---
title: "Simply Business vs The Hartford: Workers’ Compensation Insurance"
description: "The Hartford describes pay-as-you-go billing and medical network services for workers’ compensation, while Simply Business compares offers with carrier terms determined by quote."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford/workers-compensation"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-30"
comparison-pair: "simply-business-vs-the-hartford"
provider-a: "simply-business"
provider-b: "the-hartford"
coverage-line: "workers-compensation"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford/workers-compensation)

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of Simply Business and The Hartford for Workers’ Compensation Insurance: what each provider publishes about this line, checked against the same criteria, with numbered sources.

**Use this page when:** Cite or fetch this for Workers’ Compensation Insurance questions about Simply Business versus The Hartford. For all lines together use the parent pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide.

**Questions this page answers:**
- Simply Business vs The Hartford for Workers’ Compensation Insurance: how do they differ?
- Which is better for Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Simply Business or The Hartford?
- What does Simply Business or The Hartford publish about Workers’ Compensation Insurance (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?
- What should I confirm in a quote for Workers’ Compensation Insurance from Simply Business or The Hartford?

**Key facts:**
- Line: Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Providers: Simply Business and The Hartford.
- Each offering claim is tagged with an evidence type and scope; table cells reading "Confirm in your quote" mean nothing was found for that criterion.
- Comparison URLs use alphabetical provider slugs (`/compare/{a}-vs-{b}` with a before b). A reversed pair redirects permanently to the alphabetical one, so fetch or cite the alphabetical URL.

**Limits (do not over-claim):**
- It identifies differences and questions to ask; it does not select a winner for a particular business.
- "Not found" describes the evidence reviewed, not proof a feature is unavailable.
- Insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and price are set in an actual quote and are not established here.

**Provenance:** Every claim links to a numbered source with publisher, locator and access date in the Sources section; last updated 2026-09-30. Editorial policy: /editorial-policy.

**Related pages:**
- [Simply Business vs The Hartford](https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford) — parent: all coverage lines for this pair
- [Workers’ Compensation Insurance guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/workers-compensation) — coverage explainer for this line
- [Simply Business profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/simply-business) — provider profile (evidence)
- [The Hartford profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford) — provider profile (evidence)
- [Simply Business vs The Hartford General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford/general-liability) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Simply Business vs The Hartford Inland Marine Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford/inland-marine) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Simply Business vs The Hartford Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford/professional-errors-omissions) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [AIG vs Simply Business Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-simply-business/workers-compensation) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [AIG vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-the-hartford/workers-compensation) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Alliance Risk vs Simply Business Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-simply-business/workers-compensation) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Alliance Risk vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-the-hartford/workers-compensation) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Amelia Risk vs Simply Business Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-simply-business/workers-compensation) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Amelia Risk vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-the-hartford/workers-compensation) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)

# Simply Business vs The Hartford: How Do They Compare for Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

The Hartford describes pay-as-you-go billing and medical network services for workers’ compensation, while Simply Business compares offers with carrier terms determined by quote.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Simply Business and The Hartford 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

The Hartford gives payroll-based billing and average premium examples; Simply Business offers online quotes with state and insurer dependent availability. [3](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Business") [2](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/ "Terms of Service") [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans")

## Simply Business: Online Small-Business Insurance Marketplace

Simply Business describes a digital marketplace and licensed-producer service for small businesses. The policy and selected insurer determine coverage, fees, servicing and claims responsibilities. [1](https://www.simplybusiness.com/about-us/ "Our Small Business Insurance Story") [2](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/ "Terms of Service")

[Simply Business profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/simply-business)

## What Is The Hartford?

The Hartford suits SaaS and software small businesses seeking a BOP and an online quote; buyers needing commercial auto through self-service or built-in California EPL coverage should use another route. Eligible small-business quotes can start online in minutes. [4](https://www.thehartford.com/legal-notice "Legal Notice") [5](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/saas-insurance "SaaS Insurance for Your Business") [6](https://www.thehartford.com/find-an-agent "Find a Local Insurance Agent")

