Surety Bonds for Shreveport, LA, Area Contractors

McInnis Insurance Agency offers surety bonds to business owners and contractors here in the Shreveport, LA area, as well as throughout Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.

While surety bonds are not a form of insurance against loss for you, the business professional, you may find that they are required to guarantee work performance or completion of a project. In the case of a municipal construction project, for example, the surety bond protects the tax payer monies invested by providing a guarantee that the work will be performed and the project completed.

If for any reason the project or obligation is not completed satisfactorily, the surety company will take financial responsibility. To post a bond, you (the “principal”) must pay a premium to the surety company (the “surety”) to post a bond to meet the requirements of the entity requiring it (the “obligee”). This bond then protects the public and public funds in the event that you default on your obligation.

There are many types of surety bonds, and they differ by state. Here in Louisiana, we have a mortgage lender bond, which is a required bond for anyone who wants to become licensed as a mortgage lender in this state. Other bond types include:

• Bid bonds
• Contract bonds
• Performance bonds
• License and permit bonds
• Payment bonds

You will typically know if and when you are required to post a bond because the obligee (the entity requiring the bond) will inform you, or a potential contract will state that you must have bonding to place a bid. The group or individual asking for the bond is essentially requiring that you show proof that you have financial backing to perform the work.

One of the best strategies, if you regularly provide bids to obtain projects, is to contact a McInnis Insurance agent who can work with you and be ready to help you post your bonds quickly to ensure that you do not lose the opportunity. We can also help you with your builders risk insurance and other contractors insurance coverage to help protect you against liability and property damage.

We look forward to assisting you with all of your business insurance needs.

Contractors insurance is a category of coverage that we can tailor to anyone in a contracting capacity, including general contractors, oilfield contractors and those who provide remodeling, roofing and siding, mechanical, electrical and plumbing services. Whether you run a large commercial operation offering building construction services throughout Louisiana, or you are an excavator with a small crew in Shreveport, we can provide the insurance protection you need.

The specific business insurance that we identify for your contractors insurance policy will depend upon the nature of your work and the materials you and your employees handle, as well as your liability risks. For example, a dirt contractor, excavator or oilfield service contractor would need insurance for property damage and liability pertaining to use of heavy equipment as well as workers comp coverage for those who operate the machinery.

Some of the coverage types that may pertain to your contracting business include:

• General liability: A “must have” for every business, general liability insurance provides broad coverage for your business in the event that you, an employee or subcontractor inadvertently causes harm to another person or property. Your general liability will cover several different types of costs associated with a liability claim, including medical expenses and legal defense.
• Commercial vehicle: Vehicles such as cars, trucks or a fleet of vans that you use in the course of your business need to be covered under a commercial vehicle policy that protects your business assets from the risk of accidents and injuries that result in injury or property damage.
• Equipment floater: While your commercial vehicle insurance covers your licensed trucks and commercial autos, an equipment floater will cover other construction vehicles and equipment such as forklifts, bobcats, cranes and other construction equipment.
• Builders risk: If severe weather, fire or vandalism should cause damage to a building you are constructing, a builders risk policy can help protect you. These policies are either purchased by the building owner or by the building contractor, if required by contract.
• Installation floater: An installation floater covers equipment, plumbing, electrical components and other supplies that are part of a construction project. Whereas a builders risk policy covers the structure itself, the installation floater covers materials within the building, in the event that they are damaged, stolen or destroyed.
• Contractors pollution liability insurance: If you or your subcontractors should inadvertently cause an environmental hazard, such as a chemical spill, contractors pollution liability will provide coverage in the event of a claim against you and/or a need for legal defense.
• Surety bonds: These bonds provide assurance to someone who needs your services that you have financial backing in the event that you fail to meet the commitment of your contract. There are many types of surety bonds, and we can advise you on the correct bonds for your business.

At McInnis Insurance, our intent is always to provide the specific coverage you need. If you do not see the insurance or bond information you are looking for, just ask us. We will work with you to ensure that your company’s specific needs are met.

Contact one of our Louisiana insurance agency locations today for assistance with contractors insurance and all of your business coverage needs.