STATE NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY, INC. 1900 L DON DODSON DRIVE BEDFORD, TX 76021 Website:  http://www.sisinsure.com/ AM Best: “A VIII” Excellent Phone:  (760) 795-0004   Not all contractors have had an easy road to prosperity following the catastrophic affects of the last recession, but one positive turn of events has been the robust level of […]

Many consumers dread the thought of having strangers in their home or business to perform a specific task such as cleaning or painting because you never know who you can or can’t trust.  What if something gets stolen?  Because of this, many savvy consumers will check to see if the business they are hiring is […]

Prospective California contractors looking to become licensed for the first time, or existing contractors looking to add a new classification are often overwhelmed by a complicated process that can include lengthy applications and processing times, state administered examinations and background checks just to name a few. To help simplify the process, this guide will consolidate […]

California contractors often confuse contractors bonding with liability insurance as they are both highly common in the California construction industry with more than 95% of contractors utilizing bonding according to some estimates, while liability insurance is perhaps the most common form of insurance purchased.  Many contractors understandably think they are quite similar when in fact, […]

How To Find & Bid on Construction Jobs in California The following free California construction bid opportunities resource has been put together by Surety First, Inc. to help contractors find and bid on construction projects in their local CA area/region. Our list provides bid opportunities available in all major California cities including San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, […]

Every month, hundreds of California contractors will have their license suspended by the Contractors State License Board as a result of not having an active contractors license bond (or bond alternative) on file as required by the CSLB, making it illegal for a contractor to operate until the situation is remedied. While this situation can […]

Congratulations on your journey to becoming a licensed contractor in California!  If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve reached the point in the licensing process where you’ve been assigned your application fee number by the Contractors State License Board and have received a letter indicating you need to show proof of bonding.  What’s […]

One of the most common questions contractors have regarding their bond is how to contact the surety that wrote their bond for claims, billing or other purposes. 

Any contractor that has purchased a contractors license bond in California has signed an indemnity agreement as part of the bonding process, but how many have taken the time to carefully read what it entails? While often misunderstood, a California contractors license bond indemnity agreement is essentially a legally binding contract whereby a contractor agrees to […]

Contractors entertaining the idea of illegally operating without a license in California should think twice as it’s perhaps the worst occupational decision one can make for several reasons. In addition to stiff criminal & financial penalties, unlicensed contractors also have no legal right to enforce contracts they establish with customers.   How Much Work Can […]