Small-business cover in Massachusetts.
Workers’ comp threshold in Massachusetts: Required for all employers with one or more employees, regardless of hours worked (domestic workers must work 16+ hrs/week)[S].
Updated 2026-05-16 · Beaconcover editorialThe short answer: In Massachusetts, workers' compensation is required for all employers with one or more employees, regardless of hours worked (domestic workers must work 16+ hrs/week). Most clients and licenses also ask for general liability before you can take a job.
What does Massachusetts require?
Required for all employers with one or more employees, regardless of hours worked (domestic workers must work 16+ hrs/week)[C]
Workers' compensation is mandatory for virtually all Massachusetts employers from the first employee under M.G.L. Chapter 152. LLCs and LLPs without employees other than members/partners are exempt, but coverage is required as soon as any employee is added. Construction supervisor and home-improvement contractor registrations apply. Regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents.
What licensing and bonding does Massachusetts require?
- Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration applies to residential work
- Broad first-employee coverage requirement, few exemptions