Contractor (License & Permit) Bonds
What is a Contractor License Bond? (What does the bond cover?)
While starting the process of getting your contractor license, you may discover your state’s licensing board lists securing a Surety Bond as a licensing requirement. The licensing board enforces this requirement to ensure you perform your duties, as a licensed contractor, ethically and abide to all of the rules and regulations set by the state or city.
We realize contractors have many steps to complete when getting their license. Our goal is to be one of the easiest steps.
Read our client reviews on Google:
Based on 297 reviews
Leonard C.
18:56 15 Aug 24
Tito L.
21:34 21 Mar 24
Krystal W.
23:53 20 Feb 24
Working with Surety Solutions was great! Especially Jessi she was patient with me and she made sure... that she answered all my questions. Quick and Easy! 100% recommend!!read more
Wayne T.
13:43 12 Feb 24
I first contacted Surety Solutions back in 2017 for a Process Server bond quote. The quote they... gave me was good. I had actually tried 3 other bond companies back then but it was Surety that stood out. And that's because of the really nice customer service that I received from Cryssi Brubaker, the Customer Service Agent that worked with me through our many email exchanges. She even extended my quote an additional 60 days after I told her that I was just considering the process server license at that time and hadn't applied for it yet. Ultimately, though, I didn't go for the process server license so I never got the bond in 2017. Fast forward to the present and I needed to get that same bond again for me and my wife's business, now in 2024. (Wow that's 7 dang years ago -oh well, I'll just call it God's timing 😊). So when it was time to get a bond for the Process Server license it was a no-brainer for me. I went online looking for Surety Solutions and voilà (Wa-Lah), there they were -with a fresh and newer looking website to boot. After obtaining my Process Server bond from Surety a few weeks ago, I ran into a problem with my State because the expiration date on the bond needed to be set to a specific date in even years (or in 2026). So I needed that to be fixed; like, pronto. It was late in the day on Friday when the State sent me an email with the issue. So I contacted Surety by email. But I wasn't expecting to hear back from them until maybe on Monday. However, and to my surprise, I received an email back in short order that same day from Jessi Wimer, the Surety Account Manager Associate. And wouldn't you know it, she was just as attentive, friendly and knowledgeable in her several email exchanges with me that it took me back to 2017 and Crissi Brubaker. That's when I knew I made the right choice all these years later to go back to Surety Solutions for my bond. In sum total, it was that Customer Service, friendliness and knowledge of my particular situation that won me over.read more
Nana T.
21:33 02 Jan 24
Ryan B.
18:44 29 Dec 23
I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the customer service Jessi Wimer provided for not only me... but our company. As one of the owners I am in charge of licensing and realized last minute I needed two bonds on the very last business day of the year. Not only was she on it, responded promptly, but actually made it easy. I am so thankful for her and all her help. Because of her Surety Solutions will be my first and last call when I need a bond again.read more
John C.
18:09 20 Nov 23
Great system backed by great service. Simple and intuitive. And you can actually get live help!
Eli G.
19:49 25 Sep 23
Great service!
lizzy B.
21:50 31 May 23
Update - in 2023 i had to renew and Mickey Wolfe was great! They got me the bond ASAP, was... extremely helpful, diligent, and quick to respond. I was having problems getting in touch with anyone and Mickey came through ASAP. Thank you - Mickey needs a raise 5 star service!!Just received my bond for becoming a private investigator. cryssi from customer service was super helpful, as i kept messing up my application (sending in wrong format) and she was nothing but helpful with correcting this. I was also a bit worried about the process of obtaining a bond, as i never have, but it was shockingly easy and not expensive at all. Would re use if i need an upgraded bond.read more
David H.
04:08 12 May 23
Jessi was very courteous and helpful. She was very patient and knowledgeable. I am very thankful... for her help. Highly recommend!read more
Matt G.
21:50 23 Feb 23
Jessi is great at what she does. She helped me secure the best surety bond for myself and my... company as well as walked me through the process all the way. I am glad we found her and will be sticking with her and her company from now on.read more
Jeff G.
22:43 26 Jan 23
Jessi Wimer was an AMAZING help while applying for my mortgage bond....absolutely wonderful!!!!
Peter Y.
