Independent broker · California & TexasCA #6015321 · TX #3305690 · (949) 522-3284

1099 vs W-2 in California Construction: When Your “Subcontractor” Becomes Your Employee (AB 5, ABC Test, and the WC Misclassification Trap)

California CSLB workers’ compensation requirements provide the baseline context for 1099 vs W-2 classification decisions in the construction industry. Published: May 8, 2026 · Last updated: June 18, 2026 · Reading time: ~14 min · Author: Pascal Burke, Licensed CA Insurance Broker (CA #6015321) By Pascal Burke, Licensed Insurance Broker

Read More

CSLB Workers’ Comp Requirements: Which California Trades Need WC With Zero Employees (SB 216 Today, All Trades by 2028)

Quick answer: If you hold C-39 Roofing, C-8 Concrete, C-20 HVAC, C-22 Asbestos Abatement, or D-49 Tree Service, California requires workers’ compensation today even with zero employees under SB 216. All other CSLB classifications must comply by January 1, 2028 under SB 1455. Reviewed by Pascal Burke, Licensed CA Insurance

Read More

Roofing Contractor Insurance California: Why C-39 Costs What It Does (And How to Lower It)

By Pascal Burke, Licensed Insurance Broker (CA License #6015321 / TX License #3305690), Founder of ContractorsInsured.net Last updated: [05/06/2026] Editorial note: This article is educational and intended for California roofing contractors and the professionals who advise them. ContractorsInsured.net is a licensed California insurance brokerage (CA License #6015321), not a law

Read More

Additional Insured, Primary & Noncontributory, and Waiver of Subrogation: What Your GC Is Really Asking For

By Pascal Burke, Licensed Insurance Broker (CA License #6015321 / TX License #3305690), Founder of ContractorsInsured.net Last updated: May 5, 2026 Editorial note: This article is educational and intended for contractors and the professionals who advise them. ContractorsInsured.net is a licensed insurance brokerage (CA License #6015321; TX License #3305690), not

Read More

SB 1455: California’s 2028 Workers’ Comp Mandate for All CSLB Contractors (What Every Licensed Contractor Needs to Know)

Quick answer: SB 1455 is a California law requiring every CSLB-licensed contractor to carry workers’ compensation insurance by January 1, 2028. It extends SB 216’s mandate beyond five high-hazard trades to all CSLB classifications. Sole proprietors without employees may qualify for a verified exemption through a CSLB process launching January

Read More
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.

Read More
CallTextGet a quote