6 Best Workers&#8217; Comp Insurance For Small Business

Get Started With The Hartford Small Business Insurance

Total Rating	4.3
Pricing4.5 Affordability 4.3 Transparency 5.0
Features5.0
Customer Service3.0
User Reviews3.0

Pricing

Varied. Average general liability is $88/month

Types of insurance offered

30+ policy types

Time to receive quote

Usually same-day

Pros

Fast free quotes
24/7 claims
Wide variety of policies
Available in most states

Cons

Not available in Alaska, Hawaii
Quotes not available online

Why We Chose The Hartford For The Best Workers' Comp

The Hartford frequently shows up on our lists of the best insurance providers, so it's no surprise to see this company on the list of the best workers' comp providers. The Hartford offers workers' comp in Washington, D.C., and all US states except Alaska and Hawaii. And you'll find a full range of coverage options with The Hartford, meaning this is a good choice for any size company, including those with complex business insurance needs.

The Hartford Workers' Comp Pricing

The Hartford provides pricing information by personalized quote only. However, on the company’s website, we can see that most of The Hartford’s clients with annual payroll below $300K pay about $70/month or $840/year for workers’ comp, on average.

Additional Coverage Available From The Hartford

The Hartford offers almost any type of business insurance that a small business might need. Here’s an overview of The Hartford’s range of policies:

General liability
Commercial property
Business owner’s policy (BOP)
Workers’ comp
Business income interruption
Commercial auto
Flood
Cybersecurity
Home-based business
Inland marine
Multinational
Professional liability

Choose The Hartford For Workers' Comp If You ...

Don’t mind speaking with an agent to get a personalized quote
Would like risk-engineering services
Want 24/7 claims service
Prefer to work with a large insurance company with strong customer satisfaction

NEXT: Best Workers' Comp For Easy Online Quotes & Coverage

Next Business Insurance

Get Started With Next Business Insurance

Total Rating	4.3
Pricing4.9 Affordability 5.0 Transparency 4.5
Features4.3
Customer Service3.5
User Reviews3.1

Pricing

Starting at $11/month

Types Of Insurance Offered

8+ policy types

Time To Receive A Quote

Instant online quotes

Pros

Instant online quotes
Instant coverage
Strong mobile app

Cons

Not suitable for large, complex businesses
Some types of coverage unavailable

Why We Chose NEXT For The Best Workers' Comp

NEXT is a relative newcomer to the insurance scene, but this company is making a name for itself with its extreme ease of use. You can ask for a personalized quote and receive it within minutes. Accept the quote and make a payment, and your coverage starts almost immediately. With a strong mobile app that lets you manage your account, getting workers' compensation insurance from NEXT could hardly be any easier.

NEXT Workers' Comp Pricing

NEXT provides fast, free quotes in an easy online process. NEXT says that half of its customers pay between $25-$150/month for workers’ comp insurance. About 4% of NEXT customers pay less than $25/month, and 46% pay more than $150/month for workers’ comp coverage.

Additional Coverage Available From NEXT

NEXT offers seven types of business insurance policies:

General liability
Professional liability
Commercial property
Business owner’s policy
Workers’ comp
Commercial auto
Tools & equipment

Choose NEXT For Workers' Comp If You ...

Feel comfortable working with a fully online insurance company
Run a small to mid-sized that doesn’t need specialty insurance coverage
Want a fast personalized price quote and instant coverage
Are looking for a budget-friendly workers’ comp package

Nationwide: Best Claims Support For Workers' Comp

Nationwide Commercial Insurance

Get Started With Nationwide Commercial Insurance

Total Rating	4.4
Pricing4.1 Affordability 4.3 Transparency 3.7
Features5.0
Customer Service4.1
User Reviews4.4

Pricing

By personalized quote only

Types Of Insurance Offered

BOP + specialized coverage

Time To Receive A Quote

Approximately 30 minutes

Pros

Standout claims support
Full range of business insurance
Choose personal or online account management

Cons

Not available in all states
Must speak to an agent to get a quote

Why We Chose Nationwide For The Best Workers' Comp

Nationwide is one of the nation's top insurers in terms of customer satisfaction, according to a J.D. Power 2022 US Small Commercial Insurance Study. A big part of that high customer satisfaction rating is Nationwide's excellent support for claims. The company has 5,000+ workers in claims services and 24/7 support centers to help you when you need to file a claim. The company also offers general customer support by phone.

Nationwide also works with a network of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, physical therapists, diagnostic partners, and other medical providers to help connect your employees to care. Nationwide also has a Return-to-Work Program to help employees safely transition back to work.

