The Hartford tops my analysis of the best workers' comp insurance in Arkansas, tying with Nationwide for the lowest monthly rate at $49. The Hartford's edge comes from its coverage rank (third) and customer service rank (third), giving it the most balanced profile in the state. ERGO NEXT ranks second overall, with competitive rates and strong customer service, but it ranks sixth on coverage, which matters if your business operates in a higher-risk industry where policy breadth is a high priority.
Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas (2026)
With monthly rates as low as $8 monthly, The Hartford, ERGO NEXT and Nationwide offer the cheapest and best workers' comp insurance in Arkansas.
Get matched to top Arkansas workers' comp insurance providers and find your ideal coverage.
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Updated: August 31, 2026
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Best Workers' Comp Insurance Companies in Arkansas
| The Hartford | 4.54 | $49 | 3 | 3 |
| ERGO NEXT | 4.43 | $50 | 1 | 6 |
| Nationwide | 4.39 | $49 | 6 | 5 |
| Coverdash | 4.27 | $61 | 5 | 1 |
| biBERK | 3.95 | $65 | 8 | 8 |
| Thimble | 3.89 | $62 | 8 | 9 |
| Simply Business | 3.89 | $73 | 2 | 2 |
| Progressive Commercial | 3.78 | $70 | 8 | 7 |
| Chubb | 3.67 | $91 | 3 | 4 |
| Hiscox | 3.62 | $77 | 6 | 10 |
MoneyGeek analyzed workers' comp insurance rates and provider performance across Arkansas using small business profiles with one to four employees spanning 408 major industries. Companies earn up to five points in each category in our scoring system. We then use a weighted average of these category scores to calculate a MoneyGeek score out of five.
- Affordability (55%): Based on average payroll for the most common employee code per industry and state classification, priced per employee for a one to four employee business.
- Customer Experience (35%): Evaluates buying (20%), which covers quote access, pricing accuracy and sales support; policy management (30%), which covers payroll reporting, audits, billing and loss control; and claims (50%), which covers FNOL speed, adjuster support, medical access, wage replacement and dispute handling.
- Coverage Options (10%): Assesses coverage completeness (35%), including employers' liability and wage and medical reimbursement; policy flexibility and endorsements (25%); eligibility, state and industry breadth (20%); and policy terms, limits and exclusions (20%).
The Hartford
Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.8/5Affordability Score
4.1/5Customer Experience Score
4/5Coverage Score
Average Monthly Cost
$49Claims Processing Score
4.1/5Policy Management Score
4/5Buying Process Score
4/5
ERGO NEXT
Best Arkansas Workers' Comp Insurance: Runner-Up
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.7/5Affordability Score
4.4/5Customer Experience Score
3.6/5Coverage Score
Average Monthly Cost
$50Claims Processing Score
4/5Policy Management Score
4.1/5Buying Process Score
4.4/5
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas
When I analyzed workers' comp rates across 25 industries in Arkansas, I found that The Hartford is the cheapest workers comp insurance company in 14. The cost advantage it brings, though, is felt most by white-collar businesses and professionals doing light-service work. ERGO NEXT is the most affordable option in every high-risk industry, from construction ($117 per month) to agriculture ($80 per month) to transportation ($149 per month). If your employees work with their hands or operate vehicles, put ERGO NEXT at the top of your comparison list.
| Financial Services | The Hartford | $8 | $96 |
| Beauty, Body & Wellness Services | The Hartford | $9 | $108 |
| Marketing & Communications | ERGO NEXT | $9 | $108 |
| Consulting Services | The Hartford | $10 | $120 |
| Real Estate & Property Services | The Hartford | $10 | $120 |
| Other Professional Services | The Hartford | $13 | $156 |
| Tech/IT | The Hartford | $19 | $228 |
| Childcare Services | Coverdash | $20 | $240 |
| Hospitality, Travel & Tourism | The Hartford | $20 | $240 |
| Food & Beverage | ERGO NEXT | $21 | $252 |
| Healthcare & Medical | The Hartford | $22 | $264 |
| Retail & Product Rental | The Hartford | $24 | $288 |
| Nonprofit & Associations | The Hartford | $28 | $336 |
| Pet Care Services | ERGO NEXT | $31 | $372 |
| Fitness Services | ERGO NEXT | $35 | $420 |
| Education | ERGO NEXT | $36 | $432 |
| Repair & Maintenance | ERGO NEXT | $36 | $432 |
| Arts, Media & Entertainment | ERGO NEXT | $48 | $576 |
| Recreation & Sports | ERGO NEXT | $55 | $660 |
| Cleaning Services | The Hartford | $56 | $672 |
| Manufacturing | The Hartford | $70 | $840 |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | ERGO NEXT | $80 | $960 |
| Wholesale & Distribution | ERGO NEXT | $92 | $1,104 |
| Construction & Contracting | ERGO NEXT | $117 | $1,404 |
| Transportation & Logistics | ERGO NEXT | $149 | $1,788 |
How to Get the Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Arkansas
A guide helps you keep organized as you get workers' comp insurance. Work through the different steps to find a policy that best fits your needs.
