Staffing agency insurance is a policy (or policies) protecting a staffing agency from claims of negligence through investigation and defense. It also helps repair or replace damaged property. As a business in the service sector, professional liability will be the most important coverage for a staffing agency, and professional liability costs for a staffing agency can run from $600 to $800 annually. Depending on the state and number of employees, workers’ compensation will likely be a required coverage.
As the intermediary between employers and employees, your specific risks and insurance needs can vary greatly depending on the type of staffing you provide. As such, going with a broker like Simply Business is a great way to find coverage. It works with over a dozen top providers to help you compare costs and buy insurance online.
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Insurers consider multiple factors when calculating the premium, among which will be the risk associated with your business, the type of coverage, and the limits you select. For example, a temp agency supplying workers in construction or manufacturing will likely pay more for workers’ compensation than an agency that finds placement for white-collar jobs.
Note that nearly every state requires workers’ compensation insurance for businesses with one or more employees. As such, you will need to look into your state regulations to determine if your business needs it. If the workers you hire for other companies are your employees, then you will be responsible for the workers’ comp coverage. And if you work across state lines, understand that the specifics of your state are different from the specifics of another state.
The cost of workers’ compensation is based on a standardized formula that considers the job risk, payroll, and claim history. Thus, a high-risk industry or a business with a history of workers’ comp claims will have a higher workers’ comp premium.
Insurers consider other factors when determining premiums, including the following:
- Deductibles: A deductible is like a co-pay—it is a policyholder’s financial responsibility for a claim. A higher deductible will usually lower the premium, but it means you agree to pay more when there is a claim. While general liability does not carry a deductible, one can be present for professional liability or property coverage.
- Limits: Many insurers will offer different levels of coverage that come down to the total limit: $500,000, $1,000,000, or $2,000,000 per policy. Each limit will come with a different price tag. Smaller limits are often more affordable but carry a greater risk of being underinsured.
- Industry: The type of industry your agency works with will bear with it a different level of risk exposure, which will be reflected in the premium. Construction and transportation are some of the riskier industries and will cost more to insure.
- Claims history: Insurers will ask about claims filed in the last three to five years when gathering information for a quote. Numerous previous claims are an indicator of future risk.
- Revenue: If your staffing agency needs workers’ comp, revenue will be factored into the premium.
- Employees: The larger your company, the greater your exposure to employee injury or poor client interactions. Larger firms will often have higher premiums.
- Location: If your agency staffs employees in different states, then your premium may increase.
Types of Insurance for Staffing Agencies
Unless your business operates more like a headhunter, i.e., finding employees who then work for the company that hired you, your agency is the employer of record (EoR) for a temporary employee. This means you’ll be assuming all risks associated with the employee and not the company where they work.
Each situation presents a unique business insurance need, and depending on the situation, it can really help you understand what types of employment agency insurance are right for your business.
Arguably, the most important coverage for a staffing agency is professional liability insurance. Often referred to as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, this protects your business if you are accused of making a mistake when rendering your services. This could be because the employee isn’t qualified to do the job that the employer was looking for or even extending to the actual performance on the job of the employee.
If your staffing agency works with finding nurses and other medical personnel, you will want to consider medical malpractice insurance, which is a type of professional liability.
For example, if an international law firm requested someone fluent in Portuguese and, instead, you recommended someone who spoke Spanish, then the firm could come after your agency for the error.
The right policies for your business will depend largely on your business structure. General liability insurance policies protect you from claims of bodily injury or third-party property damage. Both of these fall under the premises liability portion of a general liability policy. So, if you have any interaction with third parties on your premises, then you will want general liability. Besides that, if you own or rent a space, then you should consider commercial property as well.
Most insurers will offer the option to bundle general liability with commercial property. This bundled policy is known as a business owner’s policy (BOP) and is often a less expensive way to obtain property and liability insurance. For example, a BOP with $500,000 in liability and $50,000 in property costs $568 annually.
To get an idea of the differences between the two policies, check out our comparison of BOP vs general liability.
Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) is another important staffing agency insurance coverage. It covers wrongful acts in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and firing an employee. As the staffing agency, if you decide not to interview someone because they disclose they are pregnant during the interview process, this could open your agency up to a lawsuit. To avoid this, ensure the questions and assessments are not discriminatory.
Workers’ compensation insurance is a required coverage in every state for companies with employees except for Texas and South Dakota. If an employee gets injured or becomes ill because of their employment, workers’ comp will help with replacing their wages and medical bills and usually provide a return-to-work program for the employee. It carries liability protection for the employer, too.
This type of insurance can be costly for staffing agencies. In my research, I found one provider that had a minimum premium of $5,000 to be considered.
Any staffing agency with employees will need to look into workers’ comp. However, every state has a different threshold for when the coverage is required and what type of employee—including temporary workers—qualifies for coverage. Check with your local state office to see if your agency is required to offer workers’ comp for temporary employees.
How to Get Insurance for Staffing Agencies
Finding staffing insurance can be tricky because of the industry’s complexity and the potential for overlapping employment. However, that doesn’t mean finding the right coverage for your agency is impossible or unaffordable. Two of the best ways to find insurance are by working directly with a carrier or using a broker.
- Carrier, or provider: It underwrites the policy, services the policy, and handles any claims when there is a loss. Many providers employ agents whom you can contact to get a quote. Simultaneously, many will also work directly with the consumer to help provide coverage. Many will provide a discount for customers working directly with them.
- Broker: Brokers work independently of one specific carrier and instead will work with multiple carriers. This is a great option for finding insurance because the broker will be working for you rather than the carrier and has access to a large insurance marketplace.
Best Staffing Agency Insurance Companies
Insurance dedicated to staffing agencies can be challenging to find because of the complexity of employment status for placed clients and the risk involved. The companies here represent either specialty insurers or brokers that can work with multiple carriers to find coverage.
- Simply Business: Best overall provider for staffing agency insurance
- Hiscox: Best for agencies working with white-collar workers
- Philadelphia Insurance Companies (Phly): Best for EPLI for temporary employees
- World Wide Specialty: Best for agencies that are American Staffing Association (ASA) members
Simply Business: Overall Best Staffing Agency Insurance
Pros
- It is available in all 50 states.
- You can purchase insurance online.
- It has dedicated agents to review options.
Cons
- You cannot reach anyone on the weekend; hours are Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET.
- Claims are handled directly by the company that underwrites your policy.
- Policy services are more limited than a traditional broker.
Standout Features
- Is the best company for staffing agency insurance, combining the ability to manage your policy with the convenience of comparison shopping for insurance
- Offers insurance nationwide, ranging from general and professional liability to a BOP and workers’ comp
- Has general liability, professional liability, and workers’ compensation
- Targets smaller operations with five or fewer employees
- Allows you to get a quote in two ways: through the webpage or by calling and speaking with a licensed agent.
- Lets you compare quotes and purchase a policy online without speaking with anyone, plus your policy documents are available instantly
Cost: Our team filled out information about a talent agency and, in about five minutes, received a quote for $459 annually. If you prefer, you could pay the first two months of coverage and then ten installments of $38.25.
Financial stability: Simply Business works with multiple top-rated carriers. For this article, the quote we received was from Hiscox, and AM Best rated Hiscox A (Excellent). Simply Business is owned by Travelers, and Travelers’ AM Best rating is A++ (Superior).
Hiscox: Best for Agencies Working With White-collar Workers
Pros
- You can gain instant access to your policy.
- You can get a quote and purchase a policy online, often for same-day coverage.
- You can manage your policy and get a COI online.
Cons
- Complaints are slightly higher than the national average.
- It is not open during the weekend; hours are Monday to Friday, 7 p.m.–10 p.m. ET.
Standout Features
- Is the best staffing agency insurance company for agencies specializing in placing IT, finance, and healthcare professionals
- Has a specific appetite targeted towards more white-collar, clerical jobs, like lawyers, architects, and engineers.
