Construction Bond Providers in Florida: Best Sureties of 2020

Whether you need a construction bond for the first time or the hundredth time, it helps to have a surety who knows the lay of the land. Every state in the US has their own laws and guidelines to follow, and the Sunshine State is no exception. In this article, we’ll look at some of the top surety companies in Florida that provide bonds in the construction industry.

Types of surety bonds in Florida construction

Surety bonds come in a variety of forms. Three of the most common types of bonds in construction are bid bonds, payment bonds, and performance bonds. Some construction contracts may also require supply bonds, maintenance bonds, completion bonds, or a variety of others.

Many public works projects require the general contractor to hold a payment and performance bonds, while some require bid bonds. The federal Miller Act governs bond requirements on government projects. Additionally, Florida’s Little Miller Act sets bond requirements on all public construction projects over $200,000 in the state.

Property owners on private projects may require bonds as part of the construction contract as well.

Most of the sureties listed below can provide any type of construction bond, regardless of the type you’re looking for.

The Top Construction Bond Sureties in Florida

These sureties on this list were selected because they meet a significant number of the below criteria:

• Strong focus on construction industry
• Are licensed in, and have a physical office and/or staff in Florida
• Provide a variety of construction bonds
• Provide bonds for companies of varying sizes
• Members of industry groups, including the National Association of Surety Bond Producers and/or the Surety & Fidelity Association of America

Atlas Insurance

Office Address: 7120 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL

Construction bond types

• Bid
• Performance
• Payment

A part of Atlas Insurance’s commercial practice is their construction division, which provides surety bonds, builders risk, workers’ compensation, and more. Atlas Insurance has worked with GCs, subs, developers, and architects throughout projects, and they understand the risks facing all segments of the construction industry.

Atlas Insurance has been serving the construction industry since 1953 with their bid, performance, and payment bonding programs. When supporting contractors, Atlas Insurance focuses on the total cost of risk to help make a positive impact on their bottom line. Atlas Insurance also offers 24/7 customer service, claims assistance, and insurance resources for contractors to access at any time.

The firm is an active member of the NASBP and the Gulf Coast Builders Xchange.

Bouchard Insurance (a Marsh & McLennan Agency)

Office Locations: Clearwater, Tampa, Kissimmee, Maitland, Sarasota, Ft. Myers

Construction bond types: Various

Bouchard Insurance operates under the Marsh & McLennan Agency, which also services the construction industry. Beyond the NASBP, the Marsh & McLennan Agency is linked with:

• American Subcontractors Association
• Associated Builders and Contractors
• Associated General Contractors (AGC)
• Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)

Bouchard Insurance has been handling surety bonds for contractors since 1948. Beyond bonds, the company also offers contract reviews, rate structures, funds control, financial statement preservation, collateral options, and more.

Bouchard Insurance is licensed in all 50 states and includes a fast track program on bonds under $500K. In an effort to improve client relationships, Bouchard Insurance conducts an annual face to face meeting between the surety underwriter and the contractor.

Brown & Brown Insurance

Office Address: 220 South Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL

Construction bond types: Various

Brown & Brown Insurance offers a variety of services to contractors in addition to surety bonds:

• Employee benefits
• Property & casualty
• General liability
• Umbrella policies
• Workers’ compensation
• Cyber liability

Brown & Brown is a member of the NASBP, and their bonding offers tailored solutions to help protect a contractor’s interests. Their surety program is proficient in construction and commercial bonding. Brown & Brown is also focused on meeting the time requirements of contractors and other industry partners they service.

CCI Surety, Inc.

Office Address: 1408 N. Westshore Boulevard, Tampa, FL

Construction bond types

• Bid bonds
• Performance bonds
• Payment bonds
• Reclamation bonds
• Subdivision bonds
• Supply bonds
• Maintenance bonds
• Service bonds
• License bonds

CCI Surety is based outside of Minneapolis, MN, but has offices in Florida and Arizona, too. The firm offers a variety of surety bonds for contractors and companies across the country. CCI Surety was founded in 1999, and since then, they’ve become licensed in all 50 states.

The company also offers a Small Business Administration (SBA) Program, which can help small contractors compete on larger projects. In 2017, CCI was named by U.S. Small Business Administration as a Top Performing Bond Agency in America.

Florida Surety Bonds, Inc.

