---
title: "Founder Shield vs Pie Insurance Workers’ Compensation Insurance"
description: "Pie underwrites workers' comp itself through an AM Best A-rated carrier group; Founder Shield brokers the line to outside A-rated carriers."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-pie-insurance/workers-compensation"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Founder Shield vs Pie Insurance Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Pie underwrites workers' comp itself through an AM Best A-rated carrier group; Founder Shield brokers the line to outside A-rated carriers.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Founder Shield and Pie Insurance for Workers’ Compensation Insurance against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

Pie writes workers' compensation through its own carrier group, Pie Casualty Insurance Company and The Pie Insurance Company, independently rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best. Founder Shield does not underwrite; it places the line with third-party carriers it says are rated A- or better by AM Best. [11](https://ratings.ambest.com/DisclosurePDF.aspx?AMBNum=12272&PCA=0 "AM Best Rating Disclosure Report — Pie Casualty Insurance Company") [7](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us")

## What Is Founder Shield Insurance?

Founder Shield is a commercial insurance broker for venture-backed and growing businesses. Buyers can request coverage through its online portal and work with advisors on insurer selection, policy changes and claims reporting. [1](https://foundershield.com/ "Founder Shield") [2](https://apx.foundershield.com/ "Quote Portal") [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [4](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/ "What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?") [5](https://foundershield.com/claims/ "Claims")

[Founder Shield profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield)

## What Is Pie Insurance?

Pie Insurance sells and administers small-business commercial insurance, with affiliated carriers writing its workers’ compensation program and outside carrier partners supporting selected other products. Businesses can start a workers’ compensation quote online or use an agent, then manage documents, certificates, billing, audits and claim reporting through Pie’s service channels. [8](https://www.pieinsurance.com/legal "Legal") [9](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp "Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses") [10](https://www.pieinsurance.com/resource-center/online-account-tutorial "Online Account Tutorial")

[Pie Insurance profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/pie-insurance)

## What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation insurance addresses medical care, rehabilitation and lost wages for employees’ work-related injuries or illnesses. Not every worker, contractor or owner is automatically covered, and not every injury qualifies — check who's included and what's compensable under your state's rules. [12](https://content.naic.org/insurance-topics/workers%27-compensation-insurance "Workers’ Compensation Insurance") [13](https://content.naic.org/consumer/small-business.htm "Small Business Insurance") [14](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Employer.htm "DWC employer information")

## Key Differences in Workers’ Compensation Insurance

### Who Carries the Risk

AM Best's disclosure report says Pie completed acquiring Pie Casualty Insurance Company in September 2021 and The Pie Insurance Company (formerly The American Insurance Company) in January 2023, and that beginning January 1, 2024, Pie writes 100% of its workers' compensation business through these two entities, part of the pooled Rating Unit 018981 Pie Insurance Group. AM Best affirmed Pie Casualty Insurance Company's Financial Strength Rating at A- (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating at a- (Excellent), both with a stable outlook, effective April 24, 2026. [11](https://ratings.ambest.com/DisclosurePDF.aspx?AMBNum=12272&PCA=0 "AM Best Rating Disclosure Report — Pie Casualty Insurance Company") (Evidence: Verified; scope: AM Best rating disclosure report (AMB #012272, NAIC #10997) for Pie Casualty Insurance Company; a rating is an opinion of insurer financial strength, not a guarantee a claim will be paid, and reflects the pooled group rather than a standalone assessment of either entity..)

Founder Shield does not underwrite the policy itself; it places Founder Shield Workers’ Compensation Insurance with third-party carriers it says are rated A- or better by AM Best and matched to the client's industry. [7](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")

### How You Get a Quote

Pie describes a roughly three-minute online quote requiring the applicant's name, business name, payroll and class code, with a tool to help identify the class code. Founder Shield's reviewed pages do not describe a comparable self-serve online quote; they describe buyers requesting coverage through its website or an advisor, who then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. [9](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp "Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses") [7](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us")

### Documentation and Audits

Pie says it can issue a Certificate of Insurance and performs a post-term premium audit comparing estimated to actual payroll. Founder Shield's reviewed pages do not describe a comparable certificate or audit process for this line. [9](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp "Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses") [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers' Compensation Insurance")

