What is a Surety Bond?
Sometimes, a business may be required to have a surety bond to guarantee that the work they are contracted to do will be accomplished. Each surety bond must be uniquely tailored to meet specific needs.
There are three parties involved in a surety bond: the principal, the obligee, and the surety.
If the principal does not complete the work as contracted, the obligee can make a claim for payment from the bond up to but not exceeding the bond amount. The principal is then obligated to pay back the claimed amount to the surety.
Surety bonds can be required for different types of contracts. The two most common types of surety bonds are contract surety bonds and commercial surety bonds.
Contract surety bonds are bonds the government or an owner of a construction project may require a contractor to obtain. There are three types of contract surety bonds:
Commercial Surety Bonds are required of individuals or businesses by the government, legislation or by other entities. Travelers Bond & Specialty Insurance provides the following types of commercial surety bonds:
Your city, county and state have different requirements for how to get a surety bond. It is important for you to understand what type of bond a particular obligee requires and in what amount, in order to get a surety bond. You should then contact your independent insurance agent to understand how to apply for a surety bond. They will guide you through that process, which will include:
The cost (known as the premium) of a surety bond depends on a number of things, including the bond type, length of time for coverage, risk, the principal’s credit score and past claims history, financial wherewithal, and other factors. Depending on that information, the surety bond premium can vary.
Each state and their governing agencies set their own surety bond requirements. The obligee will inform you if they require a bond, the bond type and the amount of coverage.
Click here to learn more about surety bonds and to get a quote for a surety bond program that is right for your business or project.
Performance Bond for Construction
A performance bond, sometimes referred to as a contract bond, is a surety bond that is issued to a contractor before the start of a construction project that guarantees the contractor will complete the obligations of the project to the satisfaction of the owner of the project as agreed to in the initial contract. The performance bond is meant to protect both parties involved in the project. The Principal, usually the general contractor of the project, is often required to obtain a performance bond to ensure that the project is completed within the framework and timeline agreed upon, and if failure to do so, the obligee of the principal can file a claim against the performance to the surety. The Principal is then required to repay any money that the surety paid out on behalf of the claim made. All claims should be worked out and paid for as soon as possible as to not risk losing licenses, and business in the future. Claims against a surety bond can be detrimental for a contractor.
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.