California employer resource

California workers compensation renewal checklist

Reviewed by Solution One Insurance Services · Updated July 19, 2026

1. Confirm the renewal dates and current policy

• Current carrier, policy number, effective date, and expiration date.
• Current estimated premium, payment plan, and experience modification when applicable.
• The date by which you want proposal options available for review.

2. Reconcile employee count and payroll

Prepare estimated payroll for the coming term by the work employees actually perform. Separate full-time and part-time employees where requested, and identify clerical, sales, field, and other distinct operations accurately.

California workers compensation premium is affected by classifications, rates, and payroll. Final premium can change after the policy audit if actual payroll differs from the estimate.

3. Describe operational changes

• New services, trades, territories, locations, or project types.
• Work at heights, below ground, around hazardous materials, or in other higher-hazard settings.
• Use of subcontractors and collection of current certificates.
• Changes in employee transportation, seasonal work, or safety procedures.

4. Review ownership and entity information

Confirm the legal name, FEIN, entity type, mailing address, owners or officers, ownership percentages, and any inclusion or exclusion elections. Do not assume the prior policy is still correct after an ownership or entity change.

5. Prepare loss and prior-coverage information

Have requested loss runs and explanations for significant claims ready. Disclose cancellations, lapses, nonrenewals, or material changes. A complete explanation usually helps more than leaving a question unanswered.

6. Compare complete terms—not only premium

Review the carrier, annual premium, down payment, installments, fees, classifications, endorsements, exclusions, and conditions. A lower initial estimate may not be the better result if payroll or operations are incomplete.