Trifecta of Challenges: Labor, Inflation, Materials Introduction Each year our agency compiles the financial data of 150 contractors that we provide surety bonds for throughout the state of California to look at trends in the marketplace ranging from gross profit margins, net profit margins, backlogs, and competition. This proprietary data ranges from 2008 through June of …
Payment bonds are required by law for public projects (meaning a construction project that is funded by tax dollars). However, public projects aren’t the only projects that you might come across a payment bond requirement. It is becoming more common to see payment bond requirements on private projects as well. So, how do payment bonds …
Even though bid bonds are required by law for construction projects that are funded by tax dollars, it’s still important to understand why it is necessary and how it works. Anything you’re obligated to use should be understood as much as knowing why it’s important and how it can benefit your contractor business, and to …
When performance bonds are required after winning a bid, your focus should be on gearing up for the project, not whether or not your bonding capacity is sufficient, and/or whether or not the new performance bond will become a barrier to you being able to secure a bid bond for your next bid opportunity. Part …
There are types of professional relationships that are best when long term, like with doctors, brokers, or insurance agents, and your relationship with a surety agent is no different. To establish a relationship with a surety specialist requires work on both sides if it’s going to be mutually beneficial and long-lasting, which we detail below. …
The Small Business Administration bond program can be a great way for contractors to expand their bonding capacity, but whether it’s the right move for your business is a question mark. As with any program, there are advantages and disadvantages to applying for them. This, of course, depends on the contractor considering applying for the …
Being that bid bonds are required by law for construction projects using tax dollars, no matter if it’s local, state, or federal, it’s important to know how they’re calculated to ensure that you get the size bond you need. While no one can be expected to be an expert in all things related to their …
Change orders are standard in the construction industry, because no set of plans is perfect, and the project site conditions are rarely what they are portrayed to be. The change order can make for headaches for both the project owner and a contractor, partly because they may not always agree on the change or the …
How Do Change Orders Affect Your Surety Capacity? Read More »
Many contractors have heard about the SBA program but wonder if it’s right for them and are unsure how to figure out if it’s a good fit for their bonding needs. The program can be a great help to both newer and more seasoned contractors, but not all would benefit from applying to it. In …
The Small Business Administration (SBA) formed the Surety Bond Guarantee Program in 1971 in an effort to increase the small business participation in federal, state, and local government contracting. To accomplish this, the SBA provides participating surety companies a guarantee for the bid, performance and payment bonds they write to contractors enrolled in the program. …
How the SBA Bond Program Can Increase Your Bonding Capacity Read More »