To get workers compensation in North Carolina, gather your basic business details and payroll, then buy a policy from any private insurer licensed in the state, since North Carolina has no state fund. If no carrier will take you, a guaranteed fallback plan run by the state's rating bureau will place you.
Who this is for: North Carolina owners buying coverage for the first time, or after being turned down.
The short version
- You buy on the open market. Any insurer licensed in North Carolina can write your policy.
- There is no state fund. North Carolina is a private, competitive market.
- A fallback plan exists. Hard-to-place businesses go to the assigned plan run by the North Carolina Rate Bureau.
- You will need payroll by type of work. Have your payroll split by job ready, plus owner details and any claims history.
- A broker can shop it for you. One application can go to several carriers at once.
Step by step
Buying is straightforward once your numbers are in hand. Most of the work is estimating payroll accurately by the kind of work each person does, since that drives the price. Have your owner elections settled too, so the policy covers the right people from day one.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Gather details | Business name, structure, and owner elections |
| 2. Split your payroll | Estimate payroll by kind of work |
| 3. List any claims | Provide a few years of loss history if you have it |
| 4. Get quotes | Compare carriers or have a broker shop it |
| 5. Bind and get proof | Start the policy and request your certificate |
If you have been turned down
Some businesses, often newer ones or higher-risk trades, cannot find a carrier in the regular market. North Carolina does not leave them stuck: the North Carolina Workers Compensation Insurance Plan, the state's guaranteed fallback run by the North Carolina Rate Bureau, assigns you to a participating carrier. It is coverage of last resort and can cost more, but it keeps you legal and protects your workers. A broker can submit you to the plan.
Getting proof of coverage fast
Most general contractors and landlords want a certificate proving you are insured before you start. Once your policy is bound, your carrier or broker can issue that certificate, often the same day. If you are opting yourself in as an owner, confirm the policy lists you so the certificate reflects it.
A Greensboro example
Illustrative, not a quote. A new Greensboro roofing company cannot find a carrier because roofing is high-risk and the business has no track record. Its broker submits it to the North Carolina Workers Compensation Insurance Plan, which assigns a carrier. The company is covered, can pull permits and win subcontracts, and moves to the regular market once it builds a clean claims record. See our roofer workers comp page.
Real questions North Carolina owners ask
How do I get workers comp in North Carolina?
Gather your business details and payroll, then buy from any insurer licensed in the state. There is no state fund, so you shop the private market.
Is there a state fund in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina is a private, competitive market. If no carrier will take you, a guaranteed fallback plan run by the state rating bureau places you.
What if I get turned down?
The North Carolina Workers Compensation Insurance Plan assigns hard-to-place businesses to a participating carrier. It can cost more but keeps you legal and covered.
What do I need to get a quote?
Your business structure and owner elections, payroll split by kind of work, and any claims history from recent years.
How fast can I get proof of coverage?
Once the policy is bound, your carrier or broker can usually issue a certificate the same day for general contractors or landlords.
Can a broker shop it for me?
Yes. One application can go to several carriers at once, and a broker can also submit you to the fallback plan if needed.
Why North Carolina owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In North Carolina you buy workers comp on the open market from any private insurer licensed in the state, because North Carolina has no state fund, and if no carrier will take you the North Carolina Rate Bureau runs a guaranteed fallback plan, so we can shop your rate freely and still have a backstop for hard-to-place work.
- We catch pricing mistakes. Your price depends heavily on the category your work falls into for pricing (the class code). Put people in the wrong category and you overpay for years. We review your payroll and classifications before you buy.
- Proof of coverage, fast. Need a certificate (proof of coverage) for a general contractor or a landlord before Monday? We turn those around the same business day for most carriers.
- We help lower the score that drives your price. Insurers give you a score based on your past claims that raises or lowers your cost (the experience modification rate). We review it each year, flag errors, and connect you with return-to-work and safety resources that bring it down.
- Real people when a claim happens. When someone gets hurt, we stay involved through the life of the claim, not just at renewal.
Related North Carolina guides
Every North Carolina business is set up a little differently. These companion guides answer the same question for other situations, plus the national explainers behind the terms used here.
- Business insurance in North Carolina (start here)
- Workers comp: the owner's overview
- I own an LLC: do I need workers comp?
- I'm a sole proprietor: do I need workers comp?
- I own a corporation (C-corp or S-corp): do I need it?
- We're a partnership: do we need workers comp?
- We're a nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- Only part-time or seasonal staff: do I need it?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- Remote or out-of-state staff: do I need coverage?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost?
- What insurance do I need for a contractor license?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- What is a ghost workers comp policy?
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- North Carolina roofer workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. North Carolina rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with North Carolina Industrial Commission or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.