Georgia's ghost policy resource·by Quinn Alliance LLC
Georgia ghost policy quotes, fast.
Workers comp certificates for contractors who work alone. Subcontract work out? If so, and your subs are insured, you can be considered with a quick application.
Do you have any employees or 1099 workers, or use subcontractors?
What's your trade?
A licensed agent reviews every quote before anything is bound.
Where should we send your quote?
Frank Quinn, licensed Georgia agent · Lic. 244699Every quote is reviewed by a licensed agent. Prefer to talk? (470) 648-6767
Ghost policies available throughout Georgia
From metro Atlanta to Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Athens, Albany, Valdosta, Rome, Dalton, Gainesville, and Brunswick, we write ghost policies in every Georgia county.
Definition
Ghost policy/ɡōst ˈpäləsē/ · noun · Georgia workers compensationA minimum-premium workers compensation policy for a business with no employees, where the owners are excluded from coverage. It lets a contractor who works alone show a valid workers comp certificate to a general contractor or permit office, even though the policy covers no one.
Who qualifies
| Usually a fit | |
|---|---|
| ✓ | You work alone, with no W-2 employees or 1099 workers |
| ✓ | Your LLC or corporation's owners exclude themselves from coverage |
| ✓ | A GC, property manager, or permit office is asking for a workers comp certificate |
| ✓ | If you hire subcontractors, every one carries their own workers comp and liability (agent-submitted only) |
| Not a fit | |
|---|---|
| ✕ | You have any employees or 1099 workers, full or part time |
| ✕ | You want the policy to cover your own injuries |
| ✕ | You use any subs who don't carry their own coverage |
Not a fit? You need a standard workers comp policy. Quinn Alliance places those too.
Trades we write
We write Georgia ghost policies for owner-operators across the construction and service trades, including:
Roofing
Roofers are asked for workers comp certificates by GCs, property managers, and many permit offices. Owner-only roofing businesses often place through specialty markets.
Tree service
Tree removal and trimming are high-hazard work, so GCs, HOAs, and property owners routinely ask for proof of workers comp before you start.
General contractors
GCs often need their own certificate to pull permits and satisfy owners, and are the ones collecting certificates from every sub.
Carpentry and framing
Framers and finish carpenters working alone are a common ghost policy fit when the GC requires a certificate on file.
Drywall
Owner-operator hangers and finishers often need a certificate to get on commercial and new-construction jobs.
Painting
Solo painters working for GCs, property managers, and HOAs are frequently asked for a workers comp certificate.
Flooring
Flooring installers who work alone often need proof of workers comp for builder and retail-store installation programs.
Concrete
Owner-operated concrete and flatwork businesses are often asked for a certificate before pours on GC-managed sites.
Electrical
Electrical contractors working alone may need a certificate for GC jobs even when they have no employees.
Plumbing
Solo plumbers are commonly asked for workers comp proof by GCs and commercial property managers.
HVAC
Owner-operator HVAC techs often need a certificate for builder, commercial, and property management work.
Landscaping
Landscapers working alone are frequently asked for certificates by HOAs, commercial properties, and GCs.
Pressure washing
Solo pressure washing businesses often need a certificate for commercial and property management accounts.
Handyman
Handyman businesses working alone are often asked for workers comp proof by property managers and GCs.
Don't see your trade?
Start your quick application and we'll check where it fits.
Start my application →Trade guides: roofing · tree service · carpentry · drywall · painting · flooring and tile · concrete · masonry · fence · landscaping · electrical · plumbing · HVAC. See every trade and class code and which ones quote online.
Subcontractors
When a subcontractor has no workers comp of their own, the contractor who hired them can be held responsible if one of their workers gets hurt. That is why carriers look at subcontractor payments during the premium audit.
A ghost policy only works with subcontractors if every sub carries their own workers comp and liability coverage. Online quotes are for owner-only businesses. If you use insured subs, we review your details and get your application processed so the underwriter sees the full picture up front.
How it works
Answer one question
Just you, workers, or subs.
Get your quote
Owner-only quotes online. With insured subs, we process your application.
Agent review
We check the class code and exclusions before binding.
Certificate issued
Sent to your GC or permit office once bound.
Quotes can come back quickly. Binding can take more than a day, depending on the carrier.
What you'll need
Business basics
Legal name, FEIN, entity type, and owners with ownership percentages.
Your work
Your trade, a short description of your jobs, and years in business.
Who needs proof
The certificate holder's name and address: your GC, property manager, or permit office.
Cost
Georgia ghost policy cost, from real 2026 quotes: $1,075 to $1,626 for one year in Quinn Alliance LLC's September and October 2026 files, owner excluded, no employees. There is no single price. Your trade's class code, the carrier's minimum premium, fees, extras your contractor requires, and whether you use insured subs set the number.
| Trade | Recent one-year quote |
|---|---|
| Drywall | $1,100 online, or $1,120 agent-placed (same business, two markets) |
| Flooring | $1,120 agent-placed, after the online program declined over signs of helpers |
| Carpentry and remodeling | $1,075 at $500,000 employer's liability limits. $1,620 when a blanket waiver of subrogation was added and insured subs were used. |
| Painting, interior and exterior | $1,626 agent-placed, after another carrier declined the exterior work |
| Pressure washing with roof washing | $1,620 in Georgia's assigned risk plan, after private carriers declined |
| Roofing and tree service | Quoted case by case after agent review |
Totals include premium, carrier charges and any wholesale broker fee on the quote. Card and installment fees are extra. Quinn Alliance's agency service fee, when one applies, is shown separately and disclosed in writing before you buy. Pricing varies with factors specific to each application, and carrier rates can change. These are past quotes for other businesses, not a quote for yours. Every quote is subject to the carrier's underwriting review and to policy terms, conditions and exclusions.