- Offers core policies a staffing agency needs, like professional liability
- Provides insurance endorsements and special coverages for staffing agencies (e.g., cyber liability and crisis management)
Cost: We received a quote for a BOP that costs $1,390 a year. This policy included liability limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. It also provided $25,000 in property coverage with a deductible of $1,000.
Financial stability: AM Best’s rating of Hiscox is A (Excellent), which means you can have peace of mind knowing it has the financial strength to pay its claims.
Philadelphia Insurance Companies: Best for EPLI Policies for Temporary Workers
Pros
- It has a 24/7 claims line to report losses.
- It has a low level of complaints.
- Professional liability, EPLI, and general liability are available as a package.
Cons
- You must contact a local agent to get a quote.
- It has no pricing information available.
Standout Features
- Is a specialty insurer and the best provider for staffing agencies that place a high number of temporary employees
- Offers an EPLI policy that extends to the temporary employee
- Gives the policyholder the freedom to choose their defense counsel or let the provider select it for them
- Allows you to manage your account, pay your premium, or file a claim online
- Lets you access instant COIs through its online portal
- Has coverage for executive recruiters, temporary placement, temp-to-hire agencies, and permanent placement staffing agencies
- Provides an optional online safety training for customers, but if completed, you are eligible for a discount on your insurance
Financial stability: Phly is owned by Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. AM Best rated Tokio Marine Holdings an A++ (Superior).
World Wide Specialty: Best for ASA Members
Pros
- It has a dedicated insurer for staffing agencies.
- It is a member of 21 different national and state staffing associations.
- It has a specialized legal team for staffing claims.
Cons
- You have to request a quote to be contacted by an agent.
- It has no pricing information online.
- Quote process can be cumbersome and slow, including downloading and filling out a form.
Standout Features
- Has decades of experience and is the only insurance company to partner with the American Staffing Association (ASA), making it the best provider for staffing agencies that are ASA members
- Supports ASA, including sponsoring the keynote address of the association’s annual convention
- Provides insurance for staffing companies, currently insuring over 6,000 staffing agencies
- Has coverage for independent contractors and staffing consultants, and its EPLI policy includes built-in HR training to help mitigate any risk when recruiting, interviewing, or hiring an employee
- Offers 24/7 service for claims and customer service and is committed to responding to claims within 24 to 48 hours of the loss being filed
Financial stability: As of 2022, World Wide Specialty is a division of Philadelphia Insurance Companies. World Wide Specialty’s AM Best rating is A++ (Superior).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Staffing agency insurance is a policy or combination of policies that offers protection for your business by covering your physical property and protecting your financial assets from claims of negligence. The most important policy is professional liability, followed by general liability and commercial property.
There are no specific requirements for staffing agency insurance. However, most states do require some level of workers’ compensation insurance for all businesses. Additionally, companies you contract with may require insurance and request proof of insurance or a certificate of liability showing your staffing agency is properly insured.
Insurance for employment agencies will vary depending on the coverage selected, location, size, and claims history, to name just a few. A general liability policy with $2 million in aggregate coverage can cost anywhere from $250 to $1,000 annually. Commercial property with a limit of $50,000 can be as low as $700 to $3,000.
Professional liability, unlike general liability, is more specific to liability for E&O in services rendered (specifically if those errors caused another party financial harm). This can include failure to meet the requirements of a contract, like recommending a candidate for a job who lacks the specific experience required by the employer.
Most commercial general liability policies carry personal and advertising injury coverage. The limit for this is typically $1 million. It is important to always review what coverages are included with the policy.
Bottom Line
Staffing agencies act as intermediaries between employers and employees. Because they come in all sizes and serve nearly every industry, finding the best staffing agency insurance provider can be challenging. Partner with one that can help you identify your risks and ensure you have the right coverage for your operations.
Simply Business can help you find the right company and coverage for your staffing agency. It can do this online—and in just minutes, you can have insurance for your business and be covered for the year.
