# Understanding Performance Bonds: Guarantees in Contracts Explained

## What Is a Performance Bond?

A performance bond is a financial assurance provided to one party in a contract, ensuring against the other party's failure to fulfill obligations. Typically backed by a bank or insurance company, these bonds are primarily used in construction and real estate to guarantee project completion. If a contractor fails to meet contractual terms, the bond compensates the other party for damages, offering added security in contractual agreements.

### Key Takeaways

*   A performance bond is a financial guarantee provided by a bank or insurance company to ensure a contractor fulfills their contractual obligations.
*   Common in construction and real estate, performance bonds protect against contractor insolvency and project non-completion.
*   The three parties involved are the principal (contractor), the obligee (project owner), and the surety (bond issuer).
*   While performance bonds reduce risk, they add costs, and sureties might dispute claims or propose settlements.
*   To secure a performance bond, contractors need a letter of bondability and may have to disclose financial details for underwriting.

![Performance Bond: A financial guarantee to one party in a contract against the failure of the other party to meet its obligations.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/w52_Gaqnb6fJPxtfpkcBq45jhOA=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/performancebond.asp-final-ef241d8dc53b4ce79d79d0e72e04c98c.png)

*— Laura Porter / Investopedia*

## How Performance Bonds Safeguard Contractual Obligations

A performance bond is a [financial guarantee](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/demandguarantee.asp) that the terms of a contract will be honored. If one party to a contract cannot complete their obligations, the bond is paid out to the other party to compensate for their damages or costs.

The Miller Act requires contractors on all federal public works contracts with a value of $100,000 or more to get a performance bond guaranteeing their work.

Projects needing payment and performance bonds first go through bidding. Once awarded, these bonds guarantee project completion.

In construction and real estate, owners or investors may require developers to use performance bonds to protect against unforeseen events.

### Key Players in a Performance Bond Agreement

A performance bond is an [agreement between three parties](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/tri-party-agreement.asp), as explained below.

*   The **principal** (usually a contractor) is the person or company who is providing a service.
*   The **obligee** is the party that is paying the principal to perform certain work.
*   The **[surety](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/surety.asp)** is the party that provides a performance bond to guarantee that the principal will complete their work. In the event of a partial or total failure by the principal, the surety will pay any additional costs for completion, up to the limits of the performance bond.

> **Important**
>
> Performance bonds are also used in commodity contracts.

### How Performance Bonds Protect Contracting Parties 

Performance bonds protect against contractor insolvency. If a contractor becomes insolvent, the bond issuer compensates for financial and other damages.

Payment and performance bonds work together. A payment [bond](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/bonds/08/bond-market-basics.asp) ensures subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers are paid, while a performance bond ensures project completion. Together, they motivate quality work.

### Role of Performance Bonds in Commodity Trading 

Performance bonds are also used in commodity contracts, where a seller is asked to provide a bond to reassure the buyer that if the commodity being sold is not in fact delivered, the buyer will at least receive compensation for lost costs.  

## Pros and Cons of Using Performance Bonds 

A performance bond shields a party from losses due to incomplete projects. If a contractor fails to meet building specifications, the bond compensates the client for damages.

Performance bonds protect the contracting party if their contractor may become insolvent or otherwise unable to meet the terms of a contract. If the costs of completing the project overrun their projections, the obligee won’t be responsible for the additional expenses. This reduces the risk for developers or other companies when they engage in large-scale construction projects.

However, risks exist. The surety might argue the obligee didn't meet all bond terms to deny payment or push for a lower settlement.

Moreover, it is up to the obligee to calculate the financial cost of a failure by the contractor. If the obligee underestimates the cost of nonperformance, they will have to absorb those extra costs on their own.

Pros

*   Protects an obligee from additional costs if work is not completed
    
*   Reduces the risk for developers in construction and other large projects
    

Cons

*   Bond issuers may attempt to deny payment.
    
*   If the obligee underestimates the cost of nonperformance, they will have to absorb these extra costs on their own.
    
*   Performance bonds add an additional cost to the contractor that may be passed on to the obligee.
    

## Securing a Performance Bond: A Step-by-Step Guide 

**1\. Apply for a Letter of Bondability:** Contractors should begin by applying to a surety for a letter of bondability, which assesses the contractor's qualifications and the potential bond limits. This nonbinding letter states the monetary limits that the surety would be willing to provide to bond the contractor, based on factors like the contractor’s experience and creditworthiness, and the size of the proposed project(s).  
   
**2\. Check Registration and Licensing:** Ensure the surety is registered and licensed in the state where the work will be conducted. Although this letter is not legally binding, it’s a useful way of demonstrating a contractor’s qualifications before they have to spend any money.  
   
**3\. Submit Financial Information:** Provide the necessary financial details, such as credit history and financial statements, to the surety for the underwriting process.  
   
**4\. Pay the Bond Premium:** Once approved, the contractor must pay a percentage of the bond amount to secure the performance bond. Smaller projects might require only good credit and a clean license history, while larger projects may require financial statements, balance sheets, and several years of tax returns. The contractor will also pay the company to provide surety, usually a small percentage of the bond amount.

## Real-World Application: Performance Bond in Action

Suppose a hypothetical developer is looking for a contractor to construct a new apartment building. Because of the size of the project, they will require their contractor to be bonded. This provides the developer with protection if the contractor fails to meet the requirements of their contract.

The contractor will engage with a bond provider, or surety, to provide a performance bond for that project. To get a performance bond, the contractor agrees to pay the surety a small percentage of the total bond amount, usually 1% to 4%. In exchange, the surety promises to pay up to the agreed bond amount if the contractor fails to deliver on its obligations.

If the contractor does fail to deliver, the developer can file a claim with the surety for damages equal to their losses, up to the value of the performance bond. The surety then investigates to determine the extent of the losses.

## Industries Relying on Performance Bonds 

Usually, performance bonds are provided in the [real estate](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/realestate.asp) industry. These bonds are heavily used in real property construction and development. They protect real property owners and investors from low-quality work that may be caused by unfortunate events, such as the bankruptcy or insolvency of the contractor.

Performance bonds are also useful in other [industries](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/industry.asp). The buyer of a commodity may ask a seller to provide a performance bond. This protects the buyer from any risk that the seller is unable to deliver the commodity, for any kind of reason. If the commodity is not delivered, the buyer receives compensation for losses and damages caused by the non-completion of the transaction.

## How Much Does a Performance Bond Cost?

The cost of a performance bond depends on a variety of factors, such as the size of the project, the creditworthiness of the contractor, their license history, and the overall financial strength of the bonding party. In general, the rate falls from 1% to 4% of the total value of the performance bond.

## What Is a Payment Bond?

A payment bond is similar to a performance bond, but is used to guarantee payment to the contractors and subcontractors in the event that the principal becomes insolvent or otherwise unable to pay.

## How Long Does a Performance Bond Last?

The time limit for claiming a performance bond will be spelled out in the bond contract. However, most performance bonds have a duration of 12 months, with some lasting for 36 months. In addition, your bond may be renewable or nonrenewable.

## The Bottom Line

Performance bonds serve as a crucial guarantee for the completion of contractual obligations, particularly in large construction or government projects. They act as a financial safeguard for the obligee, ensuring that if a contractor fails to fulfill their duties, any financial losses incurred can be recovered. These bonds [provide peace of mind](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/010516/how-evaluate-bond-performance.asp), reducing the financial risk for parties that invest in large-scale projects and offer assurance in diverse industries, including real estate and commodities trading.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  U.S. General Services Administration. “[The Miller Act](https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/miller_brochure.pdf).” Page 2.