Usually your biggest premium line, and the one most often overcharged.

The class code that overcharges landscapers

There are two main class codes for landscaping labor, and one costs far more than the other. Many landscapers get filed under a higher-rated construction or grounds code when their crews are really doing maintenance work that belongs in the cheaper lawn-maintenance code. This is common enough that industry audits have found a large share of businesses filed under the more expensive code get reclassified down. Getting the code right can meaningfully cut your comp bill without changing anything about how you operate.

How it is priced

Workers comp is priced per $100 of payroll, and the rate swings widely by state and by class code, commonly landing somewhere from roughly $1.90 to $6.50 per $100 of payroll for landscaping work. Your experience modifier, your claims history compared to similar businesses, moves it up or down over time. Pay-as-you-go options let you pay on actual payroll rather than an estimate, which reduces audit surprises.

Sole props, subs, and who needs it

Whether a solo operator needs workers comp depends on the state and on whether you use subcontractors. Some states require it even for solo operators in certain situations, and uninsured subcontractors can have their payroll charged to your policy at audit. The rules are state-specific and easy to get wrong, so it is worth confirming your situation rather than assuming you are exempt.

How we handle it

We confirm your crew is in the correct, most accurate class code before you buy, not after an auditor does. We set up pay-as-you-go where it fits, review your experience mod, and make sure subcontractor certificates are collected so their payroll does not land on your bill. When the class code is wrong, fixing it is often the single biggest saving we find for a landscaper.