You can now get a Bid Bond (almost) instantly. For Bids under $100,000, click here 
For all bids greater than $100,000, get our Express Application form:
Express Application (click to download form)
- Complete the form and email to [email protected].
- Be sure to include the RFQ/ITB (bid specs from the obligee).
What is a Bid Bond in Illinois?
A bid bond is one of the types of surety bonds, which guarantees that the bidder will enter into the agreement and complete the contract according to its terms. It provides assurance to the project owner that the bidder has the expertise and ability to complete the job once the bidder is selected after winning the bid. The simple reason is that you need one in order to get the work. But the larger question is why are more owners/developers requiring a surety bid bond? The answer is risk. Given the uncertainty of the marketplace, which includes long-time contractors going out of business, to municipalities filing bankruptcy (or just slow paying), has led to owners being afraid that their contractors will be unable finish the job. So, they require a some protection.
Just fill out our bond application here and email it to [email protected] - click here to get our Illinois Bid Bond Application
A bid bond is issued as part of a bid by a surety bond company to the project owner. The owner is then assures that the winning bidder will take on the contract under the terms at which they bid.
Most bid bonds contain a bid percentage (usually 5% or 10%, is forfeited if you don’t accept the job).
How much does a Bid Bond Cost in Illinois?
Swiftbonds does not charge for a surety bid bond (with two exceptions, see below). The reason that we don't charge for a bid bond is that we will charge for the surety bond if you win the contract. The cost of a P&P bond can vary widely depending on the amount of coverage that is required (see below).
Two exceptions for bid bond charges:
1) We do charge for Overnight fees
2) We will charge you if there is NOT going to be a bond on the contract.
How much do bonds cost in IL?
Bond prices fluctuate based on the job size (that is, it's based on the cost of the underlying contract). The cost of a bond is estimated through a couple of back-of-the-envelope calculations. In general, the cost is approximately three percent (3%) for jobs under $800,000 and then the percentage is lower as the contract amount increases. We work diligently to find the lowest premiums possible in the state of Illinois. Please call us today at (913) 286-6501. We'll find you the very best rate possible for your maintenance bond or completion bond. Things that can affect this pricing are the perceived risk of the job, the financial position of the entity being bonded, plus other factors. See our Performance Bond Cost page for more.
| Bond Amount Needed | Fee |
| <$800,000 | 2-3% |
| >$800,000<$1,500,00 | 1.5-3% |
| >$1.500,000 | 1-3% |
These rates are for Merit clients, Standard rates are higher
How do I get a Bid Bond in Illinois?
We make it easy to get a contract bid bond. Just click here to get our Illinois Bid Bond Application. Fill it out and then email it and the Illinois bid specs/contract documents to [email protected] or fax to 855-433-4192.
You can also call us at (913) 286-6501. We fully review all application for surety bid bonds and then submit it to the surety that we believe will provide the best surety bid bond for your job. We have a very high success rate in getting our clients bid bonds at the very best rates possible.
What is a Illinois Bid Bond?
A bid bond is a bond that provides assurance that you will accept the work if you win the contract. The bid fee (usually 5% or 10%) is a forfeiture that is paid when you win the bid, but then decide not to take the work.
Find a Bid Bond near Me
Typically, a bid bond and performance/payment bond are done together in the same contract by the surety. This way, the owner of the project is assured that the project can be completed pursuant to the terms of the contract and that it will not be liened by any contractor. The bond is security risk coverage for the benefit of the owner.
Who Gets the Bond?
The general contractor is the corporation that obtains the bond. It is for the benefit of the owner (or in the case of government contract work, the governmental entity). However, it's the general contractor that has to apply for the bond and be underwritten before the bid bond is written by the surety. This is also known as bonding a business.
