Wisconsin Surety Bonds Overview
If you want to get a business license in the state of Wisconsin, chances are you will be required to obtain a surety bond. Similarly, if you wish to bid or perform on public or federal construction projects in the state, you are also likely to have to obtain one or several bonds.
Why do I need a bond?
Surety bonds are agreements that the bonded party, the bond principal, makes with the party that requires the bond, the bond obligee, to comply with certain conditions. Most commonly the bond obligee is the state though bonds are often for the benefit of the public of the state as well.
Such conditions include compliance with state laws and regulations or compliance with particular contract conditions, in the case of construction contractors. If a bond principal violates the bond agreement and causes any losses or damages to the bond obligees, the bond also serves to provide financial compensation. This is, in short, why bonds are required.
You can learn more about how bonds work, and why they are required from our detailed ‘What is a surety bond’ guide.
If you’re ready to apply for your bond right away, simply use the table below to find the surety bond you need and follow the application link.
If you’d like to learn more about surety bonds in Wisconsin, you can read more about them by scrolling to the sections below. There you can find detailed information about the different types of bonds, how much it costs to obtain a bond, and how you can get bonded in Wisconsin.
Find the Bond You Need
The table below contains a list of only the most popular surety bonds. If you can't find yours, fill out our online application and select "Not in the list".
| Freight Broker Bond (BMC-84) | FMCSA | N/A | Apply Now |
| Agricultural (Non-Livestock) Bond | WI Department of Agriculture | Public Warehouse Keeper Bond | Apply Now |
| Contractor License (No P&P Language) Bond | Risk Management Office-City of Green Bay | Tree-Brush Trimmer Bond | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (Local) Bond | City of Milwaukee | Plumber's Preformance Bond | Apply Now |
| Contractor License Performance & Payment (State) Bond | Wisconsin Department of Safety & Prof Services | Dwelling Contractor-Restricted Certification Bond | Apply Now |
| Collection Agency Bond | Dept of Financial Institutions | Collection Agency | Apply Now |
| Debt Consolidators Bond | Dept of Financial Institutions | Debt Management | Apply Now |
| Debt Consolidators Bond | Dept. of Financial Institutions | Credit Services Organization | Apply Now |
| Professional Fund Raisers Bond | Dept of Safety & Professional Services | Professional Fund Raisers Bond | Apply Now |
| Professional Fund Raisers Bond | Department of Financial Institutions | Fund-Raising Counsel Bond | Apply Now |
| Professional Fund Raisers Bond | Dept of Financial Institutions | Professional Fund Raisers (Non-Custodial) Bond | Apply Now |
| Professional Fund Raisers Bond | Dept of Financial Institutions | Professional Fund-Raiser (Custodial) Bond | Apply Now |
| Insurance 3rd Party Administrator Bond | Wisconsin Office of The Commissioner of Insurance | Employee Benefit Plan Administrator | Apply Now |
| Mortgage Broker (1st & 2nd Mortgages) Bond | Dept of Financial Institutions | Mortgage Broker | Apply Now |
| Mortgage Lender/Banker (1st & 2nd Mort.) Bond | State of Wisconsin, Dept of Financial Institution | Mortgage Banker | Apply Now |
| Small Loan Companies Bond | State of Wisconsin, Dept of Financial Institutions | Loan Company Bond | Apply Now |
| Small Loan Companies Bond | Department. of Financial Institutions | Payday Lender Bond | Apply Now |
| Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (New & Used) Bond | Department of Transportation | Motor Vehicle Dealer | Apply Now |
| Auto & Mobile Home Dealers (Used Only, No New) Bond | Department of Transportation | Motor Vehicle Dealer | Apply Now |
| Sport Permits Bond | Department of Regulation and Licensing | Boxing or Mixed Martail Arts Professional Club or | Apply Now |
| Health Spas/Health Clubs Bond | Dept of Agriculture/Trade and Consumer Protection | Fitness Center | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | Department of Regulation & Licensing | Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | City of Wausau | 2nd Hand Dealer, Pawnbroker Bond | Apply Now |
| Professional Licenses (All Other) Bond | City Clerk License Division | Licensed Pawnbrokers Bond | Apply Now |
| Schools (All) Bond | State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Li | BARBERING & COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL OR SPECIALTY SCHOOL | Apply Now |
| Schools (All) Bond | Wisconsin Dept of Transportation | Driver School | Apply Now |
| Schools (All) Bond | WI Educational Approval Board | Private School | Apply Now |
| Alcohol (Retailers) Bond | Department of Revenue- Excise Tax Section 6-107 | Alcohol Bond | Apply Now |
| Sales, Use & Consumer Tax Bond | Wisconsin Dept of Revenue | Sales & Use Tax | Apply Now |
| Utility Deposit Bond | WE Energies | UTILITY GUARANTEE | Apply Now |
| Wages & Fringe Benefits Bond | North Central States Regional Council of Carpenter | Wages & Fringe Benefit Bond (North Central States | Apply Now |
| Money Transmitter Bond | Department of Financial Institutions | Seller of Checks Bond | Apply Now |
Types of Surety Bonds in Wisconsin
There are three main types of surety bonds that are available in the state of Wisconsin, depending on what the bond applicant need to get bonded for.