About flat prices. A single advertised price (one site lists $958 for Georgia) usually requires no employees, no subs and no payroll, and may bundle a separate accident policy. Roof work, work at height and signs of helpers can get an application declined after you pay, with a refund and a fresh start. Tell us how you actually work and we will match you to a market that accepts it. Questions? Call Quinn Alliance at (470) 648-6767.
The owner is usually excluded, so a ghost policy generally pays nothing if the owner is hurt, and the year-end audit can charge for uninsured subs. Full breakdown by trade: Georgia ghost policy cost by trade.
Certificates
| Who asks | What they usually want |
|---|---|
| General contractors | A certificate of insurance showing active workers comp, with the GC as certificate holder. Some also ask for a waiver of subrogation. |
| Permit offices | Many Georgia cities and counties ask for workers comp proof or an exemption form before issuing a permit. Requirements vary by jurisdiction. |
| Anyone | Can check whether a Georgia business has workers comp using the State Board's online coverage verification. |
| Property managers | Commercial and HOA properties often require a certificate before work starts, sometimes with specific wording. |
Where we write
We write ghost policies for contractors in all 159 Georgia counties, from metro Atlanta to Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Athens, Albany, Valdosta, Rome, Dalton, Gainesville, and Brunswick. Our deepest experience is across metro Atlanta, including:
- Fulton County
- DeKalb County
- Cobb County
- Gwinnett County
- Clayton County
- Cherokee County
- Forsyth County
- Henry County
- Douglas County
- Paulding County
- Fayette County
- Rockdale County
- Bartow County
- Coweta County
- Carroll County
- Newton County
- Hall County
- Barrow County
- Walton County
- Spalding County
Glossary
- Ghost policy
- A minimum-premium workers comp policy for a business with no employees, with the owners excluded. It provides a certificate but covers no one.
- Owner exclusion
- An election that removes an owner, partner, LLC member, or officer from workers comp coverage. In Georgia, officers and LLC members file Form WC-10 with the insurer.
- Certificate of insurance
- A one-page document proving a policy is active. Often called a COI.
- Statutory employer
- A contractor who can be held responsible for injuries to an uninsured subcontractor's workers.
- Premium audit
- The carrier's review after the policy term to confirm payroll and subcontractor costs.
- Minimum premium
- The lowest premium a carrier will charge for a policy. Most ghost policies pay it.
- Class code
- The code that describes your type of work and sets the rate.
Questions
Am I required to carry workers comp in Georgia?
Georgia requires it once a business regularly employs three or more people, part time or full time (State Board of Workers' Compensation). Even if you aren't required, most GCs and many permit offices still ask for a certificate.
Does a ghost policy cover me if I get hurt?
No. The owners are excluded, so the policy pays nothing for your own injuries. If you want coverage for yourself, ask about including the owner or about accident coverage.
Why does my GC need a workers comp certificate?
A contractor can be held responsible for injuries to an uninsured sub's workers, so most GCs require proof of workers comp before you start.
Can I get a ghost policy if I use subcontractors?
Only if every sub carries their own workers comp and liability coverage, and only through an agent-submitted application, not the online quote. Keep every sub's certificate on file, because uninsured subs can be charged at audit.
How fast can I get a certificate?
Quotes can come back quickly. Binding can take more than a day depending on the carrier. The certificate is issued once the policy is bound.
What happens at the premium audit?
After the policy period, the carrier confirms you had no employees and reviews payments to subs. Have your sub certificates ready.
What if I hire someone later?
Tell us right away. A ghost policy doesn't cover employees, so your policy needs to change.
How much does a ghost policy cost?
In Quinn Alliance's September and October 2026 Georgia files, ghost policy quotes ran $1,075 to $1,626 for one year. Your trade's class code, the carrier's minimum premium, fees, a blanket waiver if your contractor requires one, and insured sub use move the number. Roofing and tree work are quoted after agent review.
Is a ghost policy legal in Georgia?
Yes, when the application is accurate. Misstating employees or sub usage can lead to audit charges or cancellation.
Who runs GhostPolicyNow?
GhostPolicyNow.com is operated by Quinn Alliance LLC, an independent Georgia insurance agency specializing in construction trades. Principal: Frank Quinn, Georgia License 244699. Call (470) 648-6767.
About the agency
GhostPolicyNow is the ghost policy resource of Quinn Alliance LLC, an independent Georgia insurance agency that specializes in contractors. Beyond ghost policies, Quinn Alliance places general liability, standard workers comp, commercial auto, tools and equipment, and surety bonds for roofers, tree services, GCs, and the specialty trades.
Principal Frank Quinn is a licensed Georgia agent (License 244699, NPN 22134534). You can confirm any Georgia agent's license through the Georgia Commissioner of Insurance license lookup.
No employees and a GC wants a workers' comp certificate? See who to call for a Georgia ghost policy.
OFFICIAL SOURCES: SBWC EMPLOYER INFORMATION · SBWC COVERAGE VERIFICATION · SBWC BOARD FORMS · GEORGIA OCI · NCCI
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