## What to Confirm in Workers’ Compensation Insurance Quotes

- Confirm Pie's current AM Best rating directly, since the disclosure cited here reflects an April 2026 rating action for Pie Casualty Insurance Company. [11](https://ratings.ambest.com/DisclosurePDF.aspx?AMBNum=12272&PCA=0 "AM Best Rating Disclosure Report — Pie Casualty Insurance Company")
- Ask Founder Shield to name the specific A-rated carrier it is proposing for this quote. [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")
- Ask about the post-term payroll audit process with Pie, and ask Founder Shield's placed carrier whether a similar true-up applies. [9](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp "Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses")
- Confirm whether the optional employer-liability add-on Founder Shield describes is included in the quote or priced separately. [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers' Compensation Insurance")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Founder Shield Workers' Compensation Insurance | Pie Workers' Comp Insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Workers' Compensation Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. [7](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line..) | Pie underwrites workers' compensation itself through its own carrier group, rather than only brokering the line to outside insurers as it does for several of its other small-business products. [9](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp "Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' Comp product page as read on 2026-09-23; restates the provider record's verified insurer-route fact..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Founder Shield says it places policies, including Founder Shield Workers' Compensation Insurance, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry. It does not name the issuing insurer for this line; that depends on which carrier the policy is placed with. [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements..) | AM Best's disclosure report says Pie completed acquiring Pie Casualty Insurance Company in September 2021 and The Pie Insurance Company (formerly The American Insurance Company) in January 2023, and that beginning January 1, 2024, Pie writes 100% of its workers' compensation business through these two entities, part of the pooled Rating Unit 018981 Pie Insurance Group. AM Best affirmed Pie Casualty Insurance Company's Financial Strength Rating at A- (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating at a- (Excellent), both with a stable outlook, effective April 24, 2026. [11](https://ratings.ambest.com/DisclosurePDF.aspx?AMBNum=12272&PCA=0 "AM Best Rating Disclosure Report — Pie Casualty Insurance Company") (Evidence: Verified; scope: AM Best rating disclosure report (AMB #012272, NAIC #10997) for Pie Casualty Insurance Company; a rating is an opinion of insurer financial strength, not a guarantee a claim will be paid, and reflects the pooled group rather than a standalone assessment of either entity..) |
| Who It’s For | Founder Shield's page says most states require workers' compensation as soon as a company hires its first employee, and highlights construction, restaurants/hospitality, professional offices, healthcare and retail as buyer segments. [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers' Compensation Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' Compensation Insurance product page..) | Pie says workers' compensation is legally required in nearly all states for businesses with few exceptions, and markets its program to small businesses. [9](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp "Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' Comp product page as read on 2026-09-23..) |
| Coverage Features | Founder Shield lists medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, rehabilitation costs, death benefits, and an optional employer-liability add-on as what the policy covers. [6](https://foundershield.com/coverage/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers' Compensation Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage..) | Pie describes workers' compensation as a state-mandated program providing medical, disability (typically two-thirds wage replacement), and death benefits for employees injured or killed on the job, while excluding injuries suffered off the job, self-inflicted injuries, policy violations, and injuries from committing a crime. [9](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp "Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' Comp product page as read on 2026-09-23; actual covered/excluded scenarios depend on the issued policy and state law..) |
| Risk Services | Not described in the reviewed sources. | Pie says it can issue a Certificate of Insurance to show proof of workers' comp coverage, which it notes some industries, such as construction, require before work can begin, and that it performs a post-term premium audit comparing estimated to actual payroll. [9](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp "Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' Comp product page FAQ as read on 2026-09-23..) |
| How to Apply | You request Founder Shield Workers' Compensation Insurance through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. [7](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [3](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form..) | Pie says getting a quote online requires the applicant's name, business name, annual payroll amount, and class-code information, with a tool available to help identify the correct class code, and advertises a roughly three-minute online quote and up to 30% savings. [9](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp "Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' Comp product page as read on 2026-09-23; quote time and savings figures are company marketing claims, not independently verified, and individual results vary..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Founder Shield vs Pie Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-pie-insurance): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/workers-compensation): Workers' compensation addresses medical care, rehabilitation and lost wages for employees with work-related injuries or illnesses.
- [Founder Shield vs Pie Insurance Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-pie-insurance/cyber)
- [Founder Shield vs Pie Insurance General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-pie-insurance/general-liability)
- [Founder Shield vs Pie Insurance Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-pie-insurance/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Founder Shield Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-foundershield/workers-compensation)
- [Alliance Risk vs Pie Insurance Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-pie-insurance/workers-compensation)
- [Amelia Risk vs Founder Shield Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-foundershield/workers-compensation)
- [Amelia Risk vs Pie Insurance Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-pie-insurance/workers-compensation)
- [Chubb vs Founder Shield Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-foundershield/workers-compensation)
- [Chubb vs Pie Insurance Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-pie-insurance/workers-compensation)