22:55 19 Dec 22
Jessi Wimer did an outstanding job with my Surety Bond! She was very knowledgeable, friendly and... helpful. I highly recommend Jessi Wimer!read more
Chris V.
19:12 06 Dec 22
Thank you Jessi Wimer for excellent customer service I received from you regarding the renewal of... my MLO bond. Much appreciated!read more
Darin G
16:54 05 Dec 22
By far the best Surety Bond Coverage and wow the quote was so good on my Co 25K Surety bond, I... added 500K E&0 for that price was lower than state group plan, and was very streamlined.Best Customer Service, I was greatful for Jessie, and the Surety Solutions Family had top notch provider for much less! Across the board.See you next year, thank you for the amazing quotes. Very happy.read more
Mortgage H.
20:51 02 Mar 22
Easiest system to use and, by far, the fastest company with providing E&O and Surety bond... insurance. HIGHLY recommend!read more
Chris L.
17:07 08 Feb 22
Surety Solutions goes above and beyond their duty to make their customer feel confident that they... are choosing the right company. Jessi Wimer personally helped me through the process. She was very informative and made sure that every concern I had was dealt with in the most professional and efficient way. Thank you for your hard work!read more
Bridgette M. B.
23:24 10 Dec 21
Excellent service; they exceeded my expectations in timeliness and professionalism.
James G.
17:49 30 Nov 21
Client services provided quick and accurate responses.
Eva Hammel H.
16:46 30 Nov 21
Very helpful and they respond quickly to any questions.
Samantha C.
17:42 23 Nov 21
I have had to obtain E&O and Surety bonds on the past and my experience has always been... complicated. Surety Solutions was amazing I literally sent in my paperwork at 9AM and had what I needed by noon the same day!! I would highly recommend them to anyone!read more
Zakieh A.
16:38 04 Nov 21
Katrina Fearn, Client Service Manager at Surety, is an absolute pleasure to work with!! She is... always highly responsive, and has provided me nothing but excellent service since our first interaction. I highly recommend working with her and the Surety team. They will always go above and beyond. Thank you for all that you've done!read more
Gerise W.
18:25 10 Aug 21
I have been working with Steve Shike and he has been so helpful. I purchased the wrong bond and... Steve instantly requested a refund on my behalf and called back with the good news. I appreciate him for helping me figure out my situation in such a timely matter. Thank you Steve for responding to my calls and emails promptly.read more
Gerry J.
16:30 08 Aug 21
jerry T.
04:44 03 Jul 21
Kristopher M.
14:23 24 Jun 21
Katrina and Surety Solutions were very helpful and fast. I needed to change the bond I ordered and... they handled that within minutes. Their response time to emails and request were great and that is why I will continue to work them both. All I ask for is relatively decent response time when there are issues that need resolved and Katrina far exceeded that and was friendly on top of everything else. Well done.Krisread more
Danny S.
14:41 15 Jun 21
Grace answered the phone immediately with a positive attitude and willingness to help. She... followed through professionally and promptly through entire process.read more
Bonnie A.
20:39 20 May 21
Surety Solutions has been the most amazing and easiest company to work with on Bonds in my past 17... years of doing insurance. They are very quick to respond and very personal to work with. Jake Durrant is absolutely the best!read more
Suzie T.
17:14 07 May 21
Tonya B.
01:18 21 Apr 21
Easy experience.
Ryan M.
20:18 19 Apr 21
I had the pleasure of working with Katrina Fearn to obtain mortgage broker surety bonds and I can... say with zero hesitation, that she is wonderful to work with. Extremely responsive, communicative and helpful. Surety Solutions + Katrina = Great Partnership. Thanks!!!read more
Umesh M.
23:34 07 Apr 21
Can't say enough good things about Katrina Fearn, she was exceptionally prompt, responsive and a... true professional in getting me the bond in a timely manner. Just amazing customer service.read more
Ernesto U.
19:08 10 Feb 21
I needed a copy of my bond and with people working form home I thought is was going to take a long... time. I got an email with the copy of my bond with in minutes. Never seen anything like that. Very Professional and fast response. thank you for good business ethicread more
Ruslan K.
