Workers' compensation pays injured employees' medical care and replaces part of their lost wages, regardless of who was at fault, and in exchange generally shields the employer from lawsuits by those employees. Each state writes its own law. Triple-I notes that the employee count that triggers mandatory coverage is three, four or five depending on the state, that Texas is the only state where coverage is optional, and that in a few states employers must buy from a monopolistic state fund rather than private carriers. Premium is built from class codes and payroll: the state-approved rate for each classification is applied per $100 of payroll, then adjusted by the employer's experience modification factor. NCCI's experience rating compares an employer's losses with the average for its classes, typically using three years of payroll and loss data. A mod above 1.00 means worse-than-average experience. Appetite turns on the governing class code, payroll size, the mod, loss frequency and safety practices. Accounts are hard to place when the work is high-hazard (roofing, trucking, tree work), when there are frequent small claims, when payroll is mostly subcontracted labor without certificates, or when the business is a new venture with no history. Those risks often end up in the state's assigned risk pool. Agencies quote small accounts through carrier portals and small-commercial quoting platforms, many of which return bindable WC quotes for low-hazard classes. Larger or harder accounts go to an underwriter on an ACORD 130.
Carriers with published appetite
From each carrier's own public appetite guide or product pages. Appetite changes: confirm with the carrier before you submit.
Contractors — Acuity says it insures 'all kinds of contractors', from steelwork and wallpapering to framing and road building, including excavation, remodeling, concrete, roofing and sprinkler installation, from single-person operations to large firms. Contractors get WC, commercial auto, GL and the Bis-Pak BOP, with contractors' E&O, equipment and builders' risk options (Acuity contractors insurance page, viewed Oct 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, PL Rating, or the carrier portal
Restaurants — WC is preferred for fast food classes (cafes, chicken, delis, donut, hamburger and hotdog shops). BOP is mostly eligible rather than preferred; restaurant BOPs go up to $5M property per location (frame construction up to $3M, frame over $2M must be sprinklered) and $5M revenue (AmTrust Small Business Appetite Guide, BOP, MKT6424, May 2025).
Quote it through: Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Offices — Professional offices are strong appetite for WC, BOP and umbrella: accountants, insurance and real estate agents, advertising and web design, law offices, medical offices and physicians, mortgage brokers, stockbrokers and travel agents. Architects, collection agencies, consultants and trade associations need underwriter review for WC. Commercial auto for offices is mostly underwriter review (GUARD Appetite Overview, APOV101926, Oct 2026).
Wholesale — Wholesalers and distributors (beverage, clothing and furnishings, computer and electronic products, perishables, garden supplies) are strong for WC, but beverage, computer and perishables distributors are limited or no appetite for BOP and umbrella (GUARD Appetite Overview, APOV101926, Oct 2026).
Habitational — Apartment buildings under 20 stories, B&Bs and condo or townhome associations are strong for WC, while BOP, umbrella and auto need underwriter review. Lessors of buildings are strong for WC, BOP and umbrella; building operation and property management is limited for BOP and umbrella (GUARD Appetite Overview, APOV101926, Oct 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, or the carrier portal
Contractors — WC actively written for electrical (within buildings), plumbing, painting (exterior limited to three stories), landscaping, pool and HVAC contractors; flooring, concrete, paving and countertop work are possible through a program. Auto is selectively or not written for all contractor classes. Limits: $3M property per location, $10M receipts, $1M WC payroll, 15 vehicles (2026 CNA Small Business Appetite Guide; Eligible Values sheet, Jan 2026).
Wholesale — Household goods, industrial supplies, paper and packaging, electrical and hardware, plumbing and HVAC, and scientific distributors are actively written for BOP and WC; umbrella too except scientific distributors. Auto is selectively or not written. Limits: $10M property per location, $10M receipts, $1.5M WC payroll (2026 CNA Small Business Appetite Guide; Eligible Values sheet, Jan 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Contractors — Middle market guide marks carpentry, concrete, electrical, excavation, fence, flooring, glass, masonry, painting, siding, landscaping, janitorial and commercial and residential general contractors acceptable for auto, WC, umbrella, GL, property and inland marine. Plumbing/HVAC and street construction are 'will consider'. Residential roofing and heavy construction are not a market; commercial roofing is acceptable except for WC and umbrella (Middle Market Appetite Guide MK8592, Jan 2026).
Restaurants — Go-to industries include restaurants, bakeries, coffee and beverage shops, and ice cream and yogurt shops. EMPLOYERS says its Target Classes are priced competitively, consistent across all states regardless of size, and quotable online in EACCESS (Go-To Appetite Flyer, 2026; Agent Target Classes page, Oct 2026).
Hospitality — Hotels and motels, country clubs and movie theaters are named go-to classes (EMPLOYERS Go-To Appetite Flyer, 2026).
Contractors — Go-to contractor classes: commercial and residential cleaning, drywall, electricians, finish carpentry, flooring, HVAC, landscaping, painting, plumbing, stone countertop installation, and upholstery and carpet cleaning (EMPLOYERS Go-To Appetite Flyer, 2026).