## Sources

### Founder Shield

1. [Founder Shield](https://foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Opening broker description; Specialized Practices; Smart Tech, Smarter People; quote and sign-in links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [Quote Portal](https://apx.foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Public landing screen, Create Account and Sign In links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
3. [How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/). Founder Shield; FAQ answer on carrier selection: works exclusively with A-rated (AM Best) carriers, matched by industry appetite. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/). Founder Shield; Carl Niedbala answer, November 25, 2024: operational changes and coverage adjustments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
5. [Claims](https://foundershield.com/claims/). Founder Shield; Our Approach; How We Support Claims Management, steps 1–5; Make a claim link. Accessed 2026-09-15.
6. [Workers' Compensation Insurance](https://foundershield.com/coverage/workers-compensation-insurance/). Founder Shield; What Is Workers’ Comp Insurance?; Who Needs Workers’ Comp Insurance Coverage?; What Does Workers’ Comp Insurance Cover?. Accessed 2026-09-23.
7. [About Us](https://foundershield.com/about-us/). Founder Shield; “Founder Shield is the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group”; company history and mission. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Pie Insurance

8. [Legal](https://www.pieinsurance.com/legal). Pie Insurance; State Licenses; footer disclosure naming producer and workers’ compensation versus third-party underwriting roles. Accessed 2026-09-15.
9. [Workers' Comp Insurance for Small Businesses](https://www.pieinsurance.com/workers-comp). Pie Insurance; How do I get a workers' comp quote?; What is workers' comp insurance?; What does workers' compensation insurance cover?; Why choose Pie for workers' compensation insurance? Affordable, Simple, Trusted (AM Best A- Excellent); FAQs: how workers' comp works, what's covered/not covered, class codes, NCCI. Accessed 2026-09-23.
10. [Online Account Tutorial](https://www.pieinsurance.com/resource-center/online-account-tutorial). Pie Insurance; Payment-method updates; instant and custom certificates; policy information; document access; agent-handled custom certificate qualification. Accessed 2026-09-15.
11. [AM Best Rating Disclosure Report — Pie Casualty Insurance Company](https://ratings.ambest.com/DisclosurePDF.aspx?AMBNum=12272&PCA=0). AM Best Rating Services, Inc.; Page 1: Financial Strength Rating A- (Excellent), Affiliation Code p (Pooled Rating), Financial Size Category VIII, Outlook Stable, Action Affirmed, Effective Date April 24, 2026; Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating a- (Excellent), same outlook and effective date; page 14 (Additional Regulatory Disclosures, Business Profile: Limited): Rating Unit 018981 Pie Insurance Group; Pie completed the acquisition of Pie Casualty Insurance Company (PCIC) in September 2021 and of The American Insurance Company, renamed The Pie Insurance Company (TPIC), on January 1, 2023; beginning January 1, 2024 Pie started writing 100% of its workers' compensation business through these insurance entities; Pie launched workers' compensation in March 2018 and continues to be a workers' compensation writer in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guide

12. [Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://content.naic.org/insurance-topics/workers%27-compensation-insurance). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Opening definition; mandatory coverage except Texas opt-in; exclusive remedy; monopolistic state funds; self-insurance note. Accessed 2026-09-16.
13. [Small Business Insurance](https://content.naic.org/consumer/small-business.htm). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Typically covers medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and lost wages; check with your state insurance department; ask these questions / who qualifies as a covered employee (contractors, part-time staff, interns); payroll and type-of-work rating factors. Accessed 2026-09-16.
14. [DWC employer information](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Employer.htm). California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers’ Compensation; Opening trade-off and California requirement; basic benefits including medical care, temporary and permanent disability, supplemental job displacement, return-to-work supplement and death benefits; out-of-state employer note. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-23. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

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