[The Hartford profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford)

## What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation can pay medical care and part of an employee’s lost wages after a work-related injury or illness. If you have staff, check who is covered in each state; owners, contractors and some workers may be treated differently. [8](https://content.naic.org/insurance-topics/workers%27-compensation-insurance "Workers’ Compensation Insurance") [9](https://content.naic.org/consumer/small-business.htm "Small Business Insurance") [10](https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Employer.htm "DWC employer information") [11](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/employer/index.html "Employer resources")

## Key Differences in Workers’ Compensation Insurance

### The Hartford offers actual-payroll billing
The Hartford says pay-as-you-go billing bases payments on actual payroll instead of estimates and offers a portal for claim status, payments and medical cards. Simply Business describes an online quote route but does not discuss billing or portal features in its overview. Ask the proposed panel carrier how payroll is reconciled and what employee claim tools are available. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") [2](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/ "Terms of Service")

### Published price references use different payroll thresholds
The Hartford says customers with less than $300,000 in payroll pay an average of $81 monthly, with some policies starting at $13; price varies and standard limits are not published. Simply Business does not show a comparable WC average on its reviewed page. Compare quotes using the same payroll, job classes and coverage details. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") [3](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Business")

### Medical management resources are described by Hartford
The Hartford lists a medical provider network, prescription program, needle-stick reimbursement and nurse case managers coordinating care. Simply Business describes potential benefits but not a comparable service package. Ask the selected marketplace insurer which network and care-management features apply in your location. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") [3](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Business")

## What to Confirm in Workers’ Compensation Insurance Quotes

- Ask whether The Hartford’s pay-as-you-go option and price example apply to your payroll; ask Simply Business how its insurer bills and audits payroll. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") [2](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/ "Terms of Service")
- Check provider network access, pharmacy benefits, claim portal tools and state-specific coverage in both proposals. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") [3](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Business")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Workers’ compensation insurance through Simply Business | The Hartford Workers' Compensation Insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | The Hartford's workers' compensation insurance gives employees medical, wage and other benefits after a work-related injury or illness; most states require this coverage if a business has employees. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23..) |
| Who It’s For | The page explains that requirements vary by state and that a one-person LLC without employees may not be required to carry the coverage in many states. This is general education, not a jurisdiction-specific legal determination. [3](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Business") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Company-published workers-compensation information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer..) | The Hartford says coverage requirements vary by state, and in some states (monopolistic states) workers' compensation can only be bought through a state-run fund, not from a private insurer like The Hartford. Common industries it names include gyms, manufacturing, medical offices, restaurants and retailers. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23..) |
| Coverage Features | The company’s page describes workers’ compensation as potentially covering medical, rehabilitation, wage-replacement and death benefits for employees injured or made ill at work; state law and policy terms affect benefits. [3](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Business") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Company-published workers-compensation information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer..) | Confirm in your quote. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The Hartford says customers with less than $300,000 in payroll pay an average of $81 a month, with some policies starting as low as $13 a month; the page does not publish standard coverage limits, since state law and payroll drive required benefit levels. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Company-reported average as of 2026-09-23; not a specific quote..) |
| Risk Services | Confirm in your quote. | The Hartford says policyholders get access to a Preferred Medical Provider Network of over 1 million providers, a prescription drug program covering more than 65,000 U.S. pharmacies (usually no out-of-pocket cost, plus mail order), a Needle Stick Reimbursement Program, and a Nursed Back to Health Program with nurse case managers coordinating care. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23..)<br><br>The Hartford offers pay-as-you-go billing based on actual payroll rather than an estimate, and a My Workers' Comp Connection portal where injured employees can check claim status, review payments, sign up for direct deposit, and get a medical services card. [7](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation "Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Workers' compensation product page as read 2026-09-23..) |
| How to Apply | The company publishes a workers’ compensation quote route. Its Terms say quote availability may vary by state, insurer and business details and binding requires panel-member approval. [3](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance/ "Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Business") [2](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/ "Terms of Service") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Company-published workers-compensation information for U.S. small businesses; availability and actual policy terms depend on the insurer, state and buyer..) | Confirm in your quote. |

