Pie Insurance: Agent's Guide 2026

Pie Insurance is a digital-first workers' compensation specialist built from the ground up to serve small businesses. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Washington, DC, Pie has carved out a focused niche: writing workers' comp -- and essentially only workers' comp -- for small businesses with 1 to 500 employees across 39 states and the District of Columbia. The carrier holds an AM Best rating of A- (Excellent) through Pie Carrier LLC, which gives agents the financial stability confidence needed to place business. For independent agents who serve price-sensitive small business owners, Pie's combination of fast digital quoting, competitive WC pricing, and pay-as-you-go billing makes it a valuable addition to your carrier panel -- particularly when paired with a GL and property carrier that fills the gaps Pie intentionally leaves open.

TLDR: Pie Insurance carries an AM Best A- (Excellent) rating through Pie Carrier LLC. The carrier writes workers' compensation exclusively for small businesses across 39 states + DC. Known for 3-5 minute digital quoting, competitive pricing, and pay-as-you-go billing. Best used alongside a GL/property carrier since Pie is WC-only. Competes directly with EMPLOYERS Holdings on workers' comp but offers a more modern digital platform.

Company Overview

Pie Insurance was founded in 2017 by John Swigart and Dax Craig, two entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to modernize workers' compensation insurance for small businesses. The company is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has grown rapidly as a technology-driven insurtech carrier focused on a single product line: workers' comp.

Unlike many insurtechs that started as MGAs or fronting arrangements, Pie operates through its own carrier entity, Pie Carrier LLC. AM Best rates Pie Carrier LLC at A- (Excellent), reflecting what AM Best considers adequate capitalization and a well-defined operating strategy. The A- rating positions Pie in the same financial strength tier as many established regional and specialty carriers, and it satisfies the financial rating requirements that most commercial landlords, general contractors, and lenders expect to see on a certificate of insurance.

Pie's business model is built on the idea that workers' comp for small businesses has been historically overpriced and underserved. Traditional carriers often apply broad rate factors that do not distinguish between a 5-person retail shop and a 500-person manufacturing operation. Pie uses data analytics and modern underwriting technology to price risks more precisely, which often results in lower premiums for the small businesses that are their core target market.

The carrier is available in 39 states plus the District of Columbia. Pie is not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia, or Wyoming. Several of those states are monopolistic fund states (Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, Wyoming) where private workers' comp is restricted, while the remaining exclusions reflect Pie's selective geographic expansion strategy.

Products and Appetite

Pie Insurance is a pure workers' compensation carrier. This is their defining characteristic and their most important limitation for agents to understand. Every account you place with Pie will be WC-only, which means you need a second carrier for general liability, commercial property, BOP, commercial auto, and any other lines the client needs.

Workers' Compensation

Workers' comp is Pie's sole product. The carrier writes WC across a broad spectrum of small business class codes, with particular strength in:

• Restaurants and food service -- one of Pie's most-quoted industries
• Retail stores -- small retailers with part-time and seasonal staff
• Professional services and offices -- low-hazard clerical class codes
• Technology companies -- office-based tech firms
• Healthcare offices -- dental, chiropractic, therapy, and physician practices
• Real estate and property management -- office-based brokerages and small property managers
• Wholesale distribution -- small distributors with warehouse and office operations
• Light contractors -- painting, flooring, finish carpentry, and similar trades

Pie targets small businesses with 1 to 500 employees, though their sweet spot is closer to the 1-50 employee range. Premium ranges vary by class code and payroll, but typical accounts fall in the $500 to $15,000 annual premium range.

What About Commercial Auto?

Pie briefly offered commercial auto coverage, but discontinued the commercial auto line in January 2026. If you have clients who were previously covered by Pie's commercial auto, those policies will need to be moved to another carrier at renewal. This decision reinforces Pie's strategic focus on workers' comp as their sole product line.

Target Classes and Sweet Spot

Industries Pie writes well: Restaurants, retail stores, professional services, technology companies, healthcare offices (dental, therapy, chiropractic), real estate offices, wholesale distributors, and light contractors.

