Restaurant Group Workers' Comp With a Clean Loss Run
A restaurant group with a clean loss run is priced on classification, payroll by location, the experience mod and how well the submission is presented. In California, each separate and distinct restaurant is classified on its own operations, so how a group splits its payroll matters as much as its claims.
Classification first
Since September 1, 2024, California restaurants fall under 9080 for full service, 9083 for fast food or fast casual, and 9081(1) for restaurants not described elsewhere. A group that mixes sit-down and counter-service concepts can carry more than one code. The WCIRB's advisory pure premium rate for those three is $2.784 per $100 of payroll for policies effective September 1, 2026. Outside California, classification follows NCCI or the state's own bureau, and the codes differ.
Why a clean run counts for more in this class
The WCIRB's restaurant industry profile found higher claim frequency than the statewide average, with lower average severity. Against that backdrop, a loss run with few claims, closed promptly, stands out. The experience mod is built from roughly three years of your own claims, a mod below 1.00 is a credit, and each additional clean year helps.
What underwriters look for in a restaurant group
Payroll by location and by class, how many locations are full service and how many are counter service, any bar, catering, brewing or baking operations, turnover and training, the claim types on the loss run, and whether the classification matches the work actually done.
Audit exposure
Multi-location operators are audited on payroll by location and class. Payroll records that separate each restaurant and each type of operation make an audit faster and reduce disputes.
What to send
A signed ACORD 130, currently valued loss runs, payroll by class code and location, the mod worksheet, the expiring policy, the states of operation and a short description of each concept.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a clean loss run lower restaurant workers' comp?
Yes, through the experience mod and through which markets will look at the account. A mod below 1.00 is a credit, and a short, closed loss run is easier to underwrite.
Can a restaurant group have more than one California class code?
Yes. Each separate and distinct restaurant is classified on its own operations, so a group with both full-service and fast casual concepts can end up with 9080 and 9083.
Can a restaurant operator with a good record still use CPR?
Yes. CPR is best known for hard-to-place accounts, but an account with a clean loss history gets the same review: a complete file, read by a person.
For the full picture, see our restaurant workers' comp guide, the checklist for a restaurant renewal that went up and our guide to reading a workers' comp loss run. Send a submission to proposals@cprbrokers.com or call 714-928-3858.
