Fort Lauderdale workers' compensation insurance for local businesses

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does Florida's one-employee construction rule affect Fort Lauderdale contractors?
  Florida's Division of Workers' Compensation removes the small-business exemption entirely for construction class codes. A Fort Lauderdale contractor working in Pompano, Oakland Park, or anywhere else in Broward County must carry workers' compensation from the day the first employee is hired. This applies to general contractors and specialty trades alike. It also means that if you use subcontractors, you are responsible for verifying their own certificates of coverage — an uninsured subcontractor's injury can become your claim.
• What are ghost policies, and why are they a concern in Broward County?
  A ghost policy is a workers' compensation policy held by a sole proprietor or corporate officer who has excluded themselves from coverage — technically satisfying a certificate requirement while providing no actual benefit to any worker. They are common in Florida's construction and marine-services trades and have drawn regulatory scrutiny. Fort Lauderdale general contractors and marina operators who accept ghost-policy certificates from subcontractors may still bear liability for those workers' injuries. Ellie Insurance Group helps clients review subcontractor documentation to identify this exposure before a claim arises.
• Do Fort Lauderdale hospitality and restaurant employers face any special workers' comp considerations?
  Yes. Hospitality employers along the Beaches corridor and Las Olas frequently deal with high staff turnover, seasonal payroll swings, and a mix of tipped and non-tipped employees — all of which affect how premiums are calculated and audited at year-end. Florida's workers' comp system bases final premium on actual payroll, so significant differences between estimated and actual wages can produce unexpected audit bills. Accurate employee classification and mid-year payroll tracking are practical steps that help Las Olas and Beach-area restaurant and hotel operators avoid large retroactive adjustments.
• What does workers' compensation cover for a Fort Lauderdale business?
  Pays medical bills and lost wages for employees injured on the job, and protects you from related lawsuits. For Fort Lauderdale businesses, the exact coverage depends on the policy form, limits, deductibles, endorsements, and exclusions selected.
• Who needs workers' compensation insurance in Fort Lauderdale?
  Florida construction employers need coverage at one or more employees; non-construction employers at four or more, per the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation. Contractors must also verify subcontractor coverage.
• How much does workers' compensation insurance cost in Fort Lauderdale?
  Workers' Compensation pricing in Fort Lauderdale reflects the business class, size, payroll or sales, prior claims, and Florida-specific factors. Florida has no small-business exemption for construction class codes — a single employee triggers the requirement. Audits, class-code accuracy, and ghost policies are common pain points we help solve. The most accurate way to know your cost is an Instant Quote across 100+ carrier markets.
• What's different about workers' compensation insurance in Florida?
  Florida has no small-business exemption for construction class codes — a single employee triggers the requirement. Audits, class-code accuracy, and ghost policies are common pain points we help solve.
• Can Ellie Insurance Group shop workers' compensation insurance for my Fort Lauderdale business?
  Yes. As an independent agency we shop 100+ carrier markets for workers' compensation insurance, including admitted and specialty markets when an account does not fit a single carrier's appetite. Fort Lauderdale is part of our core Florida service area.