Restaurant Workers' Comp in Arkansas
What Arkansas requires of restaurants and bars for workers' compensation — when it kicks in, who's exempt, and what it costs.
Reviewed by J. Robert Smith, Licensed Insurance Agent (NPN 10378680). Last updated .
Yes, usually. Arkansas requires workers'-compensation coverage once an employer has three or more employees, so most staffed restaurants must carry it. Fewer than three generally need not, though construction-related work triggers coverage sooner. Agricultural farm labor, real-estate agents, casual employees, and nonprofit or charitable organizations are exempt. Sole proprietors and partners may exclude themselves via a non-coverage certificate.
- Required?
- Yes
- Kicks in at
- 3 or more employees. Construction/building-repair work can require coverage with as few as one or two employees.
- Restaurant rate
- NCCI 9082 (restaurants) approx. $1.00–$1.40 per $100 payroll; 9083 (fast-food/limited-service) approx. $1.10–$1.50. Low-to-moderate hazard tier. Approximate, industry tier.
- Market
- Competitive private market with no monopolistic state fund; coverage is available from private carriers and, for hard-to-place risks, the NCCI-administered assigned-risk plan.
Is workers’ comp required for a restaurant in Arkansas?
Arkansas requires workers' compensation once you reach 3 or more employees. Construction/building-repair work can require coverage with as few as one or two employees.. Exempt categories include agricultural farm laborers, real estate agents, religious/charitable/non-profit organizations, casual employees, and inmates. Sole proprietors and partners are generally excluded and may file a Certificate of Non-Coverage; corporate officers may be counted.
What restaurant workers’ comp costs in Arkansas
The restaurant class-code rate in Arkansas is NCCI 9082 (restaurants) approx. $1.00–$1.40 per $100 payroll; 9083 (fast-food/limited-service) approx. $1.10–$1.50. Low-to-moderate hazard tier. Approximate, industry tier.. Your premium is that rate applied per $100 of payroll and adjusted by your experience modifier, so it scales with how many people you employ and your claims history. Competitive private market with no monopolistic state fund; coverage is available from private carriers and, for hard-to-place risks, the NCCI-administered assigned-risk plan.
What owners in Arkansas miss
- Arkansas's three-employee threshold is lower than Alabama's five but higher than Alaska's one.
- The construction exception is important: building or building-repair work needs coverage with as few as two employees, and subcontracted work can trigger it at one.
- Agricultural farm labor is expressly exempt, unlike many general employees.
- Sole proprietors and partners can document exclusion with a Certificate of Non-Coverage.
Sources
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing (Workers' Compensation Commission): Basic Factsprimaryretrieved 2026-07-27
- Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission: Application for Certificate of Non-Coverage (Form A)primaryretrieved 2026-07-27
- OnPay: Arkansas workers' compensation insurance is requiredindustryretrieved 2026-07-27
Cost examples are illustrative national figures gathered from public filings and industry surveys. They are not quotes. Your actual premium depends on your state, carrier, revenue, payroll, location, and coverage selections. Restaurant Insurance Authority is an insurance marketing and referral service, not an insurer or licensed agency. We connect business owners with licensed independent commercial-lines agents who specialize in food and beverage. Questions? Call (855) 480-1410.
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