We provide bid bonds in each of the following counties:
Adams
Alexander
Bond
Boone
Brown
Bureau
Calhoun
Carroll
Cass
Champaign
Christian
Clark
Clay
Clinton
Coles
Cook
Crawford
Cumberland
DeKalb
De Witt
Douglas
DuPage
Edgar
Edwards
Effingham
Fayette
Ford
Franklin
Fulton
Gallatin
Greene
Grundy
Hamilton
Hancock
Hardin
Henderson
Henry
Iroquois
Jackson
Jasper
Jefferson
Jersey
Jo Daviess
Johnson
Kane
Kankakee
Kendall
Knox
La Salle
Lake
Lawrence
Lee
Livingston
Logan
McDonough
McHenry
McLean
Macon
Macoupin
Madison
Marion
Marshall
Mason
Massac
Menard
Mercer
Monroe
Montgomery
Morgan
Moultrie
Ogle
Peoria
Perry
Piatt
Pike
Pope
Pulaski
Putnam
Randolph
Richland
Rock Island
Saline
Sangamon
Schuyler
Scott
Shelby
St. Clair
Stark
Stephenson
Tazewell
Union
Vermilion
Wabash
Warren
Washington
Wayne
White
Whiteside
Will
Williamson
Winnebago
Woodford
And Cities:
Chicago
Peoria
Rockford
Champaign
Naperville
Joliet
Elgin
Schaumburg
Evanston
Belleville
Arlington Heights
See our Indiana Bid Bond page here.
More on Surety Bid Bonds https://swiftbonds.com/bid-bond/.
Learning More About Finding a Bid Bond
Bid Bonds can be complicated, specifically if you do not have an idea how they work. Most folks think about this as insurance, but this is a kind of guarantee that the principal will do their work effectively. Although insurance providers usually offer a Surety Bid Bond, you can't really call it insurance because it has a different function. Most will require you to get a Surety Bid Bond before they consider your services because it is a type of guarantee to them.
If you'd like to get a bid bond and more, you should know how they work. We will provide some info on the importance of Bid Bonds and the ins and outs of them.
What Is A Surety Bid Bond?
Bid Bonds are created to secure the public because they are a kind of guarantee that the obligation will be satisfied. You must get a license or commercial bond to guarantee that your company will stick to the laws and you get a contract bond to guarantee that a public construction project will be completed.
These are some examples that are used to describe what Bid Bonds are and how they work. It will also benefit you since the consumers will put their trust in you when they will be protected by bond.
There are thousands of bonds which exist right now and the type of bond that you need depends on your situation.
The Work Of A Surety Bid Bond
Bid Bonds are a three-party agreement between the principal, the obliged and the surety company. The obliged is the project owner and the principal is the employer or company that will perform the work. Construction businesses will be asked by law to acquire Bid Bonds if they're chosen for a public project. The government will require a construction company to secure a host of bonds before they're permitted to work on a certain project. The bond will guarantee that the subcontractors and the other workers can be paid even if the contractor will default. The contractor will be covering the losses, but when they reach their limit, the duty will fall to the surety company.
Applying For A Surety Bid Bond
Insurance businesses usually provide Bid Bonds, but there are some stand alone surety businesses that specialize in these products. Surety businesses will always be licensed by a state Department of Insurance so ensure that you check first before you avail. It will not be simple to apply for a bond because the applications will go through very thorough checking before it is approved. The bond underwriters will first review the financial history of the applicant, credit profile and other important aspects.
It means that there is a possibility that you won't be approved for a Surety Bid Bond, specifically if your credit history is bad.
How Much Do You Need To Spend?
You cannot state an exact price for a Surety Bid Bond because its cost is always impacted by various factors like bond type, bond amount, where it will likely be issued, contractual risk, credit rating of the applicant and more. There are thousands of different bonds available right now and the cost will depend upon the bond that you want to get. The amount of bond that you may avail may also be a big factor because you can select a $10,000 bond or a $25,000 bond or higher.
If you have a credit score of 700 and above or very near this number, you may qualify for the standard bonding market and you only need to pay 1 to 4 percent of the Surety Bid Bond amount. This means that if you may get a $10,000 bond, you only need to pay $100 to $400 for the interest.
Is There A Chance To Be Refused?
There is a possibility that your bid bond request will be declined by the insurance providers and it'll depend upon the background check that they carry out. Once they feel that giving you a bond is a huge risk, they won't release a bid bond for you.
Credit score is also a factor because in case you have a bad credit score, it would be very hard for you to get a bid bond as the businesses consider you as a risk. In case you have a bad credit history and you were approved for the bond, you usually have to pay an interest rate of 10 to 20 percent.
There is a chance that your application will be refused so you have to look into the requirements before you apply.
If you wish to apply for a bid bond, you need to be sure that you understand the process so you won't make a mistake. It won't be easy to apply, but if your requirements are complete and you are eligible, you can obtain a bid bond.