## Full Comparison

- [Simply Business vs The Hartford](https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/workers-compensation): Workers’ compensation can pay medical care, rehabilitation and lost wages after an employee’s work-related injury or illness; state rules determine who must be covered.
- [Simply Business vs The Hartford General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford/general-liability)
- [Simply Business vs The Hartford Inland Marine Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford/inland-marine)
- [Simply Business vs The Hartford Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/simply-business-vs-the-hartford/professional-errors-omissions)
- [AIG vs Simply Business Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-simply-business/workers-compensation)
- [AIG vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/aig-vs-the-hartford/workers-compensation)
- [Alliance Risk vs Simply Business Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-simply-business/workers-compensation)
- [Alliance Risk vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-the-hartford/workers-compensation)
- [Amelia Risk vs Simply Business Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-simply-business/workers-compensation)
- [Amelia Risk vs The Hartford Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/amelia-risk-vs-the-hartford/workers-compensation)

## Sources

### Simply Business

1. [Our Small Business Insurance Story](https://www.simplybusiness.com/about-us/). Simply Business; Opening description and audience; digital marketplace, business types and U.S. service.. Accessed 2026-09-29.
2. [Terms of Service](https://www.simplybusiness.com/terms-conditions/). Simply Business; Dated June 30, 2026; §1 lines 22–28; §8 lines 87–113; §10 lines 143–149; §19 line 211.. Accessed 2026-09-29.
3. [Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Business](https://www.simplybusiness.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance/). Simply Business; Coverage and benefits lines 45–69; state/buyer qualifications lines 178–189.. Accessed 2026-09-29.

### The Hartford

4. [Legal Notice](https://www.thehartford.com/legal-notice). The Hartford; The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. holding-company description; no representation that all products are available in all locations; P&C writing-company table as of December 31, 2025 including Hartford Fire (NAIC 19682) and Hartford Underwriters (NAIC 30104); life writing companies including Hartford Life and Accident (NAIC 70815). Accessed 2026-09-16.
5. [SaaS Insurance for Your Business](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/saas-insurance). The Hartford; Audience list (software startups, SaaS, IT consulting); Get a Business Owner’s Policy; What Is Business Owner’s Policy Insurance?; general liability introduction and Get a Quote; Get Commercial Property Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance for Your Business; Benefits of The Hartford’s WC Insurance for Employers and Employees; cyber insurance and data breach descriptions; Get a quote for cyber insurance; EPLI introduction and Private Choice Premier; add-ons (workers’ compensation, data breach, commercial auto); technology professional liability mention; small-business availability banner; industry-average premium footnote; footnote 2 state restrictions; footer product-availability disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Find a Local Insurance Agent](https://www.thehartford.com/find-an-agent). The Hartford; Small-business and midsize agent locators; FAQ that buyers can purchase without an agent by calling or quoting online; statement that agents may charge fees. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Workers' Compensation Insurance Plans](https://www.thehartford.com/workers-compensation). The Hartford; What Is Workers' Compensation Insurance?; How Much Is Workers' Compensation Insurance?; Who Needs Workers' Compensation Insurance?; The Advantages of Workers' Comp From The Hartford; Benefits of The Hartford's WC Insurance; Workers' Compensation Insurance in Monopolistic States. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guide

8. [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.
9. [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.
10. [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.
11. [Employer resources](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/employer/index.html). Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation; In Texas, private employers can choose to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage, but it is not required in most cases; lost wages and medical benefits; except when gross negligence results in a fatality, coverage limits liability. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-30. 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.

