Member Benefit

Contractor Bonds Made Simple for PHCC San Diego Members

Get an instant quote, purchase, and pay for any CSLB-required bond online — no phone calls, no paperwork back-and-forth.

Access the Member Bond Portal →
Powered by our insurance partner, exclusively for PHCC San Diego members

If you're licensed by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), a surety bond isn't optional — it's a condition of holding your license. Depending on your business structure, license type, and the work you do, you may need more than one.

Bonds Most CSLB-Licensed Contractors Need

Bond requirements vary based on your license classification, business structure, and the type of work you do. Here's a quick overview of the most common bonds.

Contractor's License Bond

$25,000

Required for every active CSLB license, regardless of classification. This bond protects consumers and employees, not the contractor — if a valid claim is paid, the contractor is responsible for reimbursing the surety.

LLC Employee/Worker Bond

$100,000

Required in addition to the standard license bond if your contracting business is organized as an LLC.

Performance Bond

Often required on public works or larger commercial contracts. It guarantees the project owner that the contractor will complete the job according to the contract terms — if the contractor defaults, the surety covers the cost of completing the work.

Bid Bond

Typically required when submitting a bid on a public works project. It guarantees that if the contractor wins the bid, they'll honor the bid price and enter into the contract — protecting the project owner if a low bidder backs out.

Bond of Qualifying Individual (BQI)

May be required if a Responsible Managing Employee (RME) or Responsible Managing Officer (RMO) qualifies the license for a company they don't own.

Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) Bond

$25,000

Required if you use salespeople to sell home improvement contracts over $500.

Disciplinary Bonds

Higher-amount bonds the CSLB may require to reinstate a license after certain violations.

Bond requirements can change with license classification, business structure, or CSLB enforcement action, so it's worth double-checking what applies to you. Bond requirements also vary by state and are subject to change under CSLB and other state regulations.

A Faster Way to Get Bonded

PHCC San Diego has set up a dedicated online portal — built in partnership with our insurance partner — where members can:

  • Get an instant quote for any CSLB-required bond
  • Purchase and pay for the bond online, without a phone call or paperwork back-and-forth
  • Have the bond filed with the CSLB and other required parties automatically, where applicable
Access the Member Bond Portal →

Questions? We've Got You Covered

This portal is powered by our insurance partner, which specializes in contractor bonds and workers' comp for the trades. If you're not sure which bond applies to your situation, or you'd rather talk it through with a person first, their team is available to help PHCC San Diego members directly — just reach out before or after you use the portal.

Ready to Get Bonded?

It only takes a few minutes to get a quote and purchase your bond online.

Access the Member Bond Portal →
Bond requirements vary by state and are set by the CSLB and other state regulations, which may change over time.