AmTrust Financial Services
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Overall appetite - Core focus is small to mid-sized commercial accounts across the U.S., written primarily through appointed independent agents and selected program administrators. Emphasis on workers’ compensation and commercial package (property/GL/umbrella) for main street and niche classes, with preference for stable operations, demonstrated safety culture, and profitable loss history (5 years preferred on programs).([ameritrustgroup.com](https://www.ameritrustgroup.com/programs/program-appetites/?utm_source=openai)) Workers Compensation – small commercial - Target market: Small commercial accounts generally up to roughly $100,000 manual WC premium, with larger accounts referred to mid-market/custom comp teams.([smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com](https://smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com/workers-comp-product-info/?utm_source=openai)) - Example preferred/target classes (not exhaustive, varies by state): light-to-moderate hazard service, retail, and light manufacturing including: auto/automatic sprinkler installation, cabinet/interior carpentry and wood products mfg, flat concrete work, flooring installers, excavation & grading, breweries/wineries, food and furniture manufacturing/assembly, florists, bowling/billiard halls, clubs and fitness facilities, daycare, schools/colleges, professional offices (doctors/dentists/engineers/inspectors/computer programming & software), cemeteries/funeral homes, bottle/bottling operations, door/windows mfg, waterproofing, welding and similar trades.([smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com](https://smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com/workers-comp-product-info/?utm_source=openai)) - General underwriting posture: Looks at the “story” behind each account and can make exceptions, but expects operations within filed WC guidelines and a reasonable explanation for any loss activity.([amtrustfinancial.com](https://amtrustfinancial.com/blog/insurance-products/understanding-workers-comp-underwriting-guidelines?utm_source=openai)) Workers Comp – key restrictions/declines - Ineligible operations commonly cited for small commercial WC include: - Contractors who travel overnight for work with 24‑hour exposure. - Any work regularly performed above 15 feet (e.g., significant roofing/structural height exposures). - Any entity providing services to correctional facilities of any type. - Temporary staffing firms.([smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com](https://smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com/workers-comp-product-info/?utm_source=openai)) - Program-level avoidance: start-up programs without historical profitability, programs with poor or unproven loss results, heavy transportation-driven programs, and nursing homes/assisted living exposures.([ameritrustgroup.com](https://www.ameritrustgroup.com/programs/program-appetites/?utm_source=openai)) Commercial Property (including in package/BOP) - Core appetite: Property as part of small commercial packages and program business for small-to-medium insureds – standard main-street occupancies (retail, light mercantile, offices, many services, some light manufacturing) with normal fire and CAT profiles. Appetite is managed regionally with attention to not over-concentrating property values in catastrophe-prone areas.([ameritrustgroup.com](https://www.ameritrustgroup.com/programs/program-appetites/?utm_source=openai)) - Preferred property risks (inferred from general AmTrust/AmTrust Group materials): modern, well-maintained buildings, compliant with current life safety requirements where feasible, with adequate fire protection (sprinklers, alarms), and controllable wind/hail/flood exposures. Highly cat-prone, poorly protected, or heavily distressed property schedules are less desirable and may be declined or heavily restricted. - Geographic considerations: Programs and many property offerings are underwritten on a regional or state-specific basis with a stated intent to avoid excessive geographic concentration that could produce large natural-cat or man-made CAT accumulations. Agents should confirm state/territory and hazard-specific appetite with their underwriter before marketing.([ameritrustgroup.com](https://www.ameritrustgroup.com/programs/program-appetites/?utm_source=openai)) Commercial Umbrella / Excess - Appetite: Umbrella and excess is offered over supported accounts, typically where AmTrust is writing underlying GL/Auto/WC or package for small-to-mid-sized insureds. Umbrella is a primary line within broader property-casualty program appetites and is intended for standard commercial classes, not high‑hazard catastrophe-driven operations.([ameritrustgroup.com](https://www.ameritrustgroup.com/programs/program-appetites/?utm_source=openai)) - Avoided characteristics (inferred from program appetite): high‑hazard transportation fleets, nursing homes/assisted living and other long‑term care, and programs requiring extensive aggregate stop loss or other nonstandard risk-sharing structures.([ameritrustgroup.com](https://www.ameritrustgroup.com/programs/program-appetites/?utm_source=openai)) Programs and niche business - Programs are typically regional or state-specific and written through specialized program administrators or niche agencies with demonstrated expertise in the class, stable carrier relationships, and established distribution.([ameritrustgroup.com](https://www.ameritrustgroup.com/programs/program-appetites/?utm_source=openai)) - Desired program attributes: proven profitable loss history (5 years preferred), clear market position, and credible competitive intelligence. AmTrust often prefers industry-standard coverage forms and generally avoids start-up programs, unproven books, and programs with heavy transportation or long‑term-care exposure.([ameritrustgroup.com](https://www.ameritrustgroup.com/programs/program-appetites/?utm_source=openai)) Geographic notes - Operates nationally through subsidiary insurers, but both WC and property appetites are subject to state-by-state and regional underwriting requirements, as well as minimum premium thresholds by class. Agents should check specific state availability, especially in high‑CAT states (e.g., coastal wind, wildfire, quake) or states with restrictive WC environments.([smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com](https://smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com/workers-comp-product-info/?utm_source=openai)) Submission & producer expectations - Distribution: Business is submitted by appointed AmTrust agents, producers, or approved program administrators only; retail agents generally must have an appointment or work via a wholesaler/program partner. - For small commercial WC and package: - Expectation of complete, signed ACORD applications or system-equivalent data with accurate class codes, descriptions of operations, employee/ payroll breakdowns, years in business, and details of any subcontracted work. - Prior carrier information and 3–5 years of currently‑valued loss runs are expected for larger/scheduled or program accounts; small start-up main-street WC may be considered with limited history, subject to underwriter comfort. - Accounts above roughly $100,000 manual WC premium are routed to custom comp/mid-market underwriting – agents should flag these early to manage timing and information requirements.([smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com](https://smallbusiness.ameritrustgroup.com/workers-comp-product-info/?utm_source=openai)) - Program submissions must address: class focus, geography, distribution approach, rating structure, historical premiums and losses, and any contemplated risk-sharing. Programs needing carrier aggregate stop loss or lacking partner capital are generally unattractive.([ameritrustgroup.com](https://www.ameritrustgroup.com/programs/program-appetites/?utm_source=openai)) Broker/producer operational notes - Appetite and detailed class lists for small business are maintained in agent-only or marketing library tools (e.g., AmTrust Appetite Guide and info sheets). Agents should use these tools and/or contact their marketing representative or underwriter for current, state-specific class acceptance and property thresholds, as public pages do not list every eligible or restricted class.([amtrustfinancial.com](https://amtrustfinancial.com/agent-marketing-library/small-business/appetite-guide/info-sheets?utm_source=openai)) - AmTrust emphasizes loss control and workers’ comp safety resources; producers are expected to encourage use of AmTrust’s safety and training tools to reduce claim frequency and help keep accounts within appetite over time.([amtrustfinancial.com](https://amtrustfinancial.com/loss-control/industry-resources/workers-comp?utm_source=openai)) Practical placement guidance - Best fit: small-to-mid-sized main street and niche commercial risks needing workers’ comp plus companion property/GL/umbrella, with clean to moderate loss experience, stable operations, and conventional hazard profiles. - Use caution/expect pushback: heavy construction above 15 ft, 24‑hour traveling contractors, correctional-related services, temporary staffing, transportation‑heavy or nursing home/assisted living accounts, and distressed property schedules or highly CAT‑exposed locations. These are often restricted, require strong underwriting justification, or are declined.