Insurance · Workable depending on profile
Cerity Review
Digital-direct workers' comp in five minutes — backed by a 100-year-old workers'-comp specialist
Quick verdict
Cerity is best for Small trades businesses that need compliant workers' comp fast, at a competitive price, from a digitally-modern carrier backed by a long-established workers'-comp specialist. Quote speed: Tailored quote in seconds; policy in about five minutes online. Pricing: Workers' comp priced via a predictive model with up to 100 price points; varies by class and payroll. Some reports of renewal rate increases and workers'-comp audit friction, it is workers'-comp-focused (not full-line), and support is self-serve. But for fast, competitively-priced, financially-backed workers' comp, it is a strong focused option — pair it with other lines and keep payroll records clean for the audit..
About Cerity
Cerity is a digital-direct workers' compensation specialist that brings five-minute online coverage to a line of insurance trades businesses are legally required to carry but usually dread buying. Founded in 2018 in Henderson, Nevada, Cerity is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Employers Holdings (NYSE: EIG), an insurer with over 100 years of workers'-comp experience — so it pairs a modern, self-serve digital experience with the underwriting depth and A- (Excellent) financial backing of a long-established workers'-comp carrier. Its proprietary predictive-pricing model uses up to 100 price points to tailor a quote in seconds and can issue a policy in about five minutes.
For a small trades business, the appeal is obvious: workers' comp is mandatory in most states once you have employees, and buying it directly online in minutes — without a broker or a drawn-out process — removes a real headache. Reviewers praise the fast, easy process and competitive pricing, with many approved and covered in five minutes. Cerity's strength is squarely workers' comp (it has expanded toward general liability), so it is a focused tool rather than a full-line carrier.
The caveats, reflected in reviews, are renewal and audit experiences: some customers report rate increases after about two years and frustration with workers'-comp audits (the annual true-up of payroll-based premium). Audit friction is common across all workers'-comp carriers, but it is worth anticipating — keep clean payroll records and expect the year-end audit. The direct-digital model also means self-serve support rather than a dedicated agent.
For a small trades shop that needs workers' comp fast, at a competitive price, from a digitally-modern but financially-backed carrier, Cerity is a strong, focused option — and notably, it powers workers' comp for partners like Simply Business. Pair a Cerity workers'-comp quote with a broker or direct carrier for your other lines (general liability, commercial auto, BOP), and keep payroll records tidy for the annual audit.
How it works
You answer a short web questionnaire about your business, payroll, and class of work, and Cerity's predictive-pricing model returns a tailored workers'-comp quote in seconds; you can bind a policy in about five minutes online. Coverage is underwritten with the backing of Employers Holdings (A- AM Best, 100+ years in workers' comp). You manage the policy online, and — as with all workers' comp — you complete an annual premium audit that trues up your premium against actual payroll. Support is digital/self-serve rather than a dedicated agent.
Pros & cons
What works
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Five-minute workers' comp
Cerity quotes in seconds and binds a workers'-comp policy in about five minutes online — a fast, painless path to a coverage most trades are legally required to carry.
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Backed by a 100-year WC specialist
As a subsidiary of Employers Holdings (100+ years in workers' comp, A- AM Best), Cerity pairs a modern digital experience with deep workers'-comp underwriting and financial backing.
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Precise, competitive pricing
A predictive-pricing model with up to 100 price points tailors quotes to your specific business, and reviewers consistently praise the competitive rates.
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Direct-digital, no broker
You buy directly online without a broker or drawn-out process — ideal for a small contractor who just needs compliant workers' comp quickly.
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Powers partner programs
Cerity provides workers' comp for partners like Simply Business, a signal that its digital WC product is solid enough for other platforms to build on.
What doesn't
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Renewal rate increases
Some customers report premium increases after about two years. As with any insurer, re-shop at renewal rather than assuming the initial competitive rate holds long-term.
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Workers'-comp audit friction
Reviewers cite frustration with annual workers'-comp audits (the payroll true-up). Audits are standard across all WC carriers, but keep clean payroll records and anticipate the year-end reconciliation.
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Focused on workers' comp
Cerity's core is workers' comp (with general liability expansion). It is not a full-line carrier, so you will pair it with others for commercial auto, BOP, and broader coverage.
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Self-serve support
The direct-digital model means self-serve/online support rather than a dedicated agent — efficient for simple needs, less hand-holding if something gets complicated.
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State availability varies
Workers'-comp availability differs by state (some states have monopolistic state funds), so confirm Cerity writes in your state before relying on it.
Coverage
- Insurance lines
- workers compgeneral liability
- Geographic coverage
- Available in most states (workers' comp availability varies by state)
- Typical premium range
- Workers' comp priced via a predictive model with up to 100 price points; varies by class and payroll
- Quote speed
- Tailored quote in seconds; policy in about five minutes online
- Trade coverage
- HVACPlumbingElectricalGeneral ContractorsLandscaping & Lawn CareCleaning ServicesHandyman ServicesPainting
- Affiliate program
- Unknown. No public publisher affiliate program confirmed — outreach required (Employers Holdings subsidiary)..
External ratings & sentiment
Trustpilot
4.0 / 5
BBB
—
A.M. Best
A- (Excellent) — via parent Employers Holdings
positive on speed, ease, and price; some note renewal rate increases after ~2 years and workers'-comp audit frustration
Frequently asked
What is Cerity?
Cerity is a digital-direct workers' compensation specialist founded in 2018, a subsidiary of Employers Holdings (100+ years in workers' comp, A- AM Best). It quotes in seconds and binds a workers'-comp policy in about five minutes online, with a predictive-pricing model using up to 100 price points.
Is Cerity legitimate?
Yes — it is backed by Employers Holdings (NYSE: EIG), a workers'-comp insurer with over a century of experience and an A- (Excellent) AM Best rating. Cerity also powers workers' comp for partners like Simply Business. It is a modern digital front end on an established carrier.
What does Cerity cover?
Primarily workers' compensation (its specialty), with expansion toward general liability. It is a focused product, not a full-line carrier, so trades typically pair Cerity workers' comp with another carrier or broker for commercial auto, BOP, and broader coverage.
What are the downsides of Cerity?
Some customers report rate increases after about two years and frustration with the annual workers'-comp audit (the payroll true-up, which is standard across all WC carriers). Support is self-serve/digital. Keep clean payroll records, anticipate the audit, and re-shop at renewal.
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