In Ohio, whether a business owner or corporate officer is covered by workers' compensation — and whether they can change that — depends on the entity type and Ohio's own rules. Getting the election right affects both your protection and your premium. Here is how inclusion and exclusion work in Ohio, the form or filing to use, and what it means for your policy.
Who must carry workers' compensation in Ohio?
Mandatory for every private employer with one or more employees — a single employee triggers the requirement.
Can owners and officers be included or excluded in Ohio?
| Sole proprietor | Excluded by default; may elect in by written notice to BWC. |
|---|---|
| Partners | Excluded by default; any partner may elect in. |
| LLC members | Members are excluded by default and electable (treated with partnership members/single-owner corporations). |
| Corporate officers | Officers of a regular corporation are employees, covered by default. Only a family-farm-corporation officer, or an individual incorporated as a one-person corporation with no other employees, is excluded/elective. |
How to make the election in Ohio
- Official source: Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation — employer account
How Ohio counts an included owner
For covered officers and elective-coverage owners, reportable payroll runs between a weekly minimum of 50% and a maximum of 150% of Ohio's statewide average weekly wage. BWC does not post the dollar conversion in rule — we confirm the current figures for your account. (effective 7/1/2024 (percentage basis)). Source.
Ohio is a monopolistic state-fund state
Ohio has no private workers' compensation market — coverage is written only through Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) is the state fund; every private employer must pay into it (only alternative is BWC-approved self-insurance) (or state-approved self-insurance). We don't place your Ohio workers' comp with a private carrier, but we coordinate it with the rest of your commercial program — general liability, property, commercial auto, umbrella, and any out-of-state operations the state fund doesn't cover.
Related
Ohio business insurance · Workers' compensation coverage · Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do business owners have to carry workers' comp on themselves in Ohio?
It depends on your entity and role. Excluded by default; may elect in by written notice to BWC. Officers of a regular corporation are employees, covered by default. Only a family-farm-corporation officer, or an individual incorporated as a one-person corporation with no other employees, is excluded/elective. Employees are always covered.
How do I include or exclude an owner from workers' comp in Ohio?
The right form, portal, or endorsement depends on your entity type. Ohio records the election on the policy with the carrier; our general inclusion/exclusion form documents it.
What payroll is used for an included owner in Ohio?
Premium is figured between a state-set minimum and maximum that changes each year; we confirm the current amount for your policy.
Can Cory Washington & Co. handle my Ohio workers' comp election?
Yes. We confirm which rule applies to your entity, prepare the correct form or election, coordinate it with your carrier, and keep your workers' comp aligned with the rest of your program. Request a quote or a policy review and we'll take it from there.
This page is general educational information from Cory Washington & Co. LLC about how workers' compensation owner inclusion and exclusion works in this state. It is not legal, tax, or insurance advice and is not a determination of your eligibility or obligation. Workers' compensation laws, forms, payroll limits, and residual-market programs change and depend on your entity type, ownership, and operations. Confirm the current rules and amounts with your licensed advisor at Cory Washington & Co. LLC and the state agency before making any election.