Surety Bonds in California for Contractors, Businesses & Licensed Professionals
Need a California surety bond for a license, permit, contract, business, court requirement, vehicle title, or professional obligation? JSSR Insurance Agency can help you identify the bond you need and explore available surety markets.
We assist with contractor license bonds, license and permit bonds, bid bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds, notary bonds, auto dealer bonds, court and probate bonds, and other commercial surety needs.
Tell us the bond type, required amount, obligee and deadline, and we'll help determine the information needed to request your bond.
What Type of Surety Bond Do You Need?
Surety bonds can be required by government agencies, licensing authorities, project owners, courts, municipalities, and private contracts. The exact bond form, amount and underwriting requirements depend on the obligation.
JSSR Insurance Agency helps California clients navigate both common license bonds and more complex commercial and contract surety needs.
California Contractor License Bonds
Surety bond assistance for California contractors who need to satisfy applicable CSLB bonding requirements for an active contractor license.
Additional bonds may apply depending on the license entity, qualifier, or disciplinary status.
CSLB Contractor BondsBid Bonds
Bid bonds may be required when contractors submit bids on certain public or private construction projects.
Contract surety underwriting may consider experience, financial strength, work history, project size, backlog and other factors.
Contract SuretyPerformance Bonds
Performance bonds are commonly used to support a contractor's obligation to perform a contract according to applicable terms and conditions.
Construction BondsPayment Bonds
Payment bonds may be required on construction contracts and generally relate to qualifying payment obligations involving labor, subcontractors or suppliers.
Contract SuretyLicense & Permit Bonds
State agencies, counties and municipalities may require a bond before issuing certain business licenses or permits.
Requirements vary based on the license, profession and government authority.
License & PermitCalifornia Notary Bonds
California notaries public are required to execute a $15,000 official bond as part of the state's commissioning requirements.
A notary bond is different from optional errors and omissions insurance.
Notary PublicCalifornia Auto Dealer Bonds
California vehicle dealers may be required to maintain a DMV surety bond based on the applicable license type and statutory requirements.
We can help review the bond form and amount required for your specific application.
DMV / Dealer BondsVehicle Title Bonds
A title-related surety bond may be required in certain situations when ownership documentation for a vehicle cannot be established through ordinary documentation.
DMV / TitleCourt & Probate Bonds
Surety options may be available for certain probate, fiduciary, executor, administrator, guardian and other court-required obligations.
Availability and underwriting depend on the specific court requirement and circumstances.
Court / ProbateFidelity & Business Service Bonds
Fidelity and business service bond options may help address certain employee dishonesty or customer-property exposures depending on the product and business.
Business ServiceJanitorial Service Bonds
Bond options may be available for qualifying janitorial and cleaning businesses that work inside customers' homes or commercial properties.
Cleaning BusinessesOther Commercial Surety Bonds
Don't see your bond listed? Additional commercial, license, permit and specialty surety markets may be available depending on the obligation.
Send us the bond form or requirement and we'll help identify what is being requested.
Specialty SuretyCalifornia CSLB Contractor Bond Requirements
California contractors may have multiple bonding requirements depending on the business entity, qualifying individual and license circumstances.
Contractor's Bond
California's Contractors State License Board currently requires a $25,000 contractor bond for an active contractor license, subject to applicable CSLB requirements.
Bond of Qualifying Individual
A separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual may be required depending on how a corporation or LLC license is qualified and the qualifier's ownership status.
LLC Employee/Worker Bond
California contractor LLC licenses can be subject to a separate $100,000 employee/worker surety bond requirement in addition to the contractor bond.
Bond requirements can change and additional requirements may apply. Verify current licensing and bonding requirements directly with the California Contractors State License Board.
Bid, Performance & Payment Bonds for Contractors
Winning a construction contract can require more than general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Some project owners, public entities and general contractors require contract surety before a bid is accepted or work begins.
Bid Bonds
Supports qualifying bid obligations when required by the project owner or contracting authority.
Performance Bonds
Supports qualifying contractual performance obligations according to the terms of the bond.
Payment Bonds
Supports certain qualifying payment obligations associated with bonded construction projects.
Contract surety underwriting may involve review of financial statements, work history, experience, credit, project size, backlog, prior completed work, indemnity and other underwriting information.
How to Request a Surety Bond
Tell Us What Bond You Need
Provide the bond type, amount and the agency, organization or party requiring the bond.
