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SBA guarantees surety bonds
Surety bonds help small businesses win contracts by providing the customer with a guarantee that the work will be completed. Many public and private contracts require surety bonds, which are offered by surety companies. SBA guarantees surety bonds for certain surety companies, which allows the companies to offer surety bonds to small businesses that might not meet the criteria for other sureties.
How the SBA Surety Bond Program works
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Surety bonds are requested
Some contracts require that the business doing the work be properly bonded. -
Surety partners with business
Authorized surety companies provide surety bonds to businesses that meet their qualifications. -
SBA guarantees
SBA guarantees surety bonds for private surety companies, so more small businesses can qualify. -
Small businesses benefit
Small businesses get SBA-guaranteed surety bonds so they can get to work.
The right surety bond for the project
Some contracts require surety bonds that cover specific situations. SBA guarantees surety bonds that cover several major categories of work.
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Bid
Ensures full payment and performance bonding from the contract bidder. -
Payment
Ensures full payment to the suppliers and subcontractors. -
Performance
Ensures full completion of a contract by small business. -
Ancillary
Ensures completion of requirements outside of performance or payment, such as maintenance.
Bond Guarantee Fee
All performance and payment bond guarantees require small businesses to pay SBA a fee of 0.6% of the contract price. If for some reason the bond is cancelled or not issued, SBA will return the guarantee fee. SBA does not charge a fee for bid bond guarantees.
Eligibility
Determine your small business’s level of eligibility before obtaining a surety bond. Does your business meet the following requirements?
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Be a small business
Qualify as a small business according to SBA’s size standards. -
Have a small contract
Up to $9 million for non-federal contracts and up to $14 million for federal contracts. -
Pass evaluation
Meet the surety company’s credit, capacity, and character requirements.
Find authorized agents
Contact a surety bond agency
Check the database of surety agencies that offer SBA-guaranteed bonds.
Are you a transportation-related small business?
Explore the Department of Transportation's Bonding Education Program.