Professional services — Accountants, architects, attorneys, bookkeepers and tax preparers, computer programming, payroll services and photographers are go-to classes, as are finance and insurance offices (banks, insurance agents, investment managers, mortgage and securities brokers) (EMPLOYERS Go-To Appetite Flyer, 2026).
Healthcare — Dental labs, dentists, home healthcare, optical goods, physicians and surgeons, and veterinarians are go-to classes (EMPLOYERS Go-To Appetite Flyer, 2026).
Retail — Apparel, books, computers and electronics, convenience stores, florists, hardware, jewelry, lighting, paint, pharmacy, tailors and tile stores are go-to retail classes (EMPLOYERS Go-To Appetite Flyer, 2026).
Real estate — Real estate agents and appraisers, residential and commercial property management, and self-storage are go-to classes (EMPLOYERS Go-To Appetite Flyer, 2026).
Wholesale — Nondurable goods wholesalers are in the go-to list: apparel, beverage, paper goods, plumbing supplies and printers. Manufacturing go-to classes include computer and electronic products, food and beverage, machine shops and plastic products (EMPLOYERS Go-To Appetite Flyer, 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Contractors — Workers' comp available with blanket additional insured and waiver of subrogation. Minimum manual premium of $5K for select contractor professions.
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Contractors — Artisan contractors are a strongest-appetite workers' comp class; Markel writes 260+ class codes nationwide with instant quotes on many classes. WC is written in all states except the monopolistic states of OH, ND, WA and WY. Commercial janitorial and lawn care and pest control are also target package classes (Markel preferred US and Bermuda retail appetite guide, June 2026; Markel WC expansion release, May 2024).
Hospitality — Leisure and hospitality is a strongest-appetite WC class, along with auto services and medical offices. Recent accounts include a social club, fine dining and pizza restaurants, and a grocery store new venture (Markel preferred US and Bermuda retail appetite guide, June 2026).
Quote it through: Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Contractors — Workers' comp for target contractor classes with fewer than 50 employees and $50K to $1.5M total payroll. Subcontractors must name the insured as additional insured. Tower installation, directional boring and underground cable are outside appetite (Appetite Guide, Aug 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Restaurants · AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI — Restaurants (class 9082) are eligible with no live entertainment. Bars and taverns (9084) are eligible with no live music, dancing, karaoke or bouncers. Neither needs a payroll minimum or loss runs, and both are new-venture eligible (Pie 'Recent success' page, Oct 2026).
Retail · AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI — Retail stores (class 0928) are eligible with no payroll minimum or loss runs. Excludes pawn shops, firearms sales or firearms on premises, airsoft or paintball equipment and THC products (Pie 'Recent success' page, Oct 2026).
Contractors · AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI — Construction is a Pie target class. Residential carpentry (5645) needs $50K minimum payroll, one year of continuous WC, no work above 25 feet and no primarily structural rough framing. Ineligible: over 80% subcontracted payroll, over 30% cash or day labor, asbestos, lead, mold, demolition and blasting (Pie 'Recent success' page and WC underwriting guidelines, Oct 2026).
Healthcare · AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI — Physician and clerical (8832) is eligible with no 24-hour service, detox or psychiatric facilities, or air ambulance. Retirement living centers (8824) need $50K minimum payroll, loss runs and one year of continuous WC (Pie 'Recent success' page, Oct 2026).
Hospitality · AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI — Hotels (class 9052) are eligible and new-venture eligible, with no loss runs required. Pie writes guaranteed cost only, up to $250K modified premium and a 1.99 experience mod (Pie 'Recent success' page and WC underwriting guidelines, Oct 2026).
Offices · AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI — Office and administrative, and real estate, are Pie target classes. New ventures and sole proprietors are accepted, and staffing, PEO and employee leasing firms are ineligible (Pie target classes page and WC underwriting guidelines, Oct 2026).
Transportation · AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI — Trucking and transport is a Pie target class. Medical transportation, freight forwarding or brokering, aircraft and watercraft operators, and railroad operations are prohibited (Pie target classes page and WC underwriting guidelines, Oct 2026).
Manufacturing · AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI — Manufacturing is a Pie target class. Toxic chemical manufacturing, firearm manufacturing, and explosives or fireworks are prohibited (Pie target classes page and WC underwriting guidelines, Oct 2026).
Quote it through: Bold Penguin, Semsee, Tarmika Bridge, or the carrier portal
Contractors — Contractors fit the small business definition up to $2M payroll and $15M property per location. State guides list electricians, floor laying, landscapers, lawn care, fence installation and glass work.
Before you submit
- Payroll by class code and state, current and projected for the policy term
- Current experience mod worksheet, or confirmation the employer is not yet rated
- Three to five years of currently valued loss runs
- Owners and officers to include or exclude, with their ownership percentages
- Subcontractor costs and certificates of insurance for any subcontractors used
- Detailed description of job duties, including any work at heights, driving or out-of-state travel
- Safety program, return-to-work program and drug-free workplace details, if any
Sources
- Triple-I: Workers compensation insurance (Insuring your business, small business owner's guide)
- NCCI: ABCs of Experience Rating
- NCCI: Financial Data, Designated Statistical Reporting (premium calculation example)
Updated Oct 30, 2026