Ask the questions the certificate cannot answer.

No. The nickname can sound suspicious, but it generally describes a real workers' compensation policy written with no estimated employee payroll and an eligible owner excluded. The important issue is whether your business facts and the policy terms actually support that structure.

Usually not when the owner is excluded. The exclusion is why the owner should not expect workers' comp medical or wage-loss benefits after an injury. Ask to see the actual election or endorsement that controls.

A client, general contractor, property owner, or licensing body may require evidence of an in-force workers' comp policy even when your owner-only business has no employees. Whether that requirement can be met another way depends on the contract and state.

There is no responsible nationwide flat price. Minimum premiums, state assessments, class codes, fees, and carrier appetite vary. Your exact number should come from an actual quote based on your operation, and the final premium can change after audit.

Possibly. A sole proprietor with no employees may be exempt from mandatory coverage in some states, may be able to buy voluntary coverage, or may use a minimum-premium structure for a contract. State rules and carrier eligibility decide the answer.

Possibly, but entity type alone is not enough. Ownership percentage, officer or member status, duties, and state-specific exclusion rules can affect whether each owner is eligible to be excluded.

The label on a payment is not decisive. Part-time staff, day labor, helpers, family members, borrowed workers, and people paid on Form 1099 may still matter under applicable law and the policy. Describe how the relationship actually works.

Tell the agent about every subcontractor. At audit, carriers commonly ask for certificates showing that subcontractors carried their own workers' comp. Payments to uninsured subcontractors can affect premium and exposure.

It depends on the written requirement and the policy. A certificate summarizes coverage but cannot add terms or rights. The requester may also ask for an endorsement or waiver that must be supported by the policy.

No. An exemption is a state filing or status showing that a person or business is not subject to a coverage requirement in a particular situation. A ghost policy is an insurance policy. A contract may treat those documents differently.

The insurer may review payroll, tax records, general ledgers, payments to workers, and subcontractor certificates. If the facts differ from the zero-payroll estimate, the final premium may change under the policy terms.

Contact your agent before the person starts work. The policy, payroll estimate, classification, and legal coverage requirement may need to change. Do not wait for the audit or an injury to disclose the worker.