Industries with limited appetite: Heavy construction, heavy manufacturing, and any industry with high-hazard class codes. Pie may quote these classes but the pricing will not be as competitive as their core low-to-medium hazard classes.

Industries Pie declines: Trucking, mining, logging, and other high-hazard industries that fall outside the small business model.

Premium range: $500 to $15,000 per year for most accounts.

Geographic focus: 39 states + DC. Not available in AK, HI, ME, MO, MT, ND, OH, SD, WA, WV, or WY.

Quoting and Technology

Pie's technology platform is the carrier's biggest competitive advantage. The company was built as a technology company that sells insurance, not an insurance company that added a website.

Quoting speed: Pie's headline claim is that agents can get a bindable workers' comp quote in 3 to 5 minutes. In practice, this holds true for standard class codes with clean submissions. The quoting process asks for basic business information -- industry, location, employee count, payroll, and loss history -- and returns a quote quickly. For agents accustomed to waiting days or weeks for WC quotes from traditional carriers, Pie's speed is a significant differentiator.

Digital platform: The entire quoting, binding, and policy management workflow is handled through Pie's online platform. Agents can quote, bind, issue certificates, and manage policies from a single dashboard. The platform is modern, responsive, and designed for efficiency -- reflecting Pie's tech-first DNA.

Pay-as-you-go billing: This is one of Pie's most attractive features for small business owners. Instead of paying a large upfront premium based on estimated payroll, Pie's pay-as-you-go billing syncs with the employer's payroll provider (integrations with Gusto, ADP, and other major platforms) and bills based on actual payroll each pay period. This eliminates the year-end audit surprise that business owners dread with traditional WC policies. For agents, pay-as-you-go is a strong selling point that can close deals.

Experience modification rate: Pie's quoting platform factors in the employer's experience modification rate (EMR) to determine pricing. Businesses with favorable loss histories and low EMRs will see the most competitive quotes.

Integration considerations: Pie does not offer traditional IVANS download or deep integration with legacy agency management systems. Agents who rely on automated policy download should factor this into their workflow planning. Pie's portal is designed to be the primary interface for managing Pie policies.

Commission Structure

Pie Insurance works with independent agents through an agency partnership program. Commission rates are competitive for a digital-first carrier, though they generally reflect the efficiencies of Pie's technology-driven model.

Based on publicly available information and agent feedback:

• Workers' compensation: ~8-12%

Commission rates may vary based on agency volume, state, and specific agreement terms. Since Pie only writes one product line, the commission conversation is simpler than with multi-line carriers -- there is no package premium or cross-selling bonus to consider.

Honest assessment: Pie's commission rates are reasonable for a WC-only carrier. They are generally in line with what EMPLOYERS Holdings pays on workers' comp and higher than what biBERK offers through its partner program. The trade-off is that Pie's competitive pricing and fast quoting can help you win more accounts, which can offset a slightly lower commission rate compared to traditional carriers. The pay-as-you-go billing also reduces mid-term cancellations due to cash flow issues, which protects your renewal book.

Appointment Process

Getting appointed with Pie Insurance is straightforward and reflects the carrier's digital-first approach:

1. Apply online: Visit the Pie Insurance agents page and complete the partnership application.
2. Requirements: You need a valid property & casualty license in your state and active E&O coverage.
3. Approval timeline: Pie's appointment process is faster than most traditional carriers. Most agents report approval within one to two weeks, with some completing the process in just a few days.
4. No volume requirements: Pie does not impose strict minimum premium volume requirements to maintain your appointment. This makes the carrier accessible to newer agencies, solo agents, and agencies that want to add a WC-only option without committing to large production targets.
5. Training: Pie provides onboarding resources and platform training to help new agency partners get up to speed quickly on the quoting workflow.

The low barrier to entry is intentional. Pie wants broad agent distribution to complement their direct-to-business channel, and they have made it easy for agents of any size to start placing workers' comp through their platform.

Claims Handling

Pie Insurance handles workers' comp claims through a combination of in-house adjusters and technology-driven claims management.

