[Kelly Painting]

I know you commercial guys all do, but not all of us small company's do.
Does everyone here have it?.... I haven't yet, but am bidding on a job that requires it, sooo I might get it.

 

[Humble Abode]

I have it.

 

[NuView Painting]

I have it.. I pay a minimum of $1500 a year and $14.81 on every hundred I pay out.legally ...so depends on how much Im gonna need the help if I pay them cash or not.. longer i need the help I pay them with a check and pay WC...shorter I need the help I pay cash and no WC

 

[FHI Decks & Windows]

Be very careful in MA, once you get it they keep an eye on you. I use subs for most of my work and carry a policy that just covers day labor. After my first year they showed up asking for:

my payroll records
checks that I wrote to my subs
a copy of the subs insurance (GL)
a copy of the subs workers comp insurance

After 2 hours we came to the conclusion that I was not operating in a manner that made my WC insurance company happy. I had to have all of my subs get a WC policy ($500 a year) and keep a copy of their current GL & WC on file.

A friend of mine in MA had either the Feds or the state turn him over to the WC nazi's. He claimed payroll but did not have a WC policy. They followed him for weeks trying to catch him with employees on a job-site.

Be very careful that you get a rate for your classification and do not work outside of that classification without letting them know. If they catch you doing other work they can and will turn you in for insurance fraud.

 

[Ethan]

yeah be really careful , I just got my year end audit - over $15K... i'm contesting it, but they might be right. It pretty much sucks but I can't imagine not carrying it.

 

[Rich]

ahh this debate

I've had a few guys up here SWEAR (1 man operation, at the moment) that I needed comp and I was on the ground rolling

 

[Dave Mac]

You couldnt get in the door around here with out, thats one of the first things a HO ask around here. If you a small one man shop you can get a ghost policy.

 

[Kelly Painting]

It's for a condominium complex... they want 36 decks done this year.
they run another 12 complexes in the area.... and I might be getting my foot in the door for future work.... they require it.

I am a one man operation.... with a helper here and there.

this could turn into allot of future work....But, it's starting to sound like a pain in the butt.

 

[Rich]

now I know why some guys in here are charging $50+/hr.

hey kelly...you plan on getting comp, you better plan on charging a lot more

 

[FHI Decks & Windows]

I am a one man operation.... with a helper here and there.

.

Legally you have to do it then. If your helper gets hurt on the job and you do not have a WC policy he can sue the homeowner. Some homeowner insurance policies will not cover this type of lawsuit so the homeowner has to pay. The policy does not need to cover you, just your employees.

I heard a rumor that your health insurance can deny a claim if you are injured on the job since it should of been a WC claim. Don't quote me on this, the info came from an insurance salesperson.

 

[NuView Painting]

Ye if you go L.L.C. you can exclude your income, with a minimum premium and just pay on your hired help

 

[bikerboy]

Federal law says you don't need it on yourself or immediate family members (father, brother, spouse), but have to have it on everyone one else. So the idea is to have a big inbred ******* family!

You might be a ******* if you go to the family re-union looking for a wife!

 

[Tmrrptr]

& partners
r

 

[Finaltouch]

We have it. It's a big thing here in CA, the state loves to fine people. If your getting it for a Condo expect to pay a little more and make sure they cover work at condos or for home owners associations. There is only a few companys that cover hoa's and they are expensive. I got it for the same reason. Also don't underestimate the labor you'll pay for the year. At the end of the year your ins co will audit you no matter what and if you paid more labor than your policy covered they will bill you for the difference. On the other hand if your under they will cut you a check for the dif. Also you pay a lot less for sales and admin staff than you do for the field workers.

Shane.

 

[regal]

I had the 500 dollar policy that did nothing other than show some thing on my certificate. Which was perfect. Now on the certificate It says I dont have it on myself. Now my Ins. agent says that it will cost 1600. dollars for me to be on it. Ill have to do it. See what your Insurance agent says, explain what you are looking to do. that work sounds like a good gig.

 

[YoungsPainting]

If you have a corporation, does everyone need workers comp including the owner? Or does it work like the LLC I read above? Generally, what is the percentage for the sales/administrative staffs?

 

[regal]

yes a corporation works that way. If you are a corporation you are also an employee of that corporation and are required (under Mass law) to carry comp. on yourself. But you also get double taxed, and audited by workmanscomp every year, but I guess it has alot of good points to. I did it for 2 years but the taxes were killing me. And I didn't like the audit thing. I wasn't big enough to be a corp. It used to be that If you were a sole prop. you couldnt carry comp. on yourself, but I guess that is changing here in mass.

 

[plainpainter]

Regal, I am in Mass and was under the assumption we couldn't get comp for ourselves as a sole proprietor - is this really changing. Are we forced to have it soon, or will it still be an option?

 

[aaron61]

I run my guys thru a leasing company including myself. Keeps it simple for me, rates are cheaper

 

[Bridgette]

I was wondering about a leasing company as well, because I am a one person operation with a helper sometimes. I don't have comp. Was told by the county that even if I had it I wouldn't be able to claim it. Would like some kind of medial coverage though eventually.
Isn't it very expensive to put yourself through a leasing company? I've heard its not worth it, though I am still tempted just to avoid hassle. Especially for a helper.