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Subcontractors, suppliers, and labor on construction projects face a unique but constant threat. What happens when the prime contractor on their projects does not pay for their work or materials? If the prime contractor was bonded, there is recourse. However, filing a claim can be complex. In this guide, we will help you understand and follow the steps to complete the process successfully.

How do you know if your bonding agent is the best fit for you and your company? Is a change necessary?

This article focuses on surety bond agents, but can be applied to all of your trusted business advisors, including your CPA, banker, attorney, wealth advisor, etc.

Many contractors are wary or unsure of how to create a bonding program or obtain their first surety bonds. The process can actually be quite simple, and best of all, there is no cost to get started. The first step involves understanding your personal credit score. All owners with more than a 10% stake, and their spouses, will have their credit checked (a soft pull) by the surety underwriter. If the scores are over 700 FICO, and there are no bankruptcies or tax liens, you can generally qualify for bonds up to $500,000.

Subcontractor Default Insurance (SDI) protects general contractors from financial loss when a subcontractor fails to fulfill their contractual obligations. That failure on the subcontractor’s part can include inability to staff the project, delivering defective work, cash flow problems, bankruptcy, and more.

The Great Recession ended in 2009. Absent the whipsaw economic data caused by the reaction to COVID-19 in 2020, the United States has not experienced

Recently, I met with several successful business owners who are proud to say that they provide letters of credit in lieu of surety bonds for

Surety bond underwriters want to say yes. Hard to believe, right? But the fact of the matter is that surety companies are in the business