22:43 08 Jan 21
Just obtained Mortgage Broker Surety Bond for two states. not only the price was right but service... and professionalism exceeded my expectations. i can't thank Steve enough and wish i knew them sooner.read more
One Step C.
05:17 01 Dec 20
I bought a surety bond for my business. The name on the application has my middle name on it and... the policy didn't. That would or could have created a problem. I wrote to customer service to complain. Well not complain but ask for it to be changed. Since it was Thanksgiving weekend I wasn't expecting to hear back till this week sometime. Well to my surprise it was "Very" Quickly. JD was very helpful and professional. Fixed it then contacted me with the corrected version. Couldn't be happier. " Good Business is Good Business"read more
Obsesion H.
04:45 26 Oct 20
Amazing customer service and friendly and informative reps.
Irena S.
03:00 25 Sep 20
Surety solutions handled my request for a Guardianship Bond professionally, with great care and... provided great value to my family. Of all of the insurance companies I contacted for my need, Surety Solutions was by far the most responsive, courteous and knowledgeable. I very much appreciate their fine service!!read more
Kirk G.
19:10 23 Jun 20
The entire staff from Jake to Katrina were more than professional and bent over backwards to meet... mine and The State of California's requirementsread more
Sharon H.
23:29 28 Apr 20
This process could not have been easier! Mr. Chipman sent me an email link and I just followed the... steps. I highly recommend Mr. Beau Chipman to anyone who needs this service.read more
Justin R.
23:53 17 Mar 20
Doss E.
03:42 11 Mar 20
Outstanding customer service from Jake and the other folks at Surety Solutions! Shopped my surety... bond with other companies and found the best price here by far.read more
Oksana B.
06:41 05 Mar 20
Excellent service, best pricing, immediate communication! Keep up such a great work!!! Thanks!!!
Jessica M.
17:22 25 Feb 20
Diana F.
07:20 24 Feb 20
The staff is very friendly and on more than one occasion went above and beyond normal customer... service to make sure that we were fully taken care of. I would highly recommend this company.read more
Tiara A.
03:01 31 Jan 20
Easy to work with, and extremely fast! I would definitely recommend!
sherry N.
17:44 22 Jan 20
Very timely and professional work on providing services to our firm. We are very satisfied.
Ivan R.
23:52 08 Jan 20
Great service. No hassle. Great communication.Thank you Cryssi for the excellent service!!!
Kerri L.
03:29 14 Dec 19
Cryssi B. went above and beyond to get my bond issued in record time and delivered incredible... customer service throughout the process. So impressive and refreshing. I am so grateful.read more
Katrina and M.
17:11 23 Oct 19
Absolutely great to work with!
Meg G.
03:56 23 Oct 19
Quick and easy process to get my notary bond. Best price and the documents arrived by mail way... faster than expected. I highly recommend.read more
Pedro
20:58 17 Oct 19
Great communication, fast and to the point service. Great follow up too.
Petra G.
16:08 10 Oct 19
Katrina is very fast and responsive and we got our insurance in few hours! She is the best! We will... collaborate again for sure! Thank you! 🙂read more
Lara C.
07:44 23 Sep 19
They helped so much when I went to my states tag office who denied my paperwork multiple times due... to the format. Surety helped me every step of the way.read more
Bill Main C.
15:16 11 Sep 19
Super fast and professional service. Couldn't ask for anything better. Thank you guys.
Tommy M.
02:15 04 Sep 19
Surety Solutions is a fantastic company to work with. I was in a unique situation and was having... trouble finding a company willing to underwrite an estate conservatorship bond for me. Surety Solutions took the time to listen to me and shopped around with their underwriters and found someone willing to underwrite the bond. Having to experience the probate system is a major headache; however, Surety Solutions makes sure the bonding portion of it does not have to be 🙂read more
Susan L.
16:07 20 Aug 19
My experience with Surety Solutions agent (Katrina) was professional, solution-driven and... responsive throughout the whole process. From applying for a bond quote to purchasing and receiving the bond was simple and efficient. My questions were answered promptly with upbeat attitude and patience. Customer service definitely exceeded beyond my expectations. I would certainly use their service again in the future.read more
Sandra L.
17:10 15 Aug 19
OP
Audrey K.
