Workers' compensation in Duncan: the Arizona rules
Whether Arizona requires workers' comp for your team, what it costs at the 2026 median, and how Duncan businesses get covered the same day.
In Arizona, workers' compensation is required from the 1st employee - there is no small-team exemption. The 2026 national median cost is $54 a month.
Duncan, Arizona has about 671 residents, and carriers price its businesses on trade, payroll and revenue rather than on the town itself.
Small businesses in Duncan compare against a national median of $45 a month for general liability - $538 a year in 2026 policy data.
Workers' compensation is the one coverage where Arizona law, not prudence, sets the floor. In Arizona, workers' compensation is required from the 1st employee - there is no small-team exemption. The national median cost is $54 a month, but the real driver is payroll and job class - office payroll costs cents per hundred dollars, roofing payroll costs dollars.
Unlike general liability, workers' comp is not optional once you cross your state's employee threshold. In Arizona, workers' compensation is required from the 1st employee - there is no small-team exemption. Premiums are quoted per 100 dollars of payroll by job classification, which is why the $54 national monthly median stretches widely across trades.
What it costs in 2026
| Coverage | Median monthly | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | $45 | Injuries to others and damage to their property |
| Business owner's policy (BOP) | $83 | GL plus your own property and lost income |
| Professional liability (E&O) | $88 | Claims that your work or advice caused a loss |
| Workers' compensation | $54 | Employee injury care and lost wages |
| Commercial umbrella | $86 | Extra limits above your other liability policies |
| Commercial property | $108 | Standalone cover for gear, inventory, premises |
| Cyber insurance | $129 | Data breach response and liability |
See your workers' comp rate for Duncan
These carriers quote small businesses online in about ten minutes. Prices come from the carrier, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you start a quote through a link here, the carrier may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes the price you are quoted.
When workers' comp pays - and when it will not
Typically covered
- Medical treatment for a work injury, from the ER through rehab
- About two-thirds of lost wages while the employee cannot work
- Disability benefits when an injury is permanent
- Death benefits paid to the family after a fatal accident
- Employer's liability defense if the injured employee sues
Typically not covered
- Injuries while intoxicated or on drugs - routinely denied
- Self-inflicted injuries, or fights the employee started
- The commute to and from work - the going-and-coming rule
- Independent contractors - usually outside the policy, and misclassifying them is a major audit risk
- Injuries outside the scope of the job
Arizona workers' comp rules
| Requirement | Arizona rule |
|---|---|
| Employee threshold | Every employer with any regularly employed worker, full-time or part-time, must carry workers' comp - there is no minimum headcount. |
| Where to verify | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions |
Domestic servants are exempt, though their employers may elect coverage voluntarily.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published data. It is not an insurance company, agency or broker, and it cannot tell you what your business should buy - a licensed agent in Arizona can.
Getting a Duncan quote
Prices for identical coverage genuinely differ between carriers, because each prices trades differently - one is aggressive on contractors, another on consultants. That is why comparing two quotes beats negotiating one. Both quotes take about ten minutes each, online, with no phone calls required.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published data. It is not an insurance company, agency or broker, and it cannot tell you what your business should buy - a licensed agent in Arizona can.
Common questions
Do I need workers' comp if I only use subcontractors?
It depends on the state and on whether the subs carry their own coverage - several states count uninsured subcontractors as your employees for comp purposes. Verify with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions before assuming you are exempt.
What makes premiums go up the most?
Trade risk class, payroll size, revenue, claim history and coverage limits - roughly in that order. A single recent claim can move pricing more than every discount combined, which is why deductible choices matter.
Is business insurance required by law in Arizona?
Two lines can be legally required: workers' compensation once you reach the state employee threshold, and commercial auto liability for business vehicles. General liability is not state-mandated, but leases and client contracts routinely require it.
Is the cheapest business insurance good enough?
Only if the carrier actually pays claims. Before comparing price, check two public numbers: the insurer's AM Best financial strength rating (A- or better) and its complaint index with state regulators (1.0 is average - lower is better). The difference between a good payer and a bad one is usually a few dollars a month; the difference at claim time is everything.
Does an LLC need insurance too?
Yes - the LLC protects your personal assets from business liabilities, but the business's own assets stay exposed. Insurance pays claims; the LLC just keeps them away from your house. Most owners carry both.
See your workers' comp rate for Duncan
These carriers quote small businesses online in about ten minutes. Prices come from the carrier, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you start a quote through a link here, the carrier may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes the price you are quoted.