past few years, or a note that there were none.
Whether your subcontractors carry their own workers' comp.

Use this guide for planning. Confirm requirements and current fees with the agencies serving your address. Coverage depends on the policy and insurer; this guide does not confirm that a particular operation is eligible.