- 1
Confirm Whether Coverage Is Required
Arkansas requires workers' comp for employers with three or more employees. Count all part-time and full-time workers. If you are approaching or at the threshold, secure coverage before adding the third employee. The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission administers enforcement.
- 2
Confirm Your NCCI Class Codes
Check the NCCI class code assigned to each type of work your employees perform. These codes group jobs by injury risk and affect your rate. Incorrect classifications can result in a higher premium or an adjustment after your policy audit. NCCI provides state-specific class-code information.
- 3
Gather Payroll and Claims Records
Prepare your current payroll by class code and obtain your recent claims history, often called loss runs. Insurers use this information to estimate your exposure and calculate your premium. Accurate records also reduce the chance of a large adjustment after an audit.
- 4
Request Quotes From Multiple Arkansas Insurers
Compare business insurance quotes from at least three insurers or work with an independent agent. Arkansas permits insurers to adopt or adjust advisory loss costs, so businesses with the same payroll and class codes may receive different prices. Arkansas Insurance Department rules explain how insurers file workers’ comp rates.
- 5
Compare Service and Total Cost
Consider how each insurer handles claims and payroll audits alongside the quoted premium. Review payment options and any fees that affect the final cost. A low initial quote may not remain the cheapest after an audit.
- 6
Bind Coverage and Confirm State Reporting
Once the policy begins, confirm that your insurer has reported it to the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission. Carriers submit this information through NCCI’s proof-of-coverage system. Arkansas employers with active coverage must also display Form P in the workplace.
- 7
Prepare for Your Payroll Audit and Renewal
Keep payroll separated by class code throughout the policy term. Before renewal, review your employee duties and claims history for changes that could affect your next premium. Accurate records make the audit easier and reduce unexpected charges.
Best Workers' Compensation Insurance in Arkansas: Bottom Line
The Hartford leads Arkansas on both rate and composite score. ERGO NEXT is the runner-up, with the state's top customer experience scores and only a $1 a month rate difference from The Hartford. Health care and financial services employers will find The Hartford's industry-specific rates most competitive. Food, beverage and agricultural businesses should compare ERGO NEXT first; it holds the lowest rates in those categories
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OTHER BUSINESS INSURANCE TYPES?
Workers' comp is only one part of Arkansas business insurance that you'll likely need. Check our other resources for coverage in the state below to ensure you have comprehensive coverage:
Arkansas Workers' Compensation Insurance FAQs
The Hartford leads in my analysis and has the lowest monthly rate at $49, making it both the best and cheapest option in the state. Nationwide ties The Hartford for the lowest rate among all ranked providers.
- The Hartford: $49 a month
- Nationwide: $49 a month
- ERGO NEXT: $50 a month
- Coverdash: $61 a month
- Thimble: $62 a month
Arkansas requires workers' comp for employers with three or more employees, a lower threshold than many other states. The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission oversees compliance and enforcement across the state. Employers who fail to carry required coverage face stop-work orders and personal liability for the full cost of any employee injuries.
The cost of workers' comp in Arkansas averages $65 per month, making it one of the more affordable WC markets in the region. The cheapest industries are Financial Services and Beauty/Body & Wellness, both averaging $13 a month, while Transportation & Logistics ($192 a month) and Construction ($178 a month) are the most expensive in the state.
Arkansas operates a fully competitive private market, meaning employers can get workers' comp insurance directly from licensed carriers. Employers unable to secure voluntary market coverage can access the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Assigned Risk Plan, administered through NCCI. Qualifying large employers may also apply for self-insurance status under the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission.
Arkansas workers' comp policies cover four primary benefit categories:
- Medical care: Covers reasonable and necessary treatment for a work-related injury. Arkansas uses a state fee schedule to limit how much medical providers can charge for covered services.
- Lost wages: Replaces two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage while the injury prevents them from working, up to the state’s current weekly limit.
- Return-to-work support: Covers retraining and job-placement assistance when an employee can’t return to their previous job.
- Death benefits: Pays burial expenses and wage-based benefits to family members who qualify as dependents under Arkansas law.
About Angelique Palenzuela-Cruz
Angelique Palenzuela-Cruz is a Business Insurance Content Writer at MoneyGeek, where she specializes in general liability, workers’ compensation and professional liability insurance. Her work helps small business owners understand how these policies apply to coverage, including risks like customer injuries, employee injuries, professional mistakes, client contract terms and industry-specific coverage requirements.
She primarily covers service-based businesses where liability and employee coverage decisions are especially important, including cleaning, consulting, beauty and wellness, childcare, education, fitness, food service, pet care, repair and maintenance, and other professional services.
Before joining MoneyGeek, Angelique spent nearly 12 years at Guthrie-Jensen Consultants, one of Southeast Asia’s largest management training firms, where she advanced from Training Consultant to Managing Consultant. In that role, she worked with business clients to assess operational needs, develop training programs and present performance analyses to executive decision-makers. She also helped establish Gladwin Training Consultancy, where she served in learning solutions and client service roles.
Her background gives her practical context for writing about how businesses operate, manage client expectations, structure teams and make risk decisions. At MoneyGeek, she applies that experience to business insurance content, connecting coverage to actual business needs.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ma-angela-cruz
Email Contact: angelique.palenzuela@moneygeek.com