Nationwide Workers' Comp Pricing

Nationwide provides pricing information by personal quote only. You can request your quote online or by phone. If you start a quote online, you probably will have to schedule a phone call to complete the process. Price quotes generally are available within about 30 minutes.

Additional Coverage Available From Nationwide

Nationwide offers loss-control resources to help you reduce workers’ risk and limit workers’ comp claims. These include online consultation, chat, and other safety training resources.

If you want additional commercial insurance coverage, Nationwide offers a wide range of policies, including these:

General liability
Commercial property
Businessowner’s policy
Commercial auto
Workers’ compensation
Business income
Crime
Employment practices liability
Cyber liability
Errors & omissions
Equipment breakdown
Umbrella
Inland marine
Builder’s risk
Accounts receivable
MedPair supplemental health
Fidelity, surety, commercial, and business bonds
Group insurance plans
Medical stop loss
Key person benefits

Nationwide offers specialized products for organizations in industries such as agribusiness, construction, breweries, churches, commercial real estate, food processing, and manufacturing.

Choose Nationwide For Workers' Comp If You ...

Want standout claims support
Are interested in core business insurance + specialty policies
Prefer personal service in addition to strong online account management tools
Would like resources for reducing your workers’ exposure to risk

Thimble: Best Workers' Comp For Independent Contractors

Thimble

Total Rating	4.1
Pricing4.9 Affordability 5.0 Transparency 4.5
Features3.2
Customer Service3.5
User Reviews4.7

Pricing

Starting at $17/month

Types Of Insurance Offered

Basic business coverage + some specialized policies

Time To Receive A Quote

Instant Quotes

Pros

Affordable coverage
Adjustable coverage for events, seasonal work
Strong mobile app
Excellent user reviews

Cons

Not available in New York or Washington
No telephone support
Not suitable for large businesses

Why We Chose Thimble For The Best Workers' Comp

Your state may require you to carry workers' comp only for W-2 employees. If you have temporary employees classified as 1099 employees, you may not need to provide workers' comp. However, some clients may ask you to provide proof of insurance before you can start work. If you need workers' comp insurance for temporary workers, Thimble can be a good choice of insurer.

If you work in a seasonal industry like landscaping or work events as a photographer or food vendor, Thimble can help you provide the workers' comp coverage you need at a price you can afford, with coverage available from Thimble by the job or event.

Thimble Workers' Comp Pricing

Thimble is known for affordable commercial insurance coverage, with general liability starting at around $17/month. For workers’ compensation coverage, you’ll need to enter some information online to get a personal quote.

You can apply online by entering your ZIP Code and choosing between general business insurance or insurance for an event. You’ll need to choose an industry and then follow some on-screen prompts to narrow your focus. You’ll receive an instant price quote, and you can start your coverage that day by making a payment online.

Additional Coverage Available From Thimble

Thimble offers the most essential types of commercial insurance, plus a few specialty policies. Here’s what you’ll find with Thimble:

Business owner’s policy
Event insurance
Liquor liability
Errors and omissions
Commercial property
General liability
Workers comp
Business equipment coverage

Choose Thimble For Workers' Comp If You ...

Own a small company that doesn’t need specialized insurance coverage
Feel comfortable working with an online-only insurance company
Want event-based insurance
Don’t mind working on claims with a third-party

Get Started With Thimble

Get Started With Progressive Commercial Insurance

Progressive: Best Workers' Comp For Competitive Pricing

Progressive Commercial Insurance	Visit Site

Pros

Competitive pricing
Complete line of business coverage
Excellent reputation
Options for truck-based businesses

Cons

Workers’ comp policies underwritten by third-party insurance providers
Not available in all states

Why We Chose Progressive For The Best Workers' Comp

Progressive offers its commercial insurance customers special competitive pricing through a program known as Progressive Advantage. This program allows businesses to obtain insurance coverage like workers' comp through third-party insurers. Progressive Advantage means you can obtain the best rate for your business on workers' comp while still accessing Progressive's highly rated business coverage for commercial liability, auto, and more.

Progressive Workers' Comp Pricing

Progressive customers pay an average price of $117/month for workers’ comp coverage through Progressive. The median cost, however, is just $70. That means that 50% of Progressive customers pay less than $58.50/month for their Progressive workers’ comp coverage.

Your rates will depend on your business details, including your state, payroll size, and claims history.

Additional Coverage Available From Progressive

Progressive offers a variety of commercial insurance policies, including these:

General liability
Commercial property
Business owners policy
Commercial auto
Commercial truck, van, tow, and dump truck
Food truck
Workers’ compensation
Professional liability
Cyber insurance
Liquor liability
Inland marine
Employment practices liability
Rideshare insurance
Excess and surplus lines
Employee pet insurance
Health insurance

Choose Progressive For Workers' Comp If You ...

