A bond is not insurance for you — it is protection for your customer. Understanding that changes how you treat it.
Washington's contractor registration requires a surety bond: $30,000 for a general contractor, $15,000 for a specialty contractor. That figure is the maximum the bond can pay out — not what you hand over. You pay an annual premium and the surety backs the rest.
It protects customers, employees, and the state if you fail to pay for work, materials, or taxes, or if a customer wins a judgment against you for defective work. If a valid claim is paid, you owe the surety back. A bond is not a get-out-of-trouble card; it is a promise the surety will make good and then come collect from you.
This is the piece new contractors miss: a bond claim is a debt you personally guarantee. Treat the bond like a loan you never want to draw on. Keep customers happy, pay your suppliers, and the bond just sits there doing its job — letting you register. Let claims stack up and you will not be able to get bonded at all, which means you cannot stay registered.
General or specialty is the deciding factor. Running multiple trades on a job → general → $30,000. One trade → specialty → $15,000. Plumbing and electrical use their own smaller bonds ($6,000 and $4,000) under their trade programs. See general vs. specialty to choose.
The free builder points you to the right bond path. The paid roadmap goes deeper on bond wording and filing order.
Build My Free RoadmapPrimary Washington state agencies first, then supporting references. Figures verified July 2026 — always re-check current amounts before you file.