Sources reviewed October 27, 2026 · Confirm current rules with the agency
When coverage is required
Missouri generally requires coverage once you have five or more employees. Construction employers generally need it with just one. Look at the work you actually do before you rely on the five-employee rule. If your business starts doing construction work, check your insurance right away. Do not wait until you have more staff.
Owners, contractors, and exceptions
Sole owners and partners can choose to be covered. LLC members and family workers have their own rules for being included or opting out, so do not assume they are automatically left out. Ask your insurer to write down how working owners are handled and to review your subcontractors, especially on construction jobs.
If an employee is injured
You must tell your insurer within five days of the injury or of hearing about it, whichever is later. Your insurer then generally reports to the Division of Workers' Compensation within 30 days of learning about it. First aid only cases are an exception. Send the first facts quickly, and update your insurer if the worker later needs medical care or misses work. The worker's own notice and claim steps are separate from these reports.
Operating without coverage
If you knowingly fail to carry workers' comp, it is a class A misdemeanor. You may also owe the state up to three times your yearly premium or $50,000, whichever is more. A second violation is a class E felony. You will owe the injured worker's medical care, and the worker can also sue you in circuit court. The Division's Fraud and Noncompliance Unit takes reports about uninsured employers.
How to arrange coverage
Buy a policy from a licensed insurer or qualify to self-insure. Check your coverage with the Division's tools and keep proof ready for contracts. For construction, describe every trade and type of work clearly, and confirm the start date before workers go on a job site. An application or a quote does not prove that coverage has started.
Benefits and return-to-work planning
A work injury can lead to medical care, time off work, a lasting disability, or benefits for family members if a worker dies. Who qualifies, waiting periods, how wages are figured, and benefit limits all depend on state law and the facts of the claim. Ask your insurer which benefits it is looking at and what records it needs. Go by the doctor's work limits, not your own guess about what the worker can do. If you can offer lighter work, describe the duties and hours clearly and plan it with the doctor and your insurer.
Preparing an accurate cost estimate
Gather payroll by job and location, a description of each type of work, details on working owners, subcontractor records, and your past claims. Ask the insurer to confirm your job classes, how the rate is figured, any experience modifier, the minimum premium, fees, and audit terms. This site's calculator uses a base rate that you enter. It does not give a state-approved rate or a real quote. Compare offers using the same numbers, and track staff and work changes during the year so the final audit is easier.
Forms, posters, and notices
These links go straight to Missouri’s official forms. Your insurer can often send a poster with your policy details already filled in.
Weekly benefit limits
These limits cap the wage replacement checks an injured worker can get. Medical care is paid separately. Limits change every year, so check the source for the latest figures.
- Maximum
- $1,294.71 a week
- Minimum
- $40 a week
- Applies to
- Temporary total disability, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
Check a contractor’s coverage
Missouri has an online tool to verify an employer's coverage.
Owner exemptions and elections
Missouri has an Employer's Affidavit of Exception form. Ask the Division whether it fits your business. Owner choices are usually made through your insurance policy. Ask your insurer which owners are included or left out, and get the answer in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is workers' comp required in Missouri?
Yes with five or more employees. Construction employers need coverage with one or more employees.
Do business owners need workers' comp in Missouri?
Sole proprietors and partners are not covered unless they choose to be. LLC members and close family employees are covered unless they opt out.
How long does an employee have to report a work injury in Missouri?
Employees should tell the employer in writing. The employer must report the injury to its insurer within five days.
What happens if a Missouri business doesn't have workers' comp?
Knowingly failing to insure is a class A misdemeanor with a penalty up to three times the annual premium or $50,000, whichever is greater. A repeat violation is a class E felony.
How do I get workers' comp insurance in Missouri?
Buy from a licensed insurer or qualify for self-insurance.
How much does workers' comp cost in Missouri?
Cost depends mostly on your job class codes, the payroll in each class, your experience modifier, and the insurer's rates and minimum premium. Ask a licensed insurer or agent for the base rate for your class code in Missouri, then use this site's calculator for a rough estimate. Your final premium is set at the yearly audit.
Your next steps
Official sources & further reading
Missouri DWC: employer coverage rulesMissouri DWC: reporting responsibilitiesMissouri DWC: verifying coverageMissouri DWC: when an employer lacks insuranceThis summary is for learning, not legal advice. Exceptions and changes may apply. If anything here differs from the official agency or the law, they are what count.