Who must carry it in Kansas
An employer whose gross annual payroll exceeds $20,000 must carry workers' compensation; agricultural employers are exempt regardless of payroll.
Who counts as an employee
All wages paid to employees count toward the payroll test, including part-time and family members; an owner's own draw does not. The label on the paycheck does not settle it: Kansas applies its own employee test, and a worker who fails it is an employee for workers' compensation no matter what the contract says.
Owners, officers and LLC members
Sole proprietors and partners may elect coverage; corporate officers who own at least ten percent of the stock may elect out. The election is made on the policy and affects both coverage and premium, so decide it before the policy is bound rather than at audit.
The day you hire
CoverMatch quotes workers' compensation from the first employee, with pay-as-you-go billing through most payroll companies where a carrier offers it, so the policy can start the week you hire without a large deposit. Add the policy to your wallet and the live certificate is ready for the general contractor or client who asks for proof.
If you go without
Uninsured employers face civil penalties, lose their common-law defenses, and are liable for benefits. The specific amounts and procedures are in the statute and on the agency page linked above; they change, and the licensed agent who reviewed this page checks them on each update.