Best Workers Comp Insurance for Restaurants in 2026

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Restaurant workers get injured at rates above the national average for all industries. Burns from commercial ovens, cuts from prep work, slips on wet kitchen floors, and back injuries from carrying heavy trays are the most common claims. Workers comp is required in most states the moment you hire a restaurant employee, and the premium reflects the elevated risk of restaurant work.

The good news: restaurant workers comp has a predictable loss profile that most carriers know how to price, and competition among carriers in this class keeps rates relatively competitive.

Quick Summary

Provider	Best For	Avg Annual Cost (10 employees)
Next Insurance	Small restaurants wanting digital workers comp	$5,500/yr
The Hartford	Full-service restaurants with GL bundled	$6,200/yr
biBerk	Budget-conscious restaurant operators	$5,000/yr
Simply Business	Comparing multiple carrier quotes	Varies
Employers Holdings	Mid-sized restaurant operations (10-50 employees)	Quote-based

Cost estimates for a 10-employee full-service restaurant in Texas with $350,000 payroll. Rates vary by state, restaurant type (fast food vs full service), and claims history.

Why We Picked These Providers

Restaurant workers comp is broadly available through most commercial carriers, but pricing and claims service vary. These five cover the main restaurant buyer profiles from small independent operations to mid-sized restaurant groups. We excluded carriers that do not actively write restaurant class codes or require broker-only access.

Provider Reviews

Next Insurance

Next Insurance offers workers comp for restaurants through a digital application covering full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, cafes, and catering operations. Pay-as-you-go billing is available, which is useful for restaurants with variable seasonal staffing.

Best for: Independent restaurants with 1 to 25 employees. Operations that want workers comp and GL from the same carrier. Restaurants with seasonal staffing that benefit from pay-as-you-go billing over annual audit-based policies.

What it costs: $5,000 to $8,500 per year for a 10-employee restaurant depending on the type of restaurant and state. Full-service restaurants (higher injury risk from kitchen work) price higher than cafes and bakeries.

One thing to watch: Next Insurance may not offer workers comp in every state for restaurant class codes. Confirm state availability for your specific restaurant type before relying on them.

Affiliate link: Get a workers comp quote from Next Insurance

The Hartford

The Hartford writes restaurant workers comp in most states and has extensive experience handling restaurant claims. Their BOP program bundles workers comp, GL, and property for restaurants that want consolidated coverage.

Best for: Full-service restaurants with 10 or more employees. Operations that already use The Hartford for GL or property and want to add workers comp. Restaurant groups with multiple locations.

What it costs: $5,800 to $10,000 per year for a 10-employee restaurant. Not always the cheapest standalone option, but bundling multiple lines can reduce total premium.

One thing to watch: The Hartford uses traditional annual audits rather than pay-as-you-go billing for most restaurant workers comp policies. Restaurants with variable staffing may face audit adjustments at year end.

biBerk (Berkshire Hathaway)

biBerk writes restaurant workers comp at competitive rates with strong financial backing. They are well-suited for quick-service restaurants, cafes, and food businesses with relatively predictable staffing and lower annual payroll.

Best for: Small to mid-sized restaurants with clean loss histories and stable staffing. Budget-conscious operators who want Berkshire Hathaway's A++ financial strength without paying brand-name rates.

What it costs: $4,700 to $8,000 per year for a 10-employee restaurant. biBerk tends to price competitively for lower-hazard food service operations (cafes, bakeries, quick service).

One thing to watch: biBerk may price less competitively for full-service restaurants with bar service, which carry a higher workers comp loss rate than quick-service operations.

Simply Business

Simply Business aggregates restaurant workers comp quotes from multiple carriers on a single application. Useful for restaurant owners who want to compare options without applying to each carrier separately.

Best for: Restaurant operators shopping on price who want to see multiple quotes quickly.

What it costs: No additional fee. You pay the carrier rate selected. Carrier network varies.

One thing to watch: Workers comp pricing in the restaurant industry varies significantly by class code. A quick-service restaurant (class code 9082) is priced differently than a full-service restaurant with a bar (class code 9061). Confirm the correct class code is applied in any quote you receive.

Employers Holdings

Employers Holdings specializes in small to mid-sized business workers comp with strong restaurant programs in most states. Their restaurant experience makes them a good fit for operations with more complex staffing structures.

Best for: Restaurants with 10 to 50 employees, particularly those that have had prior claims or operate in states where standard market pricing is high.

What it costs: Employers Holdings provides customized quotes through independent agents. Pricing is typically competitive with The Hartford for mid-sized restaurant operations.

One thing to watch: Employers Holdings works primarily through brokers. Getting their best pricing requires working with an independent commercial insurance agent.

How We Evaluated These Providers

Restaurant class code coverage. Restaurant workers comp is classified by type of operation. Full-service restaurants, quick-service, bars, and catering each carry different class codes and rates. We evaluated which carriers write the full range of restaurant classifications.

Pay-as-you-go availability. Restaurants with seasonal staffing (summer patios, holiday rushes) benefit from pay-as-you-go billing. We noted which carriers offer this for restaurant accounts.

Financial strength. AM Best ratings: Next Insurance (A-), The Hartford (A+), biBerk/Berkshire Hathaway (A++), Simply Business varies, Employers Holdings (A).

Claims handling. Restaurant claims often involve kitchen injuries requiring immediate medical attention. We evaluated each carrier's claims reporting and response capabilities.

State monopolistic fund note. Washington, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wyoming operate monopolistic state workers comp funds. Private carrier coverage is not available in these states. Restaurant operators in those states must purchase from the state fund.

How to Get a Quote

Start with Next Insurance for a fast baseline. Add biBerk for a price comparison. If you have 10 or more employees and also need GL, get The Hartford to quote both simultaneously to see whether bundling saves money overall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What class code applies to my restaurant?

The most common restaurant workers comp class codes in NCCI states are: 9082 (restaurant, fast food), 9083 (restaurant, not fast food), 9061 (club, country or golf, with restaurant and bar service). Class codes vary slightly by state. Confirm your class code with the carrier at application time.

Does workers comp cover kitchen injuries?

Yes. Burns from hot surfaces, cuts from knives and equipment, and injuries from commercial kitchen equipment are all covered under standard workers comp. Coverage includes medical treatment and a portion of lost wages during recovery.

How does restaurant staffing affect my workers comp premium?

Workers comp premium is calculated on actual payroll. Higher total payroll (more employees, more hours) means higher premium. Seasonal restaurants with fluctuating staff sizes benefit from pay-as-you-go billing, which ties monthly premiums to actual payroll runs rather than estimated annual payroll.

Are tipped employees included in workers comp payroll?

In most states, only the base wage (not tips) is included in the payroll base for workers comp calculation. This can significantly reduce the workers comp premium for restaurants with large tipped employee populations. Confirm the rules in your state with your carrier.

Can I get restaurant workers comp the same day?

Yes, with Next Insurance and biBerk for most restaurant class codes. Standard operations can complete an application and receive coverage in under 30 minutes.

Sources

• National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI): ncci.com
• Bureau of Labor Statistics restaurant industry injury rates: bls.gov/iif
• Next Insurance restaurant workers comp: next.insurance
• The Hartford restaurant insurance: thehartford.com
• Employers Holdings: employers.com
• AM Best ratings: ambest.com