Find out exactly which bond your license requires, what it will cost, and what happens after you buy it. State-specific, trade-specific, and free of sales pressure.
A surety bond is a three-party agreement — not insurance. When your state's licensing board requires you to be "bonded," they're requiring you to obtain a financial guarantee that protects the public if you fail to comply with licensing laws, abandon a job, or cause financial harm to a client.
The three parties: you (the principal), the surety company (which issues the bond and guarantees payment), and the obligee (your state licensing board or the party requiring the bond). Unlike insurance, if a valid claim is paid out, you owe the surety company that money back.
A surety bond (required by the licensing board) and general liability insurance (required by clients and sometimes also by the licensing board) are not the same thing and do not replace each other. Most licensed contractors need both. See the full comparison →
Select your state and license type. Get bond amount, bond type, and your state board link — instantly.
→Enter your bond amount and credit score. Get your exact annual premium, monthly equivalent, and 3-year cost.
→Compare bond requirements between any two states side by side — amounts, boards, enforcement, and costs.
→Select multiple states to see total annual bond costs and a printable expansion checklist.
→12 questions about your business practices. Get a risk score and specific steps to reduce claim exposure.
→The three-party structure, why bonds exist, and what you're actually agreeing to when you sign.
→Why they're not interchangeable, what each covers, and which requirements need which.
→Who can file, what the surety investigates, and why you'll owe the money back if the claim is paid.
→Credit score impact, rate tiers, and what a $10,000 bond actually costs per year.
→High-risk bond markets, rate ranges, and whether a poor credit score can block your license.
→License bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds, permit bonds — what each type does.
→Bond amounts and requirements vary by trade, not just by state. Find your license category below.
Typically $10,000–$25,000. Most states use a contractor license bond; some require performance bonds on public jobs.
→Bond amounts range $2,500–$20,000 depending on state. Often paired with a separate permit bond for inspections.
→State-specific amounts typically $5,000–$15,000. City-level permit bonds may also apply.
→Overlaps with mechanical contractor licensing in some states. Bond amounts $5,000–$20,000.
→High-complaint trade — many states require higher bond amounts ($10,000–$30,000) and registration-level bonds.
→Requirements vary dramatically. Some states exempt small jobs; others require full contractor bonding regardless of job size.
→Bond amounts, bond types, and licensing board contacts differ by state. Select yours below.
Same-day vs. underwritten bonds. When credit delays the process. What adds time.
→How bonding works when you have no employees and no business entity.
→What happens to your bondability after a paid claim, and how to get coverage again.
→What the principal, obligee, and penal sum fields mean — in plain language.
→Continuous vs. annual bonds, notice periods, and what a lapsed bond means for your license.
→When subs need their own bond vs. working under a GC's bond.
→Before you apply for your contractor license, use this printable checklist: bond type, bond amount, insurance minimums, application form, fee, and renewal cycle — all in one page.
Download the Checklist →