- License and permit bonds are required for business licensing purposes
- Contract bonds are required when bidding or performing on construction projects
- Court bonds are necessary to appeal a court ruling or when someone gets appointed a fiduciary or guardian
License & Permit Bonds
As part of the licensing process, many businesses are required to obtain a surety bond - a license and permit bond, which serves as protection for the state and the public.
These bonds guarantee that Wisconsin businesses will comply with government and industry regulations for their license, and not commit any dishonest acts that cause financial harm. If they are found to have done so, the license bond is there as a safety measure to offer financial compensation to anyone harmed as a result of such acts.
Some of the most commonly sought bonds are the auto dealer bond and the freight broker bond though many other varieties of license bonds exist. Contact your local or state licensing authority to find out if you need to get bonded when getting licensed!
Contract Bonds
Contract bonds are necessary for licensed and bonded contractors who want to work on construction projects in the state. For example, when entering a bid, a contractor will be asked to obtain a bid bond and when commencing work– a performance bond. Often, private construction owners also request that contractors get a bond before they are assigned a job.
Court Bonds
Court bonds are often requested by a court when someone wants to appeal a judgement that has been made. In order to protect the appellate system, the court may request the person to obtain a supersedeas bond.
Probate courts may also request that people who are appointed as fiduciaries obtain a fiduciary bond before they assume the responsibilities of a fiduciary of someone’s property.
You can reach us at 866.450.3412 if you have any questions about surety bonds. We will gladly respond to all of your questions and assist you with the bonding process!
How Much Does it Cost to Get Bonded in Wisconsin?
To get your Wisconsin surety bond, you will have to pay a premium to a surety bond company. How high or low the cost of your premium is will depend on the type of bond you are applying for, as well as on your financial situation.
All surety bonds have a bonding amount, which is the full penal amount of the bond. In order to obtain a bond, applicants have to pay a premium, which is usually a percentage of the whole surety bond amount. In other words, to obtain a $10,000 bond, an applicant will have to pay a fraction of that sum.
How is bond cost determined?
When determining the premium to offer to an applicant, sureties most often consider the applicant’s personal credit score as the primary criterion. This is the most important factor that sureties take into account. Sureties regularly also check:
- Personal and business financial statements
- The applicant’s industry experience
- How long their business has existed
- Other financial indicators
Once they have assessed all of the above, sureties will offer a rate. Rates for applicants with a high credit score are so-called standard market rates. These range from between 1%-4% of the total bond amount.
But there are also applicants who have a low credit score. So-called bad credit rates are higher than standard market rates and range between 5%-15% of the total bond amount. However, by improving their credit score over time, applicants with low credit can significantly improve their bond rates.
For an estimate of the cost of your surety bond, try our surety bond cost calculator below!
Surety Bond Cost Calculator
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Get a free exact quote Get another estimateOur surety bond cost page is a great resource you can make use of if you want to know more about how sureties determine premiums.
How to Get Bonded in Wisconsin
Applying for your surety bond is only a matter of a few minutes and a few clicks. There are two different applications, depending on the type of bond you need.
License bond application
To apply for a license and permit bond, complete our online bond application form. You will hear from us shortly after submitting your application. We will provide you with a free and precise quote on your bond along with further details on completing the application process.
Contract Bond Application
If you need a contract bond, complete the online application by choosing the type of bond you need. We will contact you as soon as we have processed your application to provide you with more information about the bonding process.
Our lines are open for you to speak to us at 866.450.3412 anytime. Call us if you need any help or assistance with your application or if you have further questions regarding the bonding requirements in Wisconsin.
Further Reading
