Editorial Standards & Research Methodology
Surety bonds are a regulated financial product. Our content directly affects whether a contractor can pull a permit, a notary can take office, or a freight broker can operate. We treat that responsibility seriously. Below is exactly how we research, review, and maintain every page on this site.
Our editorial mission
Every page on BuySuretyBonds.com is built from primary-source research — state statutes, regulatory codes, and federal requirements pulled directly from .gov sources. We do not aggregate, paraphrase, or rely on second-hand industry blogs for bond amount thresholds, eligibility rules, or jurisdictional requirements. When a regulator updates a rule, we update the corresponding page. When we are unsure, we say so — and we link to the authoritative source so you can verify yourself.
Research methodology
Three principles govern how we source and verify information.
Primary sources first
Bond requirements, amounts, and obligor language are sourced from state .gov websites, the U.S. Treasury Circular 570 list, and statutory citations. We link the underlying statute (e.g., NRS 624.270, FMCSA 49 CFR § 387) on every state page.
Quarterly re-verification
Every state bond page is re-checked against its source regulator at minimum once per quarter. Pages flagged by user feedback or regulator bulletins are reviewed within 7 business days. The “Last reviewed” date on each page reflects the most recent verification — not just the most recent edit.
Named human review
No content publishes without sign-off from a named member of the editorial team. Bond product and regulatory pages also receive review from our surety specialist before going live. Reviewers are credited on every page byline.
The editorial team
Real people with real names. Editorial accountability is not a buzzword — you should know who is reviewing the content that affects your bond requirements.
Nick Thoroughman
Founder & Editorial Director
8+ years building surety bond technology. Oversees editorial direction, verifies state-by-state requirement updates, and maintains the platform's research library.
Surety bond technology since 2018
Eric Drummond
Surety Specialist
Lead surety specialist focused on bond underwriting review and carrier coordination across all bond lines. Reviews bond product pages for accuracy and provides expertise on Nevada and multi-state surety markets.
Nevada surety producer license — application submitted, pending issuance
How a page gets published
- 1
Research
Writer pulls bond requirement directly from the state regulator or federal source. Statute number and source URL are recorded.
- 2
Draft
Page is drafted with all factual claims linked to a specific source. Claims that cannot be sourced are removed or marked as estimates.
- 3
Editorial review
Founder or editorial director reviews for accuracy, plain-language explanations, and compliance with our YMYL standards.
- 4
Specialist review