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M. BURR KEIM AGENCY · License & Permit Surety Bonds · Reviewed November 2026

Employment Agency Bond

An employment agency bond is a surety bond required by some states before an employment agency can be licensed. It gives job seekers and the state a way to recover certain losses caused by an agency’s failure to follow state employment agency laws or account for fees.

Apply for This Bond Online How to Apply Questions

At a glance

Product
Employment Agency Bond
Category
License & Permit Surety Bonds
Required amount
State employment agency laws set the bond amount, and common amounts range from $5,000 to $10,000. Some states use a higher amount or a schedule based on the number of offices or the type of placement. Confirm the amount and obligee with the state labor department.
Online issue
Instant issue up to $10,000. With acceptable credit, instant issue is available above $10,000 up to $100,000. If the state requires a specialized bond form, the application may need underwriting review.
Term
Employment agency bonds are usually written for a one-year term and renewed with the license. Some states require a bond that runs for the full license period or a continuous term. Follow the state labor department’s licensing instructions.

Who needs an employment Agency Bond?

  • Employment agencies, staffing firms, and placement services applying for a state license that requires a surety bond.
  • Businesses adding a new state employment agency license or renewing an existing license.
  • Owners or compliance officers confirming the bond amount and obligee required by a state labor department.

Why is an employment Agency Bond required?

States license employment agencies to protect job seekers from improper fee practices and other violations. The bond gives workers and the state a recovery source when an agency fails to comply with the licensing law or fails to refund fees it should not have collected.

The bond is required as a condition of licensure and does not replace professional liability insurance, a fidelity bond, or the agency’s own compliance procedures.

How much bond do I need?

State employment agency laws set the bond amount, and common amounts range from $5,000 to $10,000. Some states use a higher amount or a schedule based on the number of offices or the type of placement. Confirm the amount and obligee with the state labor department.

Instant issue up to $10,000. With acceptable credit, instant issue is available above $10,000 up to $100,000. If the state requires a specialized bond form, the application may need underwriting review.

Bond amount is not the premium. The required amount is the maximum the surety could pay under the bond. The premium you pay is a separate charge based on the bond amount, the risk, the term, and your credit. The online application shows the premium before you bind coverage.

How much does an employment Agency Bond cost?

Premium depends on the bond amount, the state, the license term, and the applicant’s credit. Employment agency bonds are usually inexpensive. Apply online for the current premium and the required term.

How to apply online

  1. Confirm the bond amount and obligee. Use the amount and legal name of the agency, court, client, or government entity that requires the bond. The obligee name must match the requiring party’s records.
  2. Gather the application information. Have the legal business or entity name, address, license or case number, ownership information, and the required bond amount ready.
  3. Start the CNA Surety application. Use the online application link on this page. The link includes the M. BURR KEIM AGENCY app code and agency code, so the application is routed to our agency.
  4. Pay the premium and bind coverage. If the bond is eligible for instant issue, the application will show the premium and let you complete the purchase online. Otherwise, the surety will review the application and contact you if additional information is needed.
  5. File the bond. Provide the issued bond to the agency, court, client, or government entity that requires it, and keep a copy for your records.
Apply for This Bond Online All Bonds

Employment Agency Bond term and renewal

Employment agency bonds are usually written for a one-year term and renewed with the license. Some states require a bond that runs for the full license period or a continuous term. Follow the state labor department’s licensing instructions.

Good to know

  • Some states require the bond to be filed with the state, while others require the agency to keep the bond and provide proof. Check the licensing instructions before applying.
  • If you operate multiple offices, confirm whether the state requires a separate bond for each location or a single bond covering all offices.

Employment Agency Bond questions

An employment agency bond is a surety bond required by some states before an employment agency can be licensed. It gives job seekers and the state a way to recover certain losses caused by an agency’s failure to follow state employment agency laws or account for fees.

Employment agencies, staffing firms, and placement services applying for a state license that requires a surety bond. Businesses adding a new state employment agency license or renewing an existing license. Owners or compliance officers confirming the bond amount and obligee required by a state labor department.

Premium depends on the bond amount, the state, the license term, and the applicant’s credit. Employment agency bonds are usually inexpensive. Apply online for the current premium and the required term.

State employment agency laws set the bond amount, and common amounts range from $5,000 to $10,000. Some states use a higher amount or a schedule based on the number of offices or the type of placement. Confirm the amount and obligee with the state labor department. Instant issue up to $10,000. With acceptable credit, instant issue is available above $10,000 up to $100,000. If the state requires a specialized bond form, the application may need underwriting review.

Apply online through CNA Surety using the application link on this page. The link includes the M. BURR KEIM AGENCY app code and agency code, so the application is routed to our agency. Complete the application, pay the premium online if the bond is eligible for instant issue, and then file the bond with the agency, court, or client that requires it.

It depends on the state and the type of service. Some states require an employment agency license and bond for placement or fee-based services, while temporary staffing arrangements may be treated differently. Check the state labor department’s definition and licensing rules.

The premium is based on the bond amount, the state, the license term, and the applicant’s credit. It is usually a small percentage of the bond amount. Apply online for the current premium and to confirm whether instant issue is available.

Online application and important note

Bond requirements, forms, amounts, and fees are set by the requiring agency, court, or carrier and can change. This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the current requirement with the agency, court, client, or your attorney before applying. M. BURR KEIM AGENCY is an insurance and surety bond agency; the bond or policy is issued by the carrier named on the document.