Workers Comp · Florida
Florida Workers Compensation Insurance for Small Business
Florida law requires workers comp from your first construction employee and your fourth in other trades. We compare multiple A-rated carriers to structure coverage around your payroll.
What is workers compensation insurance in Florida?
Workers compensation insurance, often called workers comp or workman's comp, pays medical care and part of lost wages when an employee is hurt or gets sick because of the job. It also protects the employer. When the policy is in place, an injured worker generally cannot sue the business for that injury. Florida requires it once a construction business has one employee, and once most other businesses have four. The premium is built on payroll and on the kind of work each employee does. We compare workers comp across multiple A-rated carriers. The quote is free.
Florida Workers Compensation Insurance Requirements
| What Florida requires | What it means for your business |
|---|---|
| Coverage from the first employee in the construction industry, and from the fourth employee in most other businesses (§ 440.02(20)(b), Florida Statutes) | Construction includes building, clearing, filling, excavation and substantial improvements to a structure or to land (§ 440.02(10)). Anyone you pay for work counts, full time or part time (§ 440.02(18)). |
| Up to three corporate officers in construction may file an exemption, each owning at least 10% of the company (§ 440.02(18)(b)2.) | An exemption applies only to the officer who files it, never to employees. The moment you hire, you need a policy. |
| Proof of coverage or a valid exemption to get a building permit (§ 440.103) | The permit office checks the certificate before it issues. |
| No coverage: a stop-work order and a penalty of 2 times the premium you should have paid, or $1,000, whichever is greater (§ 440.107(7)(a), (d)1.) | Working while the order stands adds $1,000 a day (§ 440.107(7)(c)). |
| Calling an employee an independent contractor when the law says otherwise: $5,000 per worker (§ 440.107(7)(f)) | A 1099 does not decide it. The work relationship does. |
These are the state's requirements, not a quote. Coverage, eligibility and pricing vary by carrier and by the work your employees do.
Employees vs. 1099 Subcontractors in Florida
Your employees
People you direct, pay by the hour or salary, and send to the job. They count toward the requirement and go on your payroll for the premium. If one is hurt, your policy responds. Their health care off the job comes from a group health insurance plan. Workers a staffing agency places with you stay on the agency's payroll and its policy, as our staffing agency insurance page explains.
Your 1099 subcontractors
Independent businesses with their own coverage or a valid exemption. Collect their certificate before they start. In construction, a sub with no coverage can leave its injured worker on your policy (§ 440.10(1)(b)).
How Workers Comp Insurance Cost Is Calculated
- Payroll — The premium starts from what you pay each group of employees in a year.
- Job class — Each kind of work has its own class code and rate. Roofers and office staff are rated very differently.
- Claims history — Once a business is large enough, its own claims raise or lower the price through an experience rating.
- Audit — After the policy year, the carrier checks your real payroll. The premium is adjusted up or down to match it.
Have This Ready for Your Workers Comp Quote
- Your payroll for the coming year, split by the type of work.
- The number of employees, full time and part time.
- The subcontractors you use, with their certificates or exemptions.
- Your current policy and loss runs, if you are already covered.
Who writes workers comp insurance in Miami Beach and Miami?
American US Insurance is an independent, bilingual insurance agency headquartered in Kendall that places workers comp for businesses across Florida. We represent you, not a single insurer, and we compare multiple A-rated carriers on every payroll. That matters on workers comp, where workers compensation insurance companies price the same job class very differently. We write workers comp in Miami Beach, Miami, Hialeah and across Florida for restaurants, contractors, offices and staffing businesses. We handle the whole file, from the first quote to the audit.
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Tell us what your team does and your total payroll. We compare multiple A-rated Florida carriers to deliver real options, with certificates ready when you bind.
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- Renewal and claims help after you buy
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