06:20 27 Jul 19
This place was actually super helpful, and really speedy! Their blog on their page has nice, easy... to follow information, and their staff are super friendly and helpful. I was looking all over for some of this information, trying to weave through weird shady looking sites, and Surety Solutions really is the one to go with. quick, clean, trustworthy, professional. Thanks for all your help!read more
Shana O.
18:14 22 Jul 19
Surety Solutions was able to help me secure a bond and guide me through the probate process in a... very friendly and competent way. I really appreciated their speed, efficiency, and knowledge.read more
Jason D.
21:45 10 Jul 19
I made a mistake in selecting the correct bond and they fixed it with a quick call.Thanks Again!
Michael B.
20:24 30 Jun 19
I worked with Cryssi at Surety Solutions in order to secure a $900,000 conservator bond. Their... quote was by far the best out of several companies I requested quotes through ($2,110 vs. $3,500). Cryssi was always very helpful and responded very quickly during business hours and often during after hours via email. I will continue to work with and renew with their company especially if their quotes and customer service remain this excellent. Thank you again! MikeSo just an update to my original post. It was time to renew the conservator bond this year and Cryssi at Surety Solutions made the process extremely streamlined and convenient. I received an email stating it was time to renew the bond with a link to pay online. My rate didn't change at all and it took about 30 seconds to renew my bond. This has been an easy, convenient, and one of the most affordable companies to work with. Some of the best customer service in the market which is sometimes hard to find these days! Thank you again for an affordable quote which was seamless to renew. Thank you Cryssi!read more
Christopher F.
19:08 24 May 19
They did everything they said they would & more! Great people excellent people skills polite and... quick. Noproblemsread more
John P
17:59 30 Apr 19
I needed a California Certificate of Title Bond so I came to there site. This company was very... professional and helpful. I appreciated there live chat options. There website was easy and fast to use. I had to call in and speak to someone and he (Thomas) was very helpful and polite. Thank you guys for a great experience if I ever need another Bond I will be using your company for sure! Keep up the great customer service. Thanks again!read more
Jacqueline (.
13:41 25 Apr 19
Thank you Thomas and Katrina for the superb professional, fast service you both provided me. I... shopped around online for a few days comparing Bond Companies and calling asking questions, and praying. Your website is a cut above the others; your process is quick, straight forth, no tricks nor confusion, but honest online service!I received a Great Rate for my bond compared to other companies, saving me money!Thomas answered my questions upfront with patience & clarity; & Katrina was right on top of email correspondence, my invoice, I received my email bond copy in hours of applying online & hard copy I received next day!Surety Solutions of Gallagher's overall process, Thomas & Katrina made sure, my experience with them was overall stress free, affordable & outstanding!I am still amazed how fast I received my hard copy bond from the time I started to finished, and with FedEx, I had my bond, No errors in my hand the next day! I thank GOD for the stress free & excellent service I received !read more
Michael S.
22:52 19 Apr 19
Beau was super helpful when I had questions about buying a used car from a seller with an unusual... title situation. I have not bought a used car before, so it was very reassuring to talk through my concerns about the situations and the safest ways to move forward. He thoughtfully responded to my inquiries without pestering for my contact info or trying to sell me products - such customer service is hard to find these days! Thank you!read more
kathy B.
22:20 15 Apr 19
I had been dreading the red-tape of obtaining a surety bond for a lost vehicle title. I had just... obtained a quote from another company online and was not pleased with the price. Surety Solutions was less expensive---by far---and their service was outstanding: efficient and polite. The quote was obtained, approval given, and the transaction was complete in a just a couple of hours. I could not be more pleased!read more
ROBERT S.
02:42 12 Apr 19
Huge Kudos to Cryssi @Surety Solutions! Thank you for being so responsive and accommodating with... helping me get my Bond taken care of. It was a pleasure working with you and your company!Rob with Caliber Auto Salesread more
Brent W.
20:01 11 Apr 19
Sheree M.
15:39 10 Apr 19
It was a very easy and smooth experience. I got the bond that I needed for a competitive rate.... Cryssi was great.read more
kimchibator
23:17 02 Apr 19
Cryssi was my rep. Responds back on a timely manner. She goes above and beyond to insure customer... satisfaction! I will do business with Surety Solutions again and recommend to others! Thank you Cryssi! From Bridge City Cleaners!read more
Deanne R.
