Frank Winston Crum Insurance

Carrier appetite summary

Overall appetite and distribution - National commercial carrier focused on small and mid-sized businesses, written exclusively through independent agents and affiliated PEO.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/)) - Broad appetite with “unique risks” emphasis: will consider start-ups, lapsed/no prior coverage, and more complex accounts case‑by‑case, especially when paired with their CPP or contractor programs.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/workers-compensation)) - 38 states plus DC for workers’ comp with 350+ class codes; CPP aimed at small businesses generally under 50 employees across office/retail/medical/general services.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/agents/workers-compensation-program)) Workers’ Compensation – appetite and target risks - Target: small and mid-sized businesses across a wide range of class codes; strong construction and Main Street focus via both direct WC and contractor programs.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/workers-compensation)) - Geographic: currently licensed nationally with WC offered in 38 states and DC; dividend plan currently noted as available in Florida. Ensure base of operations is in FWCI states when tied to PEO/FrankCrum programs.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/agents/workers-compensation-program)) - Preferred situations: - Accounts seeking bundled WC + CPP (pricing incentives, credits, and concurrent policy discounts available in some states, including drug‑free workplace and safety credits).([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/agents/workers-compensation-program)) - Established operations with at least minimal prior WC and clean or explainable loss history. - Construction and trades that fit within their contractor/PEO guidelines (see below) and are not subject to major prohibited exposures. - Will consider: start‑ups, lapsed coverage, or no prior coverage for WC where overall risk profile is acceptable; marketed specifically as “open to unique situations.” Expect closer underwriting review, especially for construction and higher‑hazard classes.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/workers-compensation)) Workers’ Compensation – PEO/FrankCrum underwriting guidelines (operational) (Note: the published “Underwriting Guidelines for Specific Industries” flyer is branded for FrankCrum’s PEO program but explicitly relies on FWCI‑covered states and FWCI’s WC carrier; treat as a practical class guide when FWCI paper is used with the PEO.)([blog.frankcrum.com](https://blog.frankcrum.com/hubfs/2023%20RESOURCES%20FOLDER/Workers%20Comp%20and%20Safety/Flyers/PEO_Underwriting%20Guidelines_Flyer.pdf)) - General prohibited exposures (broadly avoid or submit only by exception): - Tower climbers or extreme heights; swing‑stage scaffolding. - Mining, occupational disease‑driven exposures, USL&H or State Act codes, stevedoring. - Heavy subcontractor use >30% outside FL and TX. - Sports teams/athletics, acrobats. - Hazardous material transport. - Police, firefighters, armed security. - Structural demolition or use of explosives. - Pilots/flight crews; emergency transport. - Mental health care / working with mentally disabled adults. - Construction in the FL Keys; CA garment industry.([blog.frankcrum.com](https://blog.frankcrum.com/hubfs/2023%20RESOURCES%20FOLDER/Workers%20Comp%20and%20Safety/Flyers/PEO_Underwriting%20Guidelines_Flyer.pdf)) - Broad PEO‑side risk‑selection cautions (often align with harder‑to‑place WC when on FWCI paper): - Generally avoid/start‑ups unless white‑collar. - Gaps in WC coverage in past 3 years are a concern. - Transportation and staffing accounts are flagged as difficult appetite. - Moral‑hazard accounts (e.g., gentlemen’s clubs, cannabis sales, adult video) are discouraged. - Prior cancellation for non‑payment to a state fund is negative. - Additional Zurich‑specific prohibitions apply in AK, MN, MA when that fronting paper is used.([blog.frankcrum.com](https://blog.frankcrum.com/hubfs/2023%20RESOURCES%20FOLDER/Workers%20Comp%20and%20Safety/Flyers/PEO_Underwriting%20Guidelines_Flyer.pdf)) - Selected industry‑specific WC notes from the guideline (common operational requirements): - Construction and trades (framers, GCs, roofers, subs, etc.) – frequent requirements of: - General contractor license where insured hires subs. - Caps on subcontracted costs (typically subs ≤30% outside FL/TX). - Minimum years in business (often 3+) and minimum prior WC history (1–3 years) for higher‑hazard classes. - Minimum annual manual premium thresholds (commonly $5k–$50k+ depending on class; roofers, trucking, nursing homes, and long‑haul exposures have higher minimums). - Use of fall protection and completion of loss‑control survey prior to enrollment for roofing risks; hot‑tar roofing and true start‑up roofing (no prior) are typically prohibited unless very large payroll and subject to additional fees.([blog.frankcrum.com](https://blog.frankcrum.com/hubfs/2023%20RESOURCES%20FOLDER/Workers%20Comp%20and%20Safety/Flyers/PEO_Underwriting%20Guidelines_Flyer.pdf)) - Medical/health‑related (home health, medical transport, nursing homes) – expect: - Minimum years in business (often 3+). - Prior WC history and carrier loss runs (2–3 years). - Restrictions on emergency transport; nursing homes require prior coverage and larger premiums. - Trucking/transportation – higher minimum premiums (e.g., $30k local, $100k+ long‑haul) and at least 2–3 years of loss runs; flatbed trucking specifically listed as prohibited. - Minimum premiums/fees (PEO program): recurring references to minimum weekly/annual WC fees and per‑claim fees ($250/$1,750) for certain classes; treat those as indicative of PEO pricing rather than standalone FWCI policy charges, but they reflect that very small/higher‑hazard accounts may not be economical below those thresholds.([blog.frankcrum.com](https://blog.frankcrum.com/hubfs/2023%20RESOURCES%20FOLDER/Workers%20Comp%20and%20Safety/Flyers/PEO_Underwriting%20Guidelines_Flyer.pdf)) Commercial Package Policy (CPP) – appetite and structure - Product: modular CPP for small businesses bundling GL, Business Personal Property, Business Income, Crime & Fidelity, and Inland Marine on ISO/Verisk forms, with optional Hired & Non‑Owned Auto and Professional Liability for eligible service risks.