Surety Bond FAQ

Questions About Surety Bonds Answered

TO START YOUR ONLINE COMMERCIAL SURETY BOND APPLICATION:

  1. Search for your bond by entering its name, state, or other pertinent information in the search bar
  2. Select the Specific Bond from the list (some bonds may have dollar ranges or terms as differentiators)
  3. Click “BUY NOW”
  4. Fill in the short application, submit payment
  5. Complete the Docusign process and Print* your Bond.
 
Notes:
* Most online surety bonds are an instant issue and are downloadable within a few minutes. 
*You must print the bond documents in color for them to be valid.
 

If you have questions or need help in selecting the bond you need, please call us at 1-866-372-0827 or 843-971-5441. 

 

A surety bond is a financial agreement between three parties: the obligee, the principal, and the surety. The obligee is the party that requires the bond, the principal is the party that must meet the terms of the bond, and the surety is the party that guarantees to the obligee that the principal will meet those terms.

Surety bonds are most commonly used in business settings to protect against financial losses. For example, a business enters into a contract with another company and fails to comply with its obligations. In that case, the other business may be able to file a claim against the bond to recover the losses it suffered. This ability can be a significant advantage for companies that want to enter into contracts with others but don’t want to risk losing money if the other business fails to perform.

When a bond is issued, the surety company agrees to pay the obligee any damages the principal may owe up to a specific limit. This limit is called the bond amount. To secure this agreement, the surety company requires that the principal put up a percentage of the bond amount as collateral. This collateral can be in cash, property, or even another bond. If the principal fails to meet the bond terms, the surety company pays out the bond amount.

You will need to go through a bonding company like Palmetto Surety Corporation to buy a surety bond. The company will review your credit history and business profile to decide whether or not to issue you a bond. The bond cost will vary depending on the risk involved but typically starts at around 1% of the bond amount.

Yes, there are some restrictions on who can get a surety bond. You must be at least 18 years old and have a good credit history to be eligible. Additionally, the principal must meet the bond terms, which means the business must be in good financial shape.

The process for obtaining a surety bond typically involves submitting an application to a bonding company and providing information about your credit history and business profile. The bonding company will then review your application and decide whether or not to issue you a bond. If you are approved, the bonding company will require that you put up collateral to secure the agreement. This collateral can be in cash, property, or another bond. Finally, you will need to sign a contract with the bonding company agreeing to its terms.

The main benefit of having a surety bond is protecting the principal against financial losses; this is especially helpful for businesses that want to enter into contracts with others but don’t want to risk losing money if the other company fails to perform. Additionally, surety bonds can help businesses obtain contracts that they may not have been able to get otherwise.

The main risk associated with having a surety bond is that the principal may fail to meet the terms of the bond. If this happens, the surety company is responsible for paying out the bond amount. Additionally, there is a cost associated with having a surety bond, ranging from 1% to 5% of the bond amount. The principal generally pays for this cost.

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