Reporting: Claims can be reported through Pie's online platform or by phone. The digital intake process is designed to be fast and straightforward, allowing employers to report workplace injuries promptly -- which is critical for workers' comp claims outcomes.

Medical management: Pie provides managed care coordination for injured workers, including access to preferred provider networks, utilization review, and return-to-work programs. Effective medical management is one of the most important factors in controlling workers' comp costs, and Pie's approach aligns with industry best practices for small business WC.

Return-to-work programs: Pie emphasizes early return-to-work strategies, helping employers bring injured workers back in modified duty roles when medically appropriate. This reduces claim duration and costs, which ultimately benefits the employer's experience modification rate over time.

Claims reputation: As a newer carrier (founded 2017), Pie does not have the multi-decade claims track record of carriers like Travelers or The Hartford. However, agent feedback on Pie's claims handling has been generally positive for straightforward small business WC claims. The A- (Excellent) AM Best rating provides assurance that Pie has the financial resources to pay claims promptly.

Agent involvement: Pie's digital platform gives agents visibility into claim status and progress. While the claims process is designed to be efficient for the employer, agents can stay informed and advocate for their clients when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Pie Insurance compare to EMPLOYERS Holdings?

Pie and EMPLOYERS Holdings are the two carriers most frequently compared in the small business workers' comp space. Both are WC specialists focused on small businesses, but there are meaningful differences. Pie offers a more modern digital platform with faster quoting (3-5 minutes versus EMPLOYERS' EACCESS portal). EMPLOYERS has broader geographic availability (46 states + DC versus Pie's 39 states + DC) and a longer track record with AM Best A rating. For agents, the choice often comes down to state availability and which platform your workflow prefers. Many agents appoint with both and quote both on every WC account.

Since Pie only writes workers' comp, which carriers should I pair it with?

This is the key strategic question for agents using Pie. Since Pie provides no GL, property, BOP, or commercial auto, you need a second carrier for those lines. Strong pairing options include:

• Progressive Commercial for BOP and commercial auto on small accounts
• The Hartford for BOP and GL with their small business platform
• Travelers for mid-market accounts needing a full commercial package
• biBERK for ultra-small accounts where price is the primary factor
• Hiscox for professional services needing E&O alongside WC

The split-carrier approach adds administrative complexity but can produce significant premium savings for the client when Pie's WC pricing undercuts the WC component of a full-package quote.

Is Pie Insurance financially stable enough to trust with my clients' coverage?

Yes. Pie Carrier LLC holds an AM Best A- (Excellent) financial strength rating, which places Pie in the same tier as many well-established regional and specialty carriers. The A- rating satisfies the financial strength requirements of most contracts, leases, and lending agreements that require proof of workers' comp coverage. While Pie does not have the A++ rating of a Berkshire Hathaway entity or the century-long track record of a Travelers, the A- (Excellent) rating represents genuine financial strength and the ability to pay claims.

What happened to Pie's commercial auto product?

Pie offered commercial auto coverage for a period but discontinued the product line in January 2026. The decision to exit commercial auto reflects Pie's strategic focus on workers' compensation as their core product. If your clients had Pie commercial auto policies, those need to be transitioned to another carrier. Progressive Commercial, The Hartford, or biBERK are good alternatives for small business commercial auto.

Does Pie work well for agencies that specialize in a single industry?

Yes. Pie is particularly effective for agencies with a niche focus on industries that align with Pie's appetite -- restaurants, healthcare offices, retail, or professional services. If your agency writes a high volume of small business WC in one of these classes, Pie's fast quoting and competitive pricing can streamline your workflow and improve close rates. The pay-as-you-go billing is also a strong selling point that differentiates your WC proposal from traditional carriers.

How does pay-as-you-go billing actually work?

Pie's pay-as-you-go workers' comp billing integrates with the employer's payroll provider. Instead of paying a large estimated premium upfront at the start of the policy, the employer pays a small amount each pay period based on actual payroll. This means the premium automatically adjusts as the business hires or reduces staff, eliminates the year-end audit surprise, and improves cash flow for the business owner. Pie integrates with major payroll platforms including Gusto, ADP, and others.