Surety bonds, placed by people who actually answer the phone.

A surety bond is a three-party agreement: a principal (you) who needs the bond, an obligee (a government, court or contracting party) who requires it, and a surety company that guarantees you'll meet the bond's obligation. If you fail to perform, the surety pays out — and you reimburse the surety. It is not insurance; it's a credit-backed guarantee.

The premium depends on the bond type, the bond amount and your credit. For standard contract bonds it's typically a small percentage of the bond amount. License and permit bonds are often a flat fee. Court and probate bonds are priced from the estate or matter size. Send us the specifics and we'll quote it within a business day.

Some bonds issue in minutes (small license, permit or court bonds with clean credit). Larger performance bonds or first-time contract submissions can take several business days while the underwriter reviews financials. Once your file is on record, follow-up bonds on the same line are usually same-day.

Surety is closer to mortgage underwriting than insurance — the carrier is taking unsecured credit risk. Financials, work-on-hand schedules and personal indemnity let the underwriter make a real decision instead of a precautionary decline. The good news: once it's in file, future bonds move much faster.

Yes. We hold standard markets for clean credit AND specialty markets for bad-credit performance bonds, distressed contractors, contested probate matters and other tough placements. Tell us what you've been declined for — we'll tell you the realistic path.

A bond line is a pre-approved capacity — a single-bond limit and an aggregate — that a carrier gives a contractor after its first successful underwrite. Once your line is established, we can issue new performance bonds inside the line the same day, without a fresh underwrite each time. Every serious contract shop should have one.

Yes. Every carrier we use is on the Treasury Department's Circular 570 register, which is the federal government's approved-surety list. That covers FAR-required project bonds, DOD subcontract bonds and GSA schedules. Federal files typically require more underwriting time up front.

The carrier investigates the claim, contacts you for a response, and — if the claim is valid — pays the obligee up to the bond limit. You then reimburse the carrier under the indemnity agreement you signed at inception. Call us as soon as a claim letter arrives; a co-ordinated response usually resolves the matter before payment.