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/commercial-package-policy)) - Target classes: - Initial CPP rollout focuses on non‑contractor small businesses (generally <50 employees) such as medical offices, e‑commerce, retail, delis, and general services. Contractors and construction‑related industries are specifically excluded from the CPP program to complement their contractor/GL offering.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/commercial-package-policy)) - Competitive pricing in industries they already serve; discounts applied when CPP is written with FWCI WC.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/commercial-package-policy)) - Appetite characteristics: - Open to unique situations including new ventures and accounts with no prior coverage, subject to underwriting.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/commercial-package-policy)) - Focus on straightforward property and GL exposures in Main Street segments; complex or construction‑heavy risks should be steered to contractor/GL solutions, not CPP. - Underwriting/operational notes: - Many plans qualify for extended installment payment plans. - AM Best‑rated carrier; uses ISO/Verisk CPP forms and offers a menu of endorsements. - Expect underwriters to favor well‑maintained premises, basic controls (alarms, housekeeping, grease/hood maintenance for food), and modest property limits consistent with small‑business operations. Contractor Coverage Solutions & Automatic Excess/Umbrella - Contractor Coverage Solutions is the primary vehicle for construction risks; includes GL, inland marine, and WC when combined. They highlight: free automatic GL endorsements (AI and blanket waiver), automatic excess liability for qualifying GL policies, and various liability deductibles.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/general-liability?utm_source=openai)) - Appetite: artisan contractors and trades in the Southeast U.S. and beyond, including one‑person firms and new ventures, again "open to unique situations" (but still subject to the construction/WC restrictions noted above).([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/general-liability?utm_source=openai)) - Excess/Umbrella: site describes "Automatic Excess Liability" over qualifying GL accounts – this functions as an internal commercial umbrella/excess facility. It is used primarily over their own GL for contractors and is subject to class, loss‑history, and minimum‑premium rules defined in the internal guidelines for construction and trucking accounts.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/general-liability?utm_source=openai)) Geographic and regulatory notes - FWCI is admitted and AM Best‑rated, with authority for workers’ compensation and other liability lines (including inland marine and excess liability) per regulatory filings; WC is currently written in 38 states plus DC, with state‑specific dividends/credits and some states supported through program/fronting arrangements.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/agents/workers-compensation-program)) - Some PEO underwriting exclusions are specific to Zurich‑fronted states (AK, MN, MA); when WC is written on FWCI paper only, confirm whether those Zurich‑specific prohibitions still apply. Submission, pricing, and broker instructions - Distribution is agency‑driven: agents must apply to become partners via the Agent Application; business is not sold direct.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/agents/workers-compensation-program)) - Workers’ Comp submissions: - Use their online platform "Winston" to quote and bind eligible WC classes within minutes; about 120+ classes are straight‑through eligible, others require manual underwriting review.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/agents/workers-compensation-program)) - Provide at least 1–3 years of carrier loss runs for mid‑ to higher‑hazard classes and where required by the PEO/segment guidelines (construction, health care, trucking, nursing homes, etc.).([blog.frankcrum.com](https://blog.frankcrum.com/hubfs/2023%20RESOURCES%20FOLDER/Workers%20Comp%20and%20Safety/Flyers/PEO_Underwriting%20Guidelines_Flyer.pdf)) - Be prepared to address any gap in coverage, prior cancellations, or unusual operations, as these are explicitly negative factors. - CPP submissions: - Routed through the CPP Program for agents; expect standard small‑business underwriting data: full applications, current property values, occupancy description, prior carrier and loss history, and confirmation that the risk is not contractor/construction if placing it in the CPP program.([fwcruminsurance.com](https://www.fwcruminsurance.com/products/commercial-package-policy)) - Contractor/GL and automatic excess/umbrella submissions: - Confirm contractor’s license status where required; document use of subs, including % subcontracted costs and certificates. - Provide detailed class coding, years in business, payroll/sales by trade, and 2–3 years of loss runs when available; adhere to minimum premium thresholds, especially for trucking, roofing, and nursing homes. - Broker/producer expectations: - FWCI positions itself as accessible and creative: underwriters will entertain exceptions to stated guidelines at their discretion; agents are encouraged to "reach out to FrankCrum to request an exception" on PEO‑aligned business and to contact FWCI underwriters directly when risks fall outside online appetite.([blog.frankcrum.com](https://blog.frankcrum.com/hubfs/2023%20RESOURCES%20FOLDER/Workers%20Comp%20and%20Safety/Flyers/PEO_Underwriting%20Guidelines_Flyer.pdf)) - Strong emphasis on concurrent policy opportunities (WC + CPP, or WC + contractor package), risk‑management engagement, and long‑term relationships with agency partners. Use this summary as operational guidance only. Individual risks remain subject to current FWCI underwriting rules, state filings, and program‑specific manuals; producers should confirm edge‑case classes and any Zurich‑fronted or PEO‑only restrictions with an FWCI underwriter before binding.

Referenced source pages