Wisconsin Contractor License Bonds

Purchase Your Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Bond Today

Who Is Required To Purchase a Wisconsin Contractor Contractor Bond?

Wisconsin Home Dwelling Contractors

Dwelling contractors are contractors licensed to work on one and two family dwelling units. And because of the responsibilities to their customers, dwelling contractors are required to purchase a contractor surety bond.

The dwelling contractor bond has an amount of $25,000 regardless of the number of contracts you complete during the year.

You can elect to purchase a bond for less than $25,000, but you will be considered a restricted license. Your actual license will say on it, "Financially Responsible - by a bond under $25,000 Certification".

Wisconsin Local Contractor Bond Requirements

In nearly every state, counties and municipalities have their own contracting rules and regulations for performing work within their jurisdiction

We've helped Wisconsin contractors in the following counties and cities:

• County of Dane
• City of West Allis
• City of Superior
• City of Waukesha
• Milwaukee
• City of Madison
• City of Kenosha

This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a representative sample of some cities and counties with bonding requirements.

You will be notified of any specific bonding requirements when you go to pull permits for a job.

Here are the bond amounts based on our experience helping contractors. Keep in mind these can change and your required bond amount may be different depending on the project.

Construction Bonds

Depending on the job, contractors may be required to secure construction bonds. These are surety bonds that protect the project owner and subcontractors during the project.

These construction bonds consist of:

• Bid bonds
• Performance bonds
• Payment bonds

There are other types depending on the specific job, but these three are the most common.

If you're required to secure a bid and performance bond for your job, fill out our quote form and tell us about the job.

Keep in mind, you'll potentially have to submit financials when purchasing and getting approved for these bonds.

Why is a Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Bond Required?

Government licensing agencies require the licensing process as the primary way to identify individuals and businesses with the expertise and means to add value to the community through construction projects.

This licensing process typically ensures every contractors has:

• Accumulated a minimum level of experience
• Obtained any necessary education
• Registered their business correctly
• Submitted the proper business records
• Purchased the proper insurance policies

While the license ensures contractors meet professional requirements, the contractor surety bond holds the contractor accountable to the promises they make to their customers.

Despite the licensing process, every year there will be a few contractors who purposefully harm a customer to make more money.

Examples of these actions can include:

• Breaking the terms of a construction project
• Amending the contract without proper notice
• Taking deposits and never starting or completing a project
• Requiring overly large project deposits
• Replacing agreed upon materials with cheaper alternatives to increase profits
• Failing to pay subcontractors for completed work
• Failing to follow building codes and purposefully performing poor quality work

If a customer falls victim to these or similar actions, they can make a claim against the bond for financial compensation.

The claim amount is restricted to the individual bond amount.

How Much Does a Wisconsin Contractor License Bond Cost?

The cost of a contractor bond is typically credit driven, meaning each business has to get its own custom pricing.

This price is based on a rate quoted from a surety. A surety is an insurance company that underwrites contractor bonds. And typically they will consider the:

• Personal credit of the owner or owners
• Contracting experience and industry experience
• Any prior bond claims if you've been licensed in the past

However in Wisconsin we can get you bonded with:

• No credit check
• No bonding background check

At Surety Bonds Direct, we are a specialized surety agency. This means we work with the highest rated A-rated sureties to find you the lowest possible price for your bond.

And for all bonds required in Wisconsin, we've secured low fixed prices with no credit check.

If you have excellent credit, it's possible we might be able to find you lower pricing. Make sure you ask your bond specialist about this.

Again if you need a construction bond for a project or a right of way bond for a public project, fill out our quote form or call a bond specialist at 1-800-608-9950.

What Happens After You Purchase Your Bond?

Purchasing your bond is as easy and fast as completing a secure online order form.

Once your purchase is processed, our bond issuance team will get to work on your bond and ensure the:

• Correct bond form is used
• Required signatures and seals
• Power of attorney

While you can instantly purchase your bond, preparing your bond does take some time. After your purchase you will receive your bond within one business day.

Plus, we guarantee your bond will be accepted by the agency requiring it or we'll refund your money.

What is the Wisconsin Bond Term And How To Renew?

The bond term is the length of time the bond remains active before it must be renewed.

The dwelling contractor bond has a bond term of 12 months.

Local county and municipal bonds tend to expire on December 31st of each year. However, this may not always be the case. You will be told the date when your bond expires.

This is another great reason to work with Surety Bonds Direct. You get a dedicated bond specialist to manage your bond for you. They will reach out to you 30 to 45 days in advance of your renewal date to make paying the renewal premium easy.

Dwelling Contractor Bonds And Getting Your Wisconsin Business License/Registration

Getting your license in Wisconsin is not a complicated process.

Dwelling contractors have to:

• Pay all application fees
• Choose the business representative
• Purchase workers compensation if required
• Purchase your surety bond

County and municipal licenses have very similar requirements. Sometimes you can expect education requirements depending on the contractor classification.

If you have any questions, please contact a bond specialist today at 1-800-608-9950. Surety Bonds Direct has helped thousands of Wisconsin contractors get bonded.

Local Agency Resources:

• County of Dane
• City of West Allis
• City of Superior
• City of Waukesha
• City of Milwaukee
• City of Madison
• City of Kenosha