In Ohio, you must carry workers' compensation as soon as you have one or more employees, and you can buy it only from the state-run Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC). Ohio is a monopolistic state-fund state, so there is no private workers' comp policy to shop and no other carrier can write the coverage that satisfies the law.
Who this is for: Any Ohio employer trying to learn exactly when coverage becomes required, who counts as an employee, and where the coverage has to come from.
The short version
- One employee triggers the mandate. Part-time and seasonal workers count, and there is no full-time or minimum-hours qualifier.
- Coverage comes only from BWC, or from approved self-insurance for large employers. There is no private market and no shopping carriers.
- Owner rules differ by business type. Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are left out by default and elect in; corporate officers are counted as employees and count toward the mandate.
- BWC pays medical and wage benefits but does not defend you when an injured worker sues you directly, so you add a private stop-gap employer's liability policy.
- A household or casual worker who earns under 160 dollars in cash in a calendar quarter from you is not a statutory employee.
When Ohio coverage is required
Ohio defines an employer as anyone with one or more employees, and it makes no exception for how many hours they work. The practical trigger for many small businesses is not the headcount alone but how the owners are treated, because owners of unincorporated businesses do not count until they elect in.
| Your situation | BWC coverage required? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor, partners, or LLC members only, no other staff | No, until you hire | These owners are left out by default and do not count as employees |
| You hire one employee, even part-time | Yes | One or more employees triggers the mandate; hours do not matter |
| A corporation whose only workers are its owner-officers | Yes | Corporate officers are counted as employees by default |
| You pay a casual or household worker under 160 dollars per quarter | Not counted | Below that amount the worker is not a statutory employee |
How you actually buy it
You apply directly to BWC using its coverage application (Form U-3). Because BWC is the guaranteed state insurer, no one can decline you, and there is no assigned-risk pool because there are no competing carriers to turn you away. Coverage takes effect once your application is processed, and it stays active as long as you keep your premium and payroll reports current.
What BWC does not cover
BWC provides the statutory benefits an injured worker receives, but it does not provide employer's liability, which is the coverage that responds when a worker or their family sues you directly over an injury. Ohio employers fill that gap with a private stop-gap employer's liability policy, usually added to a general liability or package policy. If any of your staff work outside Ohio, you also need other-states workers' comp from a private carrier, because BWC covers Ohio.
A Cincinnati example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Cincinnati retail owner runs her shop alone for a year with no coverage mandate, because a solo sole proprietor is not counted as an employee. In November she hires two part-time holiday clerks. That single step puts her under the mandate, so she opens a BWC account and both clerks are covered from day one, even though neither is full time. She also adds a private stop-gap employer's liability policy so she is protected if a clerk is hurt and sues, and asks us to make sure her retail payroll is reported under the correct category so she is not overpaying.
Real questions Ohio owners ask
Do I need workers comp if I have just one employee in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio requires coverage once you have one or more employees, with no full-time or minimum-hours qualifier. Even a single part-time hire triggers the mandate, and the coverage must come from BWC.
Where does Ohio workers comp coverage come from?
Only from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, the state fund, or from approved self-insurance for large qualifying employers. Ohio is monopolistic, so no private carrier can sell the coverage that meets the law.
Do part-time and seasonal workers count in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio counts part-time and seasonal workers as employees, so they trigger the coverage requirement just like full-time staff. There is no minimum number of hours before a worker counts.
Do I count as an employee if I own the business?
It depends on your business type. Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are not counted unless they elect coverage on a BWC form. Corporate officers are counted as employees by default and are covered.
Is there any worker who does not count toward the requirement?
Yes, a narrow one. A casual or household worker who earns under 160 dollars in cash in a calendar quarter from a single employer is not a statutory employee, so that person does not trigger the mandate.
Can I use a private workers comp policy instead of BWC?
No. A private workers comp policy does not satisfy the Ohio requirement. Statutory coverage has to come from BWC. Private policies only fill gaps BWC leaves, such as employer's liability and out-of-state work.
What happens if I need proof of coverage for a contract?
Once you have a BWC account, BWC issues a certificate of coverage you can give a general contractor or landlord. We can help you set up the account and turn a certificate around quickly when a job requires one.
Why Ohio owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Ohio, workers' comp is sold only by the state-run Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), so we handle your BWC enrollment and payroll classifications and place the private stop-gap employer's liability and other-states coverage the state fund does not include.
- 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 Ohio guides
Every Ohio 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 Ohio (start here)
- 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?
- How do I get workers comp (even if turned down)?
- What insurance do I need for a contractor license?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- What workers comp does not cover
- Ohio retail store workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Ohio rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.