A ghost policy gets you a COI with no employees covered. It's legal, it's cheap — and it can destroy your business if you use it wrong. Here's the full picture.
A workers comp ghost policy is a workers' compensation insurance policy where the business owner is the only named insured — and is excluded from coverage. There are no employees on the policy, no payroll, and no actual benefits paid if anyone gets hurt. The policy exists for one reason only: to generate a Certificate of Insurance (COI).
General contractors, property managers, and job sites in Florida routinely require every subcontractor to show proof of workers' comp before they can work. A ghost policy satisfies that requirement at the lowest possible cost — typically $800–$1,500/year — when you have no employees.
⚠️ The Critical Catch
A ghost policy covers no one. The moment you hire a worker — even one day laborer paid in cash — you are operating without workers' comp coverage in Florida. That exposes you to a Stop Work Order, $1,000/day fines, and personal liability for any injury.
To use a ghost policy legally in Florida's construction industry, you typically need to:
You can verify your current exemption status at the Florida DFS Exemption Search portal.
| Feature | Ghost Policy | PEO Workers Comp (Comp Ninjas) |
|---|---|---|
| Covers owner injuries | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Covers employees | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Covers uninsured subs | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Generates COI | ✅ Yes | ✅ Same day |
| Annual cost (solo) | $800–$1,500 | $875 setup + payroll-based |
| Audit risk | Low (no payroll) | None (pay-as-you-go) |
| Scales when you hire | ❌ Must cancel & replace | ✅ Add workers instantly |
| Hard-to-place trades (roofing, towing) | Often declined | ✅ Specialty |
A ghost policy is the right choice in a narrow set of circumstances:
You are truly solo
You do all the work yourself, never hire helpers, and have a valid Florida exemption on file.
You only need a COI for one job
A short-term project requires proof of coverage and you have no plans to hire anyone.
Your trade is low-risk and eligible
Some carriers won't write ghost policies for roofing (5551), structural steel (5040), or towing (7219). If your class code is declined, a PEO is your only option.
If any of those conditions don't apply — if you ever use helpers, subs, or day laborers — a ghost policy is a liability, not a solution. The smarter move is a PEO workers comp program that covers everyone from day one.
Comp Ninjas specializes in hard-to-place trades — roofing, towing, construction, trucking. Same-day COI. No deposit. PEO-backed coverage that actually protects you.
Get Covered Today →$875 setup fee · No deposit · Same-day COI