Office Address: 620 N. Wymore Rd., Suite #200, Maitland, FL

Construction bond types: Various

Florida Surety Bonds, Inc. is completely focused around the construction industry while supporting contractors with contract bonds, commercial bonds, license & permit bonds, and more. The firm is a member of several construction industry groups, such as:

• NASBP
• Associated Builders and Contractors
• National Association of Women in Construction
• Society of American Military Engineers
• Associated General Contractors

Guignard Company

Office Locations: Orlando & Tampa

Construction bond types: Various

Guignard Company has over 40 years of experience in the construction bonding industry. Their contract bonds program walks contractors through each step along the way, allowing them to decide the best terms for their contract performance bond. Over the course of their existence, Guignard Company has successfully provided thousands of contract bonds for contractors.

Their commercial bond program includes court bonds, judicial bonds, probate bonds, license & permit bonds, fidelity bonds, and financial guarantee bonds. Aside from being an active member with the NASBP, Guignard Company is also a member with:

• Associated Builders and Contractors
• Gulf Coast Builders Xchange
• Latin Builders Association
• Florida Surety Association

Johnson & Company

Office Address: 801 N. Orange Ave. Ste. 510, Orlando, FL

Construction bond types: Various

Johnson & Company has over 80 years of construction surety bonding experience. The firm understands that contractors have various liabilities assumed through contractual obligations which require special insurance agreements. Johnson & Company will assist contractors through these obligations and will make sure they’re fully protected. The firm’s commercial insurance coverage includes:

• General liability
• Property
• Auto
• Workers Compensation
• Umbrella Coverage
• Builder’s risk

Johnson & Company also represents several notable insurance companies, such as Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Great American Insurance Group, and CNA. Above all, Johnson & Company recognizes that relationships are critical in the surety business. While representing large and regional insurance carriers, Johnson & Company is positioned to help protect contractors from a wide variety of financial risks.

Matson-Charlton Surety Group

Office Address: 700 South Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Coral Gables, FL

Construction bond types

• Bid bonds
• Performance bonds
• Payment bonds
• Maintenance bonds
• Supply bonds
• Subdivision bonds

Matson-Charlton Surety Group focuses on surety bonds for the Florida construction industry, and they’ve been doing so for over 50 years. They can quickly provide bonds in Florida, the U.S., and internationally. Aside from the NASBP, Matson-Charlton Surety Group is also members with:

• Associated General Contractors
• Construction Financial Management Association
• Construction Association of South Florida
• Florida Association of Insurance Agents
• Florida Surety Association 

The firm also offers miscellaneous bonds, such as depository bonds, contractor’s license bonds, tax bonds, and more.

McGriff Insurance Services

Office Address: 3375-B, Capital Cir NE, Tallahassee, FL

Construction bond types

• Bid bonds
• Performance bonds
• Payment bonds
• Subdivision bonds

McGriff Insurance Services offers many products contractors aside from their bonding and surety program, including:

• Auto and transportation insurance
• Claim consulting solutions
• Client education
• Client-focused risk solutions
• Professional liability

The firm helps contractors minimize risk through general construction, demolition, heavy construction, and more. McGriff Insurance Services believes that bonds shouldn’t ruin or limit a contractor’s competitive edge. The firm uses state-of-the-art technology and a vast network of brokers to maximize a contractor’s surety credit.

McGriff Insurance Services is a member of the NASBP.

Nielson, Hoover & Company, Inc.

Office Locations: Miami, Palm Beach, Orlando, Pensacola, & Tampa

Construction bond types

• Bid bonds
• Performance bonds
• Payment bonds
• Maintenance bonds
• Commercial bonds

Nielson, Hoover & Company, Inc. is another member of the NASBP and offers nation-wide surety bond solutions. Their contract and commercial surety bonds are completely tailored to the construction industry. NHC’s commercial bonds include six products to choose from:

• Federal non-contract bonds
• Judicial bonds
• Public official bonds
• License & Permit bonds
• Subdivision bonds
• Miscellaneous bonds (e.g. lost securities, lease, guarantee payment of utility bills)

NHC represents leading surety companies nationwide, which helps them to adapt quickly to changing markets and deliver surety bond solutions that fit the needs of various contractors. NHC also offers international surety bonds that oversee domestic and foreign companies with contract, commercial, advanced payment, warranty, and maintenance bonds.