Third-party fidelity bond for service businesses whose employees enter client premises — cleaning, in-home care, pet sitting, handyman, lawn care. Protects the client from employee theft and satisfies most referral-platform and residential-client requirements. Premium typically $100–$250 per year.
A business services bond is a third-party fidelity bond that covers theft of client property by employees of a service business working on the client's premises. It is the "bonded" half of "bonded and insured" that residential clients and referral platforms look for when hiring cleaning crews, in-home care providers, pet sitters, and similar service businesses.
Unlike general liability insurance (which covers accidental damage and bodily injury) or an employee dishonesty bond (which covers theft from your business), a business services bond pays the client directly when an employee steals from them. It exists specifically to solve the trust problem residential and small commercial clients face when letting strangers into their space.
The bond is inexpensive, flat-rate, and covers all current and future employees on a blanket basis. For most Houston service businesses, it is the single cheapest marketing tool available: the line "bonded, licensed, and insured" in an ad or Google Business Profile converts noticeably better than either "licensed and insured" or no mention at all.
Torn between this and coverage for theft from your own business? Read business service bond vs. employee dishonesty bond for the side-by-side.
Business services bonds are priced on exposure, not principal credit. Premium is a small fixed number that scales predictably.
| Coverage limit | Up to 5 employees | Up to 20 employees |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 Very small solo crew | $80–$100 | $150 |
| $10,000 Most common limit | $100 | $200 |
| $25,000 Small franchise / maid service | $150–$250 | $300–$400 |
| $50,000 Large janitorial / multi-crew | $250–$400 | $450–$700 |
Rates above assume standard underwriting. Higher limits and larger employee counts quoted individually.
Most Houston service businesses start at $10,000 / up to 5 employees. Platform-required bonds often specify the exact limit (Care.com, franchise agreements).
Business name, owner name, industry, number of employees. No credit pull for standard limits. Application is typically one page.
PDF delivered same-day. Original by mail. You can start marketing as "bonded" the same hour.
Renewal review 60 days before expiration. Employee count and limit can be adjusted up or down for the new term.
Theft of client property by an employee of the bonded business while on the client's premises performing services. Covered party is the client, not the business.
Most policies pay only on conviction of the employee for the theft. The client files a police report and the surety pays once the criminal case concludes with a conviction.
Covered employees are W-2 workers of the bonded business. Independent contractors are typically excluded. Temporary and leased workers are usually covered if under the bonded business's direction.
Accidental damage, personal injury, contract disputes, and claims between the bonded business and its own employees. Those require liability insurance, workers' compensation, or separate commercial crime coverage.
No Texas statute mandates a business services bond. It is required by contract — referral platforms, franchise agreements, and client expectation.
You can update your website, Google Business Profile, and Yelp with "bonded" the same day you apply.
We know which Houston service categories win by leading with "bonded and insured" — and which do not. Use the line where it pays.
Match the limit to your average client's exposure. Too low and bigger residential jobs pass you up; too high and you waste premium.
Most business services bonds are flat-rate. A $10,000 bond covering up to five employees typically costs $100 per year. A $25,000 bond covering up to ten employees runs $150 to $250 per year. Rates scale with the coverage amount and the number of employees in the field. Credit is usually not a factor because these bonds are priced on exposure, not principal credit risk.
It covers theft of property from a client by an employee of the bonded business while on the client's premises performing services. If a cleaning-crew member steals jewelry from a client's home, the bond pays the client directly. Unlike general liability, the bond does not cover accidental damage, personal injury, or breach of contract — it is specifically third-party employee dishonesty coverage.
Texas does not require it by statute. It is a commercial product demanded by clients and referral platforms. Many residential clients will only hire "bonded and insured" service providers, and platforms like Care.com, Rover, and major cleaning-service franchise agreements require the bond as a condition of listing or franchise operation.
Any service business whose employees enter client premises: residential and commercial cleaning, janitorial, maid services, in-home elder care, pet sitters, dog walkers, handyman services, lawn care, pool service, house-sitters, home organizers, and mobile repair technicians. Any business that markets itself as "bonded and insured" almost always means a business services bond plus liability insurance.
A business services bond typically pays only upon conviction of the employee for the theft. The client reports the theft to police, files a report, and the surety pays once the employee is convicted of the underlying criminal offense. This limits coverage to provable theft cases — the bond is not a general dispute-resolution mechanism.
Yes. Business services bonds are issued on a blanket basis that covers all current employees and automatically covers new hires as they are added to the payroll. The bond tracks headcount at the time of the theft, not at issuance. Renewal often includes a brief employee-count reconciliation that may adjust the rate.
Flat-rate pricing, same-day PDF, and the credibility line residential clients look for.