Send the Bond Requirement
If you received a bond form, contract, license notice or instructions, send them to us for review.
Complete Underwriting
Depending on the bond, the surety may request an application, credit information, financials or additional documentation.
Bond Issuance
If approved and accepted, the bond can be issued according to the surety's process and the obligee's filing requirements.
What We Need for a Bond Request
Providing complete information at the beginning can help us identify the correct bond and submit the request to an appropriate market.
- Legal name of the principal
- Business name and entity type
- Bond type
- Required bond amount
- Obligee name
- License or application number, if applicable
- Requested effective date
- Copy of the required bond form, if provided
- Project information for contract bonds
- Additional underwriting information when requested
Is a Surety Bond the Same as Insurance?
No. A surety bond and an insurance policy serve different purposes.
A surety bond generally involves three parties: the principal who must fulfill an obligation, the obligee requiring the bond, and the surety providing the bond.
Depending on the bond and circumstances, if the surety pays a valid claim, the principal may have an obligation to reimburse the surety. Bond terms, indemnity obligations and claim provisions vary.
Why Work With JSSR Insurance Agency for Surety Bonds?
California-Based Agency
JSSR Insurance Agency is based in Lathrop and serves eligible clients throughout California.
Contractor Focus
We work with California contractors and understand that bonds and insurance often need to work together.
Multiple Markets
Available surety markets can vary based on bond type, amount, underwriting and eligibility.
One Agency Relationship
We can help eligible businesses with both surety bond and commercial insurance needs.
California Surety Bond Questions
How much is the California contractor license bond?
California CSLB currently requires a $25,000 contractor bond for an active contractor license. Additional bonding requirements may apply depending on the business entity, qualifying individual and license circumstances.
What is a Bond of Qualifying Individual?
A Bond of Qualifying Individual may be required in addition to the contractor bond depending on who qualifies the contractor license and applicable ownership requirements. CSLB currently specifies a $25,000 bond amount when this bond is required.
Do California contractor LLCs need an additional bond?
California contractor LLC licenses can be subject to a separate $100,000 employee/worker surety bond requirement in addition to the contractor bond. Other licensing and insurance requirements may also apply.
How much is a California notary bond?
California notaries public are currently required to execute a $15,000 official bond as part of the commissioning requirements. The bond is different from optional notary errors and omissions insurance.
What is the difference between a bid bond, performance bond and payment bond?
These are different forms of contract surety. A bid bond relates to the bidding obligation, a performance bond relates to qualifying contract performance obligations, and a payment bond relates to certain qualifying payment obligations. Exact terms are controlled by the applicable bond and contract documents.
Does getting a surety bond require a credit check?
It depends on the bond and surety. Some bonds may have streamlined underwriting, while others may require personal credit, business financial information, experience, indemnity or additional documentation.
How much does a surety bond cost?
Bond premiums vary based on the type and amount of the bond, surety underwriting, credit and financial information when applicable, business experience and other risk factors. The required bond amount is not necessarily the amount you pay as premium.
Can a new contractor get a surety bond?
Bond options may be available for qualifying new contractors. Eligibility depends on the type of bond, surety underwriting requirements, credit and financial information when applicable, experience and other factors.
Can JSSR help with bid, performance and payment bonds?
JSSR Insurance Agency can help eligible contractors explore contract surety options. Underwriting for larger or more complex contract bonds may require financial statements, work history, project information, backlog and other documentation.
How do I request a surety bond from JSSR Insurance Agency?
Call JSSR Insurance Agency at (209) 701-6900 or submit an online request. If possible, have the bond type, bond amount, obligee, effective date and required bond form available.
Send Us Your Bond Requirement
Whether you need a California contractor license bond, license and permit bond, bid bond, performance bond, payment bond, notary bond, auto dealer bond, court bond or another commercial surety bond, JSSR Insurance Agency can help you explore available options.
Have a bond form or requirement from CSLB, DMV, a city, county, court, project owner or other obligee? Have it ready when you contact us so we can identify what is required.
JSSR Insurance Agency
16201 S Harlan Rd, Lathrop, CA 95330
(209) 701-6900
JSSR Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency representing multiple insurance carriers. Coverage availability, eligibility, pricing, limits, and terms vary by carrier and are subject to underwriting. This page is for general informational purposes and does not modify, extend, or guarantee insurance coverage.
