Series A · License & Permit
License & Permit
The bond that unlocks a license. Most regulated businesses post a license or permit bond before a state will issue or renew the license. The bond guarantees compliance with the statute — it is not insurance for the principal.
Who posts these
Contractors, mortgage brokers, money transmitters, auto dealers, collection agencies, freight brokers, and other licensed operators.
Money, roughly
$5,000 – $2,000,000 face; premiums often 1–15% of face
Cost bands by credit (industry averages)
Industry-average ranges for a $25,000 face and a $100,000 face, so you can scale. High-face contract and money-transmitter bonds are priced by a desk on the full file.
| Credit range | Typical rate | $25K face | $100K face |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent (720+) | 1–3% | $250 – $750 | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Good (680–719) | 2–5% | $500 – $1,250 | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Fair (600–679) | 5–8% | $1,250 – $2,000 | $5,000 – $8,000 |
| Below 600 | 8–15% | $2,000 – $3,750 | $8,000 – $15,000 |
Common uses: Contractor license, auto dealer, collection agency, money transmitter.
Forms in this series
- Contractor license bonds
- Mortgage broker / NMLS surety
- Money transmitter bonds
- Auto dealer bonds
- Collection agency bonds
- BMC-84 freight broker bonds
Related researched forms: Contractor Bond , Mortgage Broker Bond , Money Transmitter Bond , Auto Dealer Bond , Collection Agency Bond , Freight Broker Bond (BMC-84)
Desks on this series
Register entries that list this category
IFI remains first. Carriers still need an appointed agent.
Integrity First Insurance
Georgia agency for licensing-grade surety inside the Cornerstone network
Cornerstone Network Preferred Partner
Old Republic Surety
Brookfield, Wisconsin underwriter — A+ Superior, all 50 states
Colonial Surety Company
Direct-writing carrier since 1930 — AM Best A, all U.S. jurisdictions
Merchants Bonding Company
Surety-only mutual, West Des Moines — writing since 1933
JW Surety Bonds
Family-owned Pennsylvania agency writing since 2003
SuretyBonds.com
Columbia, Missouri online agency — licensed in all 50 states
Lance Surety Bonds
Doylestown agency — license, contract, court, and fidelity
American Surety Company
Indianapolis commercial surety — 1993, all 50 states, Core Specialty