Workers' comp certificate of insurance with California contractor tool belt, hard hat, and safety vest at a residential framing jobsite

Workers’ Comp Ghost Policy in California: What Contractors Need to Know Before They Buy

A ghost policy is a real workers’ compensation policy priced at the carrier’s minimum premium and structured for contractors with no employees. In California, it satisfies the CSLB workers’ comp filing requirement and produces a valid COI for most bids. Sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, and corporations with all officers properly excluded typically qualify — but C-39 roofing contractors and a handful of other mandatory classifications cannot use this approach. Expect to pay $750–$2,500 annually once class code, carrier appetite, and broker fees are factored in.

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