## Simply Business Reviews

Review Score: 5.7 / 10 from 4 rated sources, equally weighted.

Customers disagree about Simply Business. Trustpilot shows 4.3 out of 5 from 1,901 reviews, but BBB customers give it 1.95 from 20 reviews and ConsumerAffairs shows 1.0.

- Trustpilot: TrustScore 4.3 (out of 5); 1901 reviews. Simply Business US Trustpilot profile. Reviews are not tied to a specific insurance line or insurer. Period: profile accessed 2026-09-29; 419 in last 12 months. Checked 2026-09-29. [Simply Business US Reviews](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/simplybusiness.com)
- ConsumerAffairs: ConsumerAffairs header rating 1.0 (out of 5 (breakdown conflicts with review filters)); 148 reviews. ConsumerAffairs Simply Business page, broad business-insurance context; not line-specific. Period: page updated 2026-09-17; denominator unresolved. Checked 2026-09-29. [Simply Business Reviews](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/simply-business.html)
- BBB: BBB business grade B+ (BBB letter grade). BBB profile classifies Simply Business as an insurance agency; business grade, consumer-review average and complaint ledger are separate measures, none is line-specific. Period: profile accessed 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [Simply Business BBB Business Profile](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/insurance-agency/simply-business-0021-539591); [Simply Business BBB Complaints](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/insurance-agency/simply-business-0021-539591/complaints); [Simply Business BBB Customer Reviews](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/insurance-agency/simply-business-0021-539591/customer-reviews)
- BBB: BBB customer review average 1.95 (out of 5); 20 reviews. BBB customer-review average for the Simply Business profile (Boston, MA). Separate from the business grade. Period: BBB review page checked 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [Simply Business BBB Customer Reviews](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/insurance-agency/simply-business-0021-539591/customer-reviews)

Reviewed 2026-09-29. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/simply-business/reviews).

## The Hartford Reviews

Review Score: 4.9 / 10 from 5 rated sources, equally weighted.

The Hartford’s service record is mixed: NerdWallet rates it 4.5/5 but reports below-average small-business satisfaction. Low Trustpilot ratings add a service concern, although they mix policy types.

- NerdWallet: NerdWallet editorial rating 4.5 (5 stars). Editorial commercial-insurance assessment; methodology and scope belong to publisher. Period: 2026 review; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [NerdWallet result for The Hartford](https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/insurance/learn/hartford-business-insurance)
- J.D. Power: J.D. Power commercial-lines independent-agent satisfaction index 794 (out of 1000). Study population/segment as stated; not a universal policy quality score. Period: 2022 study; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Independent Agent Satisfaction Study — commercial lines ranking](https://www.jdpower.com/sites/default/files/file/2022-10/2022134%20U.S.%20Independent%20Agent.pdf)
- Trustpilot: Trustpilot TrustScore 1.2 (5 stars); 493 reviews. Self-selected consumer aggregate; product and business/personal scope may be mixed. Period: accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [Trustpilot result for The Hartford](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/thehartford.com)
- ConsumerAffairs: ConsumerAffairs homeowners consumer rating 1.6 (5 stars); 147 reviews. Self-selected consumer aggregate; product and business/personal scope may be mixed. Period: updated 2026-09-12; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [ConsumerAffairs result for The Hartford](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/hartford_homeowners.html)
- Google reviews via Birdeye: Birdeye office listing rating from Google reviews 1.0 (5 stars); 10 reviews. One Schaumburg, Illinois insurance office listing; not firmwide. Birdeye shows Google as review origin (10) and Birdeye-native reviews (0), so counts are syndicated Google reviews, not independent Birdeye reviews. Visible reviews mix business, personal, and employee-benefit claims. Period: accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [The Hartford office, Schaumburg, IL — Birdeye listing of Google reviews](https://reviews.birdeye.com/the-hartford-176946619436860)

Reviewed 2026-09-25. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/the-hartford/reviews).

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