The $100,000 bond covering 20 employ-ees might feature a premium in the $650 range. How To Find A Surety These are specialized business service bonds that can be issued by most surety companies nationwide. Given that, cleaning and maintenance start-ups and even existing business own-ers can benefit by shopping around and comparing rates. When it comes to choosing a surety, it’s always a good idea to let the rates guide you. But, it can pay off to conduct a bit of due diligence and ensure you’re working with a reputable company. Here are a few tips for evaluating prospective surety companies: Look for a pro. While price is impor-tant, so is finding a surety that under-stands and has experience with your specific market or industry. A well-oiled surety company looks out for the best interests of its clients and can often provide a valuable assessment of your business and its path. Underwriting requirements. This isn’t always an issue with these types of bonds, but it’s an element to consider. Make sure a prospective surety makes clear its standards and require-ments when it comes to bond under-writing. This shouldn’t be a secret recipe, but rather a careful balance of key financial indicators. Company history. Take some time to check out the background and history of the surety in question. Do they have a reputation in the industry, either good or bad? Are they working with legitimate companies in your field? Surety companies are regulated in each state by its Department of Insurance. It’s a good idea to check with those departments as well as the Better Business Bureau. Who vouches for them? See if the surety belongs to any industry organi-zations or advocacy groups. A couple of major ones are the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP) and the Surety & Fidelity Association of American (SFAA). The NASBP’s website has an interactive, searchable map of bond producers in all 50 states. Consider those first impressions. If you have a concern or strange vibe regard-ing a prospective surety, speak up and ensure your questions are addressed. While they won’t necessarily break the bank, surety bonds are an investment nonetheless. Make sure you’re working with a surety company that’s concerned with earnestly serving your needs and those of your customers. CM Chris Birk is a principal with www.SuretyBonds.com, the nation’s leading online provider of surety bonds. A former newspaper and magazine writer, Birk’s work has appeared in more than two dozen newspapers and magazines, including the Chicago Sun-Times, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Comstock’s. You can reach him at [email protected] Your instructor is Jeff Cross, senior editor of Cleanfax magazine. [email protected] Contract Cleaners: You've asked for a seminar to help you build business... and it has arrived. The We will show you how to: Get top position with Google and the major search engines, ensuring customers find you first Utilize the Internet to your marketing advantage Write press releases to promote your company Build your newsletter and referral system Master the art of "cold calling" for new customers Build the best website and online advertisements Analyze pricing strategies to earn top dollar Booked Solid ! seminar. "but we have room for one more" Residential and Commercial Marketing Techniques that Work. HUGE BONUS! Laguna Hills, CA (Los Angeles area) Friday, May 7 Each attendee goes home with a USB flash drive with all types of business building and marketing forms, videos, books, presentations and much more. St. Charles, IL (Chicago area) Friday, June 11 McKeesport, PA (Pittsburgh area) Friday, July 16 CleaningProfessor.com [email protected] Circle Product Information no. 252 on page 32 * Also see our listing of IICRC-approved technical seminars. (740)919-0228 43 www.cmmonline.com
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