Are you truly owner-only?
Count every person who performs work, not only W-2 employees.
Owner-only workers' comp guidance
Ghost policy insurance, without the blind spots.
For owner-only businesses with no employees that need proof of a workers' compensation policy. First, understand whether it fits. Then understand exactly what it does not cover.
No-employee facts Owner exclusion Certificate requirement
Policy fit check
PolicyWorkers' compensation
Employee payroll$0 estimated
OwnerExcluded when permitted
This structure can produce evidence of an in-force policy while leaving the excluded owner without workers' comp benefits.
Actual eligibility and policy terms vary by state and insurer.The policy is real. The coverage can be intentionally narrow.
Owner-onlyZero payrollAudit-ready facts
Start with the facts
Three questions come before the certificate.
“Ghost policy” is an informal label, not a universal product name. The real decision depends on who works, how the business is formed, what the contract requires, and which state rules apply.
Can the owner be excluded?
Entity type, ownership, duties, elections, and state law control.
What does the requester need?
A certificate summarizes a policy. It does not rewrite its terms.
A narrow tool for a narrow situation
Good fit or warning sign?
A careful application is more important than the nickname on the policy.
May fit
A genuinely owner-only business
- No employees or informal labor
- Owner exclusion is allowed and documented
- Contract asks for policy evidence
- Operations and state are eligible
Pause and review
Anyone else performs work
- Day labor or temporary help
- Family members help on jobs
- Uninsured subcontractors are used
- The owner expects injury benefits
The audit matters
Zero estimated payroll is not a promise of zero final premium.
Workers' comp policies are commonly audited. Payroll, payments to workers, and certificates from subcontractors can affect the final calculation. Keep records and tell your agent when the business changes.
A clear path
Understand it before you place it.
- 01Describe the real operation
Entity, ownership, work, state, and everyone who helps.
- 02Review the exclusion
Confirm who is insured, who is excluded, and what the requester needs.
- 03Compare an actual option
Read the premium, endorsements, audit terms, and certificate details.
Common questions
Clear answers to an often-misunderstood policy.
Start with what the policy is, who it is for, and when the facts need another solution.
Read every questionIs a ghost policy a real workers' comp policy?+
Yes. The phrase usually describes a workers' compensation policy issued to a business with no employee payroll, with the owner excluded when state law and the policy allow. The policy is real, but an excluded owner generally does not receive workers' comp benefits under it.
Who is a ghost policy designed for?+
It may fit a genuinely owner-only business that has no employees and needs evidence of a workers' comp policy for a contract, job site, or licensing requirement. Entity type, state rules, ownership, and how the work is performed all matter.
Does it cover me if I get hurt?+
Usually not when you are the excluded owner. We will help you identify the exclusion and understand that gap before you choose a policy. Do not treat a certificate as proof that you personally have injury benefits.
What happens if I hire someone?+
Tell your agent before the work begins. Employees, day labor, family help, borrowed workers, and uninsured subcontractors can change your legal obligations, classification, payroll, and final premium. A zero-payroll assumption should never be stretched to fit a business that has workers.
Owner-only today? Let's check the details.