By state & city
What your state actually requires
Insurance requirements are state law — workers' comp thresholds, penalties and licensing rules differ sharply. Each guide cites the official state insurance department, which is also where complaints against insurers get filed.
New Jersey
New Jersey has some of the strictest small-business insurance rules in the country — and some of the most expensive advertising around them (this keyword's ad clicks trade above $46). Here's what the state actually requires, where to verify an insurer's license, and how the carriers selling in NJ compare on claims behavior.
Regulator: New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires workers' compensation from the first employee and runs an active insurance department that publishes complaint data on every carrier. If you run a business in PA — from a Philadelphia salon to a Scranton HVAC crew — here's what's required and how the insurers competing for your premium actually handle claims.
Regulator: Pennsylvania Insurance Department
Chicago
Chicago layers city licensing on top of Illinois state rules: many business license categories require proof of insurance before the city will issue or renew. Here's what Illinois requires, what the city adds, and how the carriers writing Chicago small-business policies compare on complaint records.
Regulator: Illinois Department of Insurance
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing small-business cities in the Southeast, and North Carolina's insurance rules are lighter-touch than the Northeast — but the workers' comp threshold catches growing businesses by surprise. Here's what NC requires and how the carriers selling in Charlotte compare on claims behavior.
Regulator: North Carolina Department of Insurance
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's small-business scene — trades, food, services — operates under Pennsylvania's first-employee workers' comp rule plus city licensing requirements for contractors. Here's the requirements picture and how the insurers writing Pittsburgh policies compare on complaint data.
Regulator: Pennsylvania Insurance Department