License and permit bonds for landscapers

The list of requirements you need to become a licensed landscaper often includes being bonded. Simply put, being bonded means that your company has bought a surety bond. In this case, it's also called a license bond since it's a bond you need to get licensed.

Each state regulates licenses and bonds for various professions, including landscaping. You'll need to research the laws in your state to find out whether your landscaping business needs to be licensed, bonded, or insured.

A bond provides a guarantee that your company will comply with the regulations and terms outlined in a contract. If something goes wrong, the insurance company will reimburse the client. Unlike insurance, you must then pay that amount back to the insurance company.

The cost of a surety bond is a small percentage of the total bond amount, usually 1% to 5%.

When your landscaping business is bonded, you can get licensed, take on more projects, and provide your customers with peace of mind.

Your state might require you to carry a bond in order to get a license. If so, it will also specify the size of the bond.

Whether or not you need a license often depends on the type of work you do. For example, some states require licenses and bonds only for landscaping companies that apply pesticides or work on projects of a certain size.

To get your license, you'll likely need a certain level of education or experience. You may also have to pay a fee and pass an exam.

License bonds and permit bonds guarantee that your company will obey state laws and regulations. Bonds can also protect customers from fraud and other illegal acts by providing them with reimbursement if a bonded company breaks the law or the terms of a contract.

State and county regulations may require you to obtain a permit for larger projects, or specific types of work. Often these regulations kick in when a landscaper plans to disturb a large amount of earth, or change grading significantly.

A permit may involve agreeing to perform your work in a certain manner, such as installing high efficiency sprinklers to save water in an arid area. You might need a permit or inspection for a swimming pool, fence, or tree removal, or to work on steep slopes or environmentally sensitive land.

While license and permit bonds protect your clients and help you comply with the law, they don't protect your business against common risks. Owners of landscaping businesses should also consider:

General liability insurance: This policy can cover expenses related to customer injuries, customer property damage, and advertising injuries.

Business owner's policy: A BOP bundles general liability coverage with commercial property insurance to protect against the most common business risks.

Commercial auto insurance: This policy covers vehicles owned by your landscaping business. It typically pays for accidents, vehicle theft, and certain types of damage.

Workers’ compensation insurance: Workers’ comp helps pay medical costs if a landscaper is injured on the job. It's required in almost every state for businesses that have employees.

Contractor’s tools and equipment insurance: This policy helps pay for repair or replacement of a landscaping contractor’s equipment and tools if they are lost, stolen, or damaged.

Cyber liability insurance: A cyber liability policy helps landscaping businesses recover from data breaches and cyberattacks that expose sensitive information.

Are you ready to safeguard your landscaping business with small business insurance and a license bond? Complete Insureon’s easy online application today. Once you find the right policy, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.