20:31 28 Mar 19
Cryssi saved the day. We were finally ready to submit our DBO app and realized we had the bond... created in our previous business. Expecting a significant red-tape delay, we reached out to Cryssi who managed our little crisis with not only absolute professionalism, but with expedience. She was also so personable!read more
Mark W.
00:24 28 Mar 19
Cryssi & Danielle are great to work with. Very responsive and solution minded. We needed to... extend the dates of our coverage and paperwork to show that coverage. They responded quickly and took care of us right away. Thank you!read more
Love of the Magic V.
16:31 26 Mar 19
Working with Cryssi at Surety Solutions is fast and easy!
Michael L.
17:46 22 Mar 19
They are quick to help you I will say that!!
FastSigns
23:44 21 Mar 19
Surety Solutions is a very organized, professional group. As a local vendor, we work with them on... a regular basis and they make a strong effort to ensure each project goes as smoothly as possible. Strong communication is critical to our daily operations and the staff are accessible and very easy to work with. Keep up the good work!read more
Toni R.
23:26 21 Mar 19
Visited and contacted several different surety bond websites prior to seeing this one. Had my bond... purchased in less than 10 minutes!!!!! Spoke with Cryssi and she was very professional, answered all of my questions and had my surety bond emailed to me within an hour, will receive the original one tomorrow morning!!!!! So pleased with Cryssi and the ease of obtaining the bond. Lastly, out of all of the places I contacted, this surety bond was $75.00 less than all of the other places that I checked into.read more
CARLOS A.
18:14 19 Mar 19
Great Customer Service! Was able to process my request and also review great information they... provide - step by step guide amazing! quick and easy- best part of dealing with Title issues- HIghly recommendread more
Brandon C.
02:23 13 Mar 19
Very,Very helpful and Very,Very fast same day it was like christmas i defiinitly recomend this... companyread more
Melisande A
17:51 01 Mar 19
Great company, really informative and responsive. Thomas was super helpful and patient as he walked... me through a million questions that I had. I dealt with a few other less helpful companies before I selected this one. Highly recommend.read more
Anthony G.
18:45 27 Feb 19
WOW! I am so glad I found this site. I called a local company and they wanted me to fill out and... email so much information. With this company it was all online and easy and super fast. I also messed up and put the wrong expiration date and it was so easy to chat online and fix it. I paid for the faster shipping which is 2 business days, its so worth it. Thanks again Surety Solutions and to Beau who I was chatting with online, you were awesome.read more
TARC -Wealth Building Office L.
00:29 27 Feb 19
These guys are very knowledgeable! They when out of their way to answer all my questions. I'll be... getting my bonds from them.read more
Christopher M.
23:41 26 Feb 19
Needed some quick assistance. and they were able to help me with the questions i had.
Sophia Rose W.
19:42 25 Feb 19
Beau helped me understand bonded titles and what I needed to ask my DMV when I thought I was in a... hopeless situation! Thanks so much!read more
Jennifer F.
23:01 22 Feb 19
This was a pleasurable non stressful experience for me I was well informed and its gonna make it... that much easier at the DMV NOWread more
Roman Y.
16:18 22 Feb 19
Exceptional customer service.
gozie victor O.
00:05 22 Feb 19
Robert R.
13:29 20 Feb 19
My representative does a great job, always takes care of my needs and answers any questions I may... haveread more
David N.
00:04 20 Feb 19
Wonderful experience. Clear, concise explanation. I spoke with Beau and got all the information I... needed to help me out.read more
Darrick H.
14:23 16 Feb 19
The answers to my inquiry were so helpful and prompt iy was very encouraging. I sincerely... appreciate the exoertise to get me started on a long awaited resolution to my title issue. Thank you so much!read more
Sunshine S.
21:13 13 Feb 19
Tan-Jent Development Company, L.
17:28 13 Feb 19
Absolutely Fantastic. Though Katrina coud not help me she gave me 5 companies that could!
Pamela D S.
17:08 07 Feb 19
Very honest. Loved my chat
don P.
23:46 06 Feb 19
Fast, knowledgeable and friendly. Great experience.
Laura N.
23:34 06 Feb 19
John K.
23:22 05 Feb 19
Straight-forward and quick. Online form was very easy to fill out and I received our bond the very... next day.read more
Get started with a free quote below.
When competing for a job, the contractor with a license, insurance and a bond offers more peace-of-mind for the client. Because, the Contractor Bond protects your clients from financial loss if your craft is inferior or you fail to meet the terms of the agreed upon contract. By enforcing the Surety Bond requirement, the licensing board removes risk of being financially responsibility for claims against your license.
Surety Bond vs Insurance
The Surety Bond does not function the same way as your insurance policy. Unlike liability insurance, the bond doesn’t provide coverage for you as the contractor. The bond serves as a contract between three parties.
The Principal – As the licensed contractor, you are named the principal on your bond document.
The Obligee – This is the entity enforcing the bond requirement. Typically, the obligee is the state, city or county licensing board.
The Surety – The company that issues your Surety Bond.
Your Surety Bond is coverage for your clients should they need to make a claim against your job performance or failure to complete your work. If a claim is deemed valid by the surety company, your client will be reimbursed up to the full amount of your bond.
Who is responsible for paying a claim?
Neither you nor the surety company expect to receive a claim. Which is why the cost of a Contractor Bond is only a small fraction of the bond amount. However, claims do happen.
If your client makes a claim against your bond, the surety company that issued your bond will conduct a thorough investigation on the claim. If the surety finds the claim to be valid, they will payout up to the total bond amount to the claimant. The responsibility of repaying the surety back in full is yours to bear as the principal of the bond.
Types of Contractor License Bonds
The type of Contractor License Bond you require largely depends on the location you operate your business and the type of work you perform. These bond types can be residential or commercial.
The most common types of Contractor Bond requests we receive:
General Contractor License Bond
Municipality (County / Town / Village) Contractor License Bond
State Contractor License Bond
Specialty (Electrical / HVAC / Landscaping / Plumbing) Contractor License Bond
Please be aware not every state or municipality require licensees to get a bond. We recommend contacting your area’s licensing department to determine their licensing requirements. If a Surety Bond is necessary to receive your license, please request they provide a copy of the bond form. This will ensure you get quotes for the correct bond type.
If you’re a contractor needing a Surety Bond for a different reason not related to your license, such as a bid for a job or protection if an employee steals from a client, we can help! Contract Bonds or Construction Bonds include Payment Bonds, Bid Bonds and Performance Bonds. While Fidelity Bonds include Business Service Bonds (Janitorial Bonds) and Employee Dishonesty Bonds (Commercial Crime Policies). Get additional information and quotes for these types of policies using the buttons below.
How much does a Contractor Bond cost?
The surety considers the risk they are taking on when calculating the premium for your bond. When reviewing your application, your credit score and the bond amount you require are two of the biggest factors for determining your bond premium.
If your bond does require a credit check, we’ll perform a soft-pull on your credit. A soft-pull does not adversely affect your credit score. Most of our clients pay $100 – $200 for their Contractor License Surety Bond. Which is typically 1% or less of the total bond amount.
What if I have bad credit?
You may still be approved for your Contractor Bond even if your credit isn’t good. Our partnerships with the leading surety companies allows us to quote applicants with non-standard credit.
Applicants with non-standard credit usually receive quotes in the range of 5%-15% of the total bond amount, if approved. Since there is greater risk associated with the bond, the premium is slightly higher.
Don’t let your credit score prevent you from requesting a quote.
Where to get a Contractor Bond near me?
Don’t settle for just one quote for your Contractor License Bond. At Surety Solutions, A Gallagher Company, you have access to an online marketplace of leading surety companies. Compare prices from multiple companies to ensure you get the best deal for your bond.
We are licensed to issue bonds in all 50 states. If you have any questions, our staff of surety professionals are happy to help! Contact us by emailing [email protected] or reach us by phone at (866) 722-9239. Don’t wait! Get your Contractor Surety Bond quotes, today!
Additional Resources
Everything you need to know about becoming a licensed contractor.
Check out the answers to our frequently asked questions.
Find the specific steps needed to get a contractor license in your state.
We can assist with other bond types!
Start by clicking your state on the map below.