Can bundle multiple policies to lower costs overall
Don’t mind connecting with a third-party insurer
Want to work with an insurer that’s rated highly for satisfaction and financial stability
Need additional business insurance coverage

Travelers: Easiest Workers' Comp For Real-Time Charges

Travelers Small Business Insurance

Get Started With Travelers Small Business Insurance

Total Rating	4.0
Pricing3.8 Affordability 4.3 Transparency 2.5
Features4.5
Customer Service4.5
User Reviews1.6

Pros

Real-time premiums tied to your payroll
Local agents
Standard business insurance + specialized policies available

Cons

No online quotes
Mixed customer satisfaction

Why We Chose Travelers For The Best Workers' Comp

Workers' comp pricing depends on several factors, including the number of employees you need to cover. If you choose to purchase your workers' comp coverage from Travelers, you'll never pay for more coverage than you need, thanks to a free billing option known as Pay-As-You-Go that links your workers' comp premiums directly to your payroll.

You can self-report your numbers each pay period or rely on one of several payroll processing companies to do it for you. Either way, you won't pay for more coverage than you need.

Travelers Workers' Comp Pricing

You can get a personalized quote from Travelers by connecting with an agent in your area. Visit the Travelers’ website and enter your ZIP Code to see a list of local options. Each will include a list of the types of business coverage that the agency offers.

Additional Coverage Available From Travelers

Travelers offers a broad range of commercial insurance policies, meaning that you’ll probably be able to find the coverage you need. Here’s a sampling:

Business owners policy
General liability
Commercial property
Commercial auto
Commercial truck
Workers’s comp
Excess casualty
Umbrella
Environmental liability
Global
Inland marine
Management and professional liability
Boiler and machinery
Cyber

Choose Travelers For Workers' Comp If You ...

Prefer to work with a local agent
Need a broad range of insurance policies
Want to submit payroll data to potentially lower your rates for workers’ comp
Do business in Canada, the UK, or Ireland in addition to in the US
Are not based in Alaska, Hawaii, Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, or Wyoming

Business Insurance Review Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing business insurance since 2020. Our writers have tested over twenty different major insurance companies. In each review, we evaluate pricing, features, customer service, and user reviews.

When comparing different business insurance companies, we consider many data points, including relative pricing, the number of standard insurance policies available, and the ability to create custom policies. Our lists of the best business insurance providers include only those we’ve deemed worthwhile from multiple vantage points and often share qualities such as low cost, a variety of niche business insurance policies, multiple ways to file claims, and excellent customer support.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, ensuring that the business insurance companies included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.

Which Workers' Comp Insurance Is Right For Your Small Business?

No two small businesses are exactly alike. That’s why we include a range of options on our list of the best workers’ compensation insurance for small businesses. Whether your business is still small or on the large side and growing bigger, we have included a good choice for you on this list.

We recommend asking for no-obligation price quotes from at least three insurance companies. Make sure you understand your insurance quote from each company, so you can make fair comparisons and choose the right one to work with.

Workers Comp FAQs

How do I know if I need workers' comp for my business?

Each state has different requirements for workers’ comp, but every state except Texas requires some type of workers’ comp insurance. Check with the employment division in your state or talk to a knowledgeable insurance agent to make sure you have the coverage you need.

Is workers' comp mandatory?

Businesses are required to carry workers’ compensation in all states except Texas. In many states, workers’ comp is required as soon as you hire your first employee. Other states tie coverage requirements to the number of employees you have. Talk with a licensed insurance agent to make sure you have the coverage you need.

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Kymberlin Bush

Staff Writer

Kymberlin started contributing to Merchant Maverick as a freelancer in 2022 and joined the team as the full-time small business health insurance expert in 2023. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Pacific University in 2020 and continues to reside in Portland, Oregon.

View Kymberlin Bush's professional experience on LinkedIn.

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1. The Hartford Small Business Insurance

❮ ❯

Average cost $70/month
Available in 48 states + DC
Same-day quotes

2. Next Business Insurance

❮ ❯

Starting at $14/month
Available in 30+ states
Instant quotes

3. Nationwide Commercial Insurance

❮ ❯

Pricing by personal quote only
Available in 40+ states
Quotes in about 30 minutes

4. Thimble

❮ ❯

Pricing by personalized quote
Available in 48 states
Instant online quotes

5. Progressive Commercial Insurance

❮ ❯

Average cost $17/month
Available in 46 states
Instant online quotes

6. Travelers Small Business Insurance

❮ ❯

Pricing information by personal quote only
Available in 44 states
Quotes by phone