Commercial Bonds

Businesses and other parties sometimes need the guarantees that commercial bonds provide. Yet, it can be a tricky process to figure out. From surety bonds and probate bonds to license bonds, bid bonds, performance bonds, lost instrument bonds, and more, figuring out what bond you need can be a chore, let alone what they all cover. Add in the fact that each state and the federal government has its own requirements, it gets even more complicated. That is where we come in. We will help guide you through the process of obtaining the bond that is right for you and your business.

What are commercial bonds?

Being bonded is different from being insured, as commercial bonds are not technically insurance. Instead, think of bonds as an extra layer of protection for the parties involved. For example, with surety bonds, the obligee (the party requiring the bond) is protected if the principal (the party needing the bond) fails to fulfill a portion or the entirety of a contract. While your business may have insurance, you may also need to purchase a bond depending on the type of work you are doing. We will explore a few specific types of bonds below. Also, as each state has its own requirements for bonding, we recommend you get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

License bonds are required of many businesses

Many local, state, and federal government agencies require businesses to obtain license bonds—also known as permit bonds—before they can receive a license or permit for their industry. For example, if you run an auto dealership, you may be required to purchase an auto dealer bond before you can begin selling or trading vehicles. License bonds protect consumers from fraud or other type of harm caused by the business being bonded. It is essentially a way of guaranteeing that a business will adhere to any governmental regulations required of their industry.

Bid bonds for contractors and construction

Bid bonds are usually used solely by contractors and construction businesses. Project developers often require contractors bidding on a project to purchase a bid bond in order to protect their interests. Before bid bonds were often required, some contractors would bid low to gain the contract and then raise the price once work had started or drop out of the project altogether, resulting in problems for the project developer. Now, with bid bonds, project developers can feel better about the contractors they choose, as bid bonds guarantee that contractors are financially sound enough to complete projects and that the bids they place are serious and competitive.

Performance bonds are the follow-up to bid bonds

As a contractor or construction company, you have gotten your bid bond, you have placed your bid, and now you have been awarded the project. That means more business for you, but that also means you will need to look into a performance bond. Developers often require performance bonds as a way to protect the investment they've made in the project. This type of bond guarantees that you as the contractor will complete the project as agreed in the contract. Rates for performance bonds depend on a number of factors, including the bid amount and past jobs that you have done.

Lost instrument bonds help everyone get the money they need

You've just gotten a cashier's check, a money order, or even a stock certificate, and now you cannot seem to find it. Often, financial institutions will require you to get a lost instrument bond before issuing a replacement. These bonds guarantee that if the original lost instrument—cashier's check, money order, or stock certificate, for example— is ever found, you as the bonded party will not be able to cash it in addition to the duplicate. This protects financial institutions from making two payments and thus losing money. There are two types of lost instrument bonds, fixed penalty and open penalty. Fixed penalty bonds are issued for instruments of fixed value, such as checks. Conversely, open penalty bonds are issued for instruments with values that fluctuate, like stock certificates. A variety of financial instruments can be covered under a lost instrument bond.

Bonds upon bonds upon bonds

These are only a few of the more common bonds that you may come across in your business ventures. There are many other types of bonds, from a variety of other construction-related bonds to court-related and commercial-related bonds. Figuring out which bond is right for you and if you even need one can be tricky. We can help you find the bonds that are required federally and locally, right down to the city where you work.

If you are looking to learn more about bonds and their requirements, Reach out to our team when you are ready to review options.

Request a commercial bonds quote to get started.