Expert insights, regulatory updates, and practical guides to help contractors navigate the surety bond landscape.
The city wants a subdivision bond before you can record the plat — and you’ve never posted one. This step-by-step guide covers the document package underwriters need, the two-to-four-week timeline, what the first bond costs, and how to set up a program so every project after it moves fast.
Public construction in Pennsylvania runs on bonds. This guide breaks down the Public Works Contractors’ Bond Law of 1967 — the $5,000 local threshold, the bid, performance, and payment bonds you’ll furnish, the 90-day and one-year claim deadlines, and Pennsylvania wrinkles like the Separations Act.
Almost no project finishes as it was bid — and how you handle change orders affects far more than the job in front of you. This guide explains how change orders ride along with your bond, when the penal sum increases, when to notify your surety, and the documentation habits that protect your capacity and your right to get paid.
Behind every subdivision bond approval is an underwriting file the developer never sees. This guide breaks down the three pillars a surety weighs — financial strength, the project pro forma, and indemnity — the exact documents to submit, how collateral decisions get made, and how to build a package that underwrites in days instead of weeks.
Before a crew can cut a street, pour a driveway approach, or set a wall that leans into city property, the permit office wants a right-of-way bond. This quick guide covers what these small permit bonds guarantee, the difference between right-of-way and encroachment bonds, who needs one, what they cost (often just $100–$250), and how to get approved the same day.
The day the city accepts your subdivision improvements is not the finish line — the warranty bond keeps you on the hook for one to two more years. This guide walks developers through what the warranty bond covers, how it differs from the original performance bond, what it costs (typically 1–1.5% per year), and how to get it released cleanly.
Subdivision bonds are one of the hardest construction-adjacent bonds to place — because the surety is guaranteeing a developer’s obligation, not a contractor’s. This guide covers how subdivision bonds work, what underwriters look at, typical costs (2–3% per year), letter of credit vs. bond, and the pitfalls that trip up first-time developers.
The four surety bonds every contractor and developer should understand — bid bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds, and subdivision bonds. Learn what each bond guarantees, how they work together on a real project, what they cost, and the underwriting hurdles developers need to clear to get subdivision bonds approved.
When your bid comes in significantly lower than the competition, the surety takes notice. Learn why bid spreads over 10% trigger underwriter questions, what the surety is really looking for, and how to prepare answers that build confidence in your bonding relationship.
Working capital is the single most important financial metric sureties use to determine your bonding capacity. Learn how sureties calculate and adjust your working capital, what benchmarks they look for, and proven strategies to improve yours for stronger bonding support.
Construction bonds protect project owners, subcontractors, and suppliers from contractor default. This comprehensive guide covers every bond type — bid bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds, maintenance bonds, and more — plus costs, requirements, and how to get bonded.
Everything contractors need to know about bid bonds — what they are, how they work, requirements, and why they are always free through Surety Specialist. Learn the step-by-step process to get a bid bond and start competing for public construction projects.
The Miller Act requires performance and payment bonds on all federal construction projects exceeding $150,000. This comprehensive guide breaks down who is covered, how claims work, the critical notice deadlines you must follow, and the key differences from state Little Miller Act statutes.
Any contractor wishing to take on larger public projects will need to transition to a standard bond program. Learn the financial requirements, the role of your CPA, and the step-by-step process to qualify for standard bonding with higher limits and lower rates.
When a general contractor fails to pay subcontractors or suppliers on a bonded project, the payment bond provides a critical safety net. Learn the complete step-by-step process for filing a Miller Act payment bond claim, including notice requirements, deadlines, and common mistakes to avoid.
Surety bond premiums typically range from 1-3% of the bond amount — but bid bonds are always free through Surety Specialist. This guide breaks down costs for every contract bond type, what factors affect your rate, and proven strategies to lower your premium.
When a contractor defaults on a bonded project, the surety must step in. Learn about the surety's four options after a performance bond claim, the investigation process, how long claims take to resolve, and what happens to the contractor after a claim is paid.
The SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Program helps small and emerging contractors who can't qualify for bonds through standard channels. Learn how the program works, eligibility requirements, contract limits up to $9 million ($14 million for federal), and how to apply through a participating surety agent.
Your bonding capacity determines the size and number of projects you can take on. This guide covers the 10 most effective strategies to increase your single and aggregate bond limits, the financial metrics sureties evaluate, and common mistakes that keep contractors from growing their programs.