The three main types of surety bonds across the U.S. are license and permit bonds, also known as commercial bonds, contract bonds that regulate the construction contractor’s business, and court bonds, that are required only by courts.
Individuals and businesses in San Diego can use surety bonds in many different cases. Here’s a brief list of the most popular types of bonds in the city:
Most Popular Surety Bonds in San Diego
Contractors in California need to post a surety bond before moving on to constructing or altering any type of structure contracted for $500 or more. The contractor license bond will protect your customers and will make sure you run your business in compliance to the provisions of Division 3, Chapter 9 of the Business and Professions Code.
Anyone selling more than 25 vehicles in California per year is required to get licensed with the California Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The bond that must be posted along with the rest of the license application requirements is $25,000.
In San Diego, just like the rest of California, non-lawyers are allowed to offer legal assistance only if they get licensed and post a surety bond. The bond will serve as a guarantee that the legal document assistant serves in the client’s best interest. It will also make sure the assistant complies with the provisions outlined in Division 3, Chapter 5.5 of the California Business and Professions Code.
If you’re working with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, whether as a technician or a construction worker, you are required to acquire a license to operate legally. As part of the process you will have to post a HVAC contractors license bond for the amount of $5,000.
In the state of California there are two types of mortgage brokers with respectively two different processes of licensing.
The first type can only work with loans issued by lenders licensed by the same law. These brokers are licensed by the California Department of Business Oversight. The second one can work with all kinds of financial institutions. These brokers register with the California Bureau of Real Estate. Both types of brokers are required to post a mortgage broker bond to ensure they operate within the state laws and regulations.
The pharmacy wholesalers in California are regulated by the California State Board of Pharmacy. The board requires wholesalers and non-resident wholesalers to post a surety bond at the amount of $25,000 if the annual gross is $10,000 or less, and a bond of $100,000 if the gross is more than $10,000.
A business opportunity seller is essentially an individual engaged in the sale of packaged business investments that allow the purchaser to start a new business. The business opportunity seller bond is required in California, as well as most states, and it guarantees that sellers abide by the state regulations.
Overview of San Diego surety bonds
San Diego surety bonds act as an agreement between three parties, your business as the principal, the obligee which is either the city, state or federal authority requiring the bond, and the surety company that will be backing you financially by providing the bond.
By posting a surety bond you agree to comply with the state laws and conduct your business legally. In case you break the agreement, you can face a bond claim and you may end up reimbursing any affected parties up to the penal sum of your bond.
If you want to learn more about how bonding works, feel free to reach us at (877) 514-5146. Lance Surety Bonds’ experts are ready to assist you.
Questions about Surety Bonds in San Diego, California
How much does getting bonded cost?
The prices of getting bonded in the city of San Diego depends on the type of bond and the relevant authorities that set its amount. However, the premium you will be paying on a regular basis is a fraction or a certain percentage of the whole amount.
Depending on your financial background, a typical premium varies between 1% and 5%. The main factor in estimating your final bonding cost is your credit score. The score is what essentially defines you as a potentially risky principal. The riskier your business is, the higher the premium you have to pay.
Can I get bonded with bad credit?
Lance Surety Bonds offers options for businesses with bad credit score or far from perfect financial backgrounds. Our Bad Credit Surety Bonds program is designed for those applicants who have low credit scores, bankruptcies, tax liens, and other financial issues.
Despite your bad credit, however, you can still get the best bonding cost for your case. We work with a list of A-rated, T-listed surety companies, that will guarantee you the top rates in the range of 5% to 15%.
How do I apply for a San Diego surety bond?
Once you know which San Diego surety bond you need, you can begin the bonding process by completing our online application to get your free bond quote.
You can also check out our How to Get Bonded page for further information on the bonding process or simply call our experts at (877) 514-5146.
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Kimberlee AblesQuick response times and turn around for issuing bonds. Great customer service and very knowledgeable. We have used Lance Surety multiple times and have never been disappointed. Highly recommend them and Collette!
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