North Carolina contractor workers' comp: what it costs

Real contractor policies we placed

None of these policies is in North Carolina, and rates differ by state, so treat them as a sense of scale, not a North Carolina 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 North Carolina

In general, a North Carolina business that regularly employs three or more people must carry workers' comp. Corporate officers count toward the three. Sole proprietors, partners and LLC members are not counted automatically.

A business with even one employee working with radiation must carry it.

Construction and subcontractor rules in North Carolina

The three-employee rule does not protect a GC from a small sub. Under G.S. 97-19, a contractor who sublets work without getting a certificate of the sub's workers' comp is liable for the sub's injured workers, even when the sub has fewer than three employees.

Getting the certificate before the sub starts protects you for the term it shows. Collect one from every sub, every time.

What we need to quote

Send the items below. If you also work outside North Carolina, 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.