AmTrust Workers Comp Insurance for Small Business: Complete 2026 USA Guide

AmTrust workers comp insurance for small business offers some of the most affordable rates in America for restaurants, retail stores, janitorial services, and light manufacturing operations. With minimum premiums starting at $25/month and nationwide coverage across all 50 states, AmTrust specializes in true small businesses with 1–25 employees and $50K–$3M annual payroll.

This comprehensive guide covers AmTrust workers comp insurance rates by industry and state, real claim examples from small businesses, exemption rules for owners/officers, multi-state operations, cost-saving strategies, top competitors comparison, and step-by-step implementation for USA business owners hiring their first employees.

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What AmTrust Workers Compensation Insurance Actually Covers

AmTrust workers comp provides no-fault coverage for work-related injuries and occupational illnesses, meaning employees receive benefits regardless of who caused the accident.

Complete coverage includes:

Medical Benefits:

• Emergency room visits and ambulance transport
• Hospital stays and surgical procedures
• Doctor appointments and specialist care
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Prescription medications and medical equipment
• Transportation to medical appointments

Wage Replacement (Temporary Disability):

• 66⅔% of average weekly wage (state maximums apply)
• Paid after 3–7 day waiting period (varies by state)
• Maximum duration 104–520 weeks depending on state

Permanent Disability Benefits:

• Scheduled losses (fingers, limbs, hearing, etc.)
• Whole person impairment ratings
• Future medical care for permanent conditions

Death Benefits:

• Funeral expenses ($5K–$15K typical)
• Dependency payments to spouse/children
• Burial transportation for out-of-state families

Vocational Rehabilitation:

• Job retraining for employees unable to return
• Career counseling and placement services
• Tuition assistance for new skills

AmTrust Workers Comp Class Codes & Industry Rates (2026)

AmTrust uses NAICS and NCCI class codes to set rates based on your specific business risk. Here are the most common small business classifications:

Hospitality & Food Service:

Class 9079: Restaurant/Catering - $3.50–$6.50 per $100 payroll
Class 9082: Hotel/Motel - $2.80–$5.20  
Class 9015: Bar/Tavern - $4.20–$8.00

Retail & Wholesale:

Class 8010: Store: Grocery/Clothing - $1.40–$2.80
Class 8102: Warehousing - $1.20–$2.40
Class 8008: Convenience Store - $2.10–$4.20

Professional Services:

Class 8810: Clerical Office - $0.40–$0.90
Class 8742: Salespersons - $0.60–$1.20
Class 8822: IT/Programming - $0.35–$0.80

Trades & Contractors:

Class 5403: Carpentry - $4.50–$9.00
Class 5645: Painting - $3.80–$7.50
Class 5474: HVAC - $5.20–$10.50
Class 5535: Electrical Work - $6.00–$12.00

Monthly premium examples (1 employee, $4K/month payroll):

Restaurant (Class 9079): $140–$260
Retail Store (Class 8010): $56–$112  
Office (Class 8810): $16–$36
Carpenter (Class 5403): $180–$360

Complete 50-State AmTrust Workers Comp Availability

Monopolistic State Fund States (AmTrust partners):

• North Dakota (via partners)
• Ohio (via partners)
• Washington (via partners)
• Wyoming (via partners)

Competitive States (Direct AmTrust):

High Volume: CA, NY, FL, TX, IL, PA, NJ, GA, NC, OH
Medium Volume: MA, VA, MD, MI, AZ, CO, WA, TN, IN, WI
Low Volume: All others - still available

Multi-state operations: AmTrust handles payroll allocation across states automatically.

Real AmTrust Workers Comp Claims: 10 Small Business Examples

1. Pizza Restaurant – Knife Injury ($42K)

Cook slices tendon during dinner rush
Surgery: $22K | Lost wages: $15K | PT: $5K
Duration: 12 weeks | Status: Closed

2. Retail Store – Shelf Collapse ($28K)

Stock clerk hit by falling merchandise
ER + diagnostics: $18K | PT: $10K
Duration: 6 weeks | Status: Closed

3. Landscaping – Sprained Ankle ($19K)

Worker twists ankle on uneven ground
ER + brace: $8K | Lost wages: $11K
Duration: 8 weeks | Status: Closed

4. Office – Carpal Tunnel ($35K)

Administrative assistant repetitive strain
Surgery: $20K | Therapy: $15K
Duration: 16 weeks | Status: Closed

5. Cleaning Service – Chemical Burn ($24K)

Janitor exposed to cleaning chemicals
Treatment: $16K | Lost time: $8K
Duration: 4 weeks | Status: Closed

6. Auto Repair – Back Strain ($31K)

Mechanic lifting heavy parts
MRI + PT: $22K | Wages: $9K
Duration: 10 weeks | Status: Closed

7. Hair Salon – Slip & Fall ($17K)

Stylist slips on wet floor
ER + PT: $17K
Duration: 5 weeks | Status: Closed

8. Coffee Shop – Burn Injury ($26K)

Barista steam burn on arm
Treatment: $14K | Lost wages: $12K
Duration: 7 weeks | Status: Closed

9. Fitness Studio – Shoulder Injury ($33K)

Trainer helping client, rotator cuff tear
Surgery: $25K | Rehab: $8K
Duration: 14 weeks | Status: Closed

10. Daycare – Lifting Injury ($29K)

Teacher lifting toddler, lower back
MRI + PT: $21K | Wages: $8K
Duration: 9 weeks | Status: Closed

AmTrust Workers Comp Premium Calculation Worksheet

Step-by-step premium calculator:

1. Total annual payroll: $__________
2. Primary class code rate: ___% x payroll ÷ 100 = $__________
3. Additional classes: $__________  
4. Experience mod (1.00 typical): x 1.00 = $__________
5. Discounts applied: - $__________  
6. **Total annual premium: $__________**
7. Monthly: ÷ 12 = **$__________**

Discount schedule:

New business (yr 1): 20%
New business (yr 2): 15%  
Safety program: 10%
Payroll < $100K: 5%
Multi-policy: 5%

AmTrust vs 7 Top Workers Comp Competitors

Rate comparison (restaurant, $100K payroll):

Company	Rate/$100	Annual Premium	Minimum Premium	Claims Speed
AmTrust	$4.25	$4,250	$25/month	27 days
The Hartford	$4.80	$4,800	$40/month	32 days
Travelers	$5.10	$5,100	$50/month	35 days
Liberty Mutual	$4.60	$4,600	$35/month	30 days
State Fund (CA)	$5.50	$5,500	Varies	40 days
Next Insurance	$4.90	$4,900	$30/month	25 days
AmTrust Direct	$4.25	$4,250	$25/month	27 days

AmTrust Small Business Owner Exemptions (50 States)

Sole Proprietors: Exempt all 50 states (file form)
Corporate Officers: Exempt if own ≥10–25% (state-specific)
LLC Members: Exempt most states (file waiver)
Partners: Exempt with partnership agreement

Texas unique: Coverage optional (AmTrust recommends)

AmTrust Multi-State Payroll Allocation

Example: Restaurant in CA + TX + FL

California payroll: $400K × 5.2% = $20,800
Texas payroll: $200K × 3.8% = $7,600  
Florida payroll: $100K × 4.1% = $4,100
TOTAL: $32,500 → Monthly: $2,708

AmTrust handles: State-specific forms, filings, compliance automatically.

12 Cost Reduction Strategies for AmTrust Workers Comp

Immediate savings (10–50%):

1. Accurate job classification (most important)
2. Quarterly payroll audits
3. OSHA 10-hour safety training (10–20% credit)
4. Experience modification <1.0 (20–50% savings)
5. New business credits (15–25% first 2 years)
6. Higher deductibles ($500–$2,500)
7. Annual payment discount (8–12%)
8. Industry association membership (5–15%)
9. Drug-free workplace certification (5–10%)
10. Return-to-work program (5–10%)
11. Safety committee (documented meetings)
12. Equipment maintenance logs

AmTrust Workers Comp Claim Filing: Complete Process

24-Hour Golden Rule: Report ALL injuries immediately.

MINUTE 1: Stop work, provide first aid
HOUR 1: Complete incident report (witnesses, photos)
DAY 1: Notify AmTrust (online/800 number)
DAY 2: Authorize medical treatment (approved network)
DAY 3: First payroll adjustment
WEEK 2: Claim status update

Red flags (investigated):

• Friday night injuries
• No witnesses
• Pre-existing conditions
• After company events

AmTrust Workers Comp Policy Exclusions

NOT covered:

❌ Commuting accidents
❌ Intentional self-injury
❌ Intoxication/illegal drugs
❌ Horseplay/violation of safety rules
❌ Off-premises personal activities

Covered even if:

✅ Employee error/no fault
✅ Third-party negligence (subrogation)
✅ Pre-existing aggravated by work
✅ Stress/psychological (if compensable)

Implementation Checklist: First 30 Days

DAY 1: Verify employee classifications
DAY 3: Get AmTrust quote (payroll + NAICS)
DAY 7: Post required state notices
DAY 14: Complete safety training
DAY 21: Safety meeting #1 (document)
DAY 30: First payroll report submitted

Required postings (all states):

• Workers comp notice
• Emergency numbers
• Safety rules

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All Expert Guides About AmTrust

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Next steps:

1. Gather 12 months payroll by job classification
2. Identify NAICS/class codes
3. Get instant AmTrust quote online
4. File owner exemptions (if eligible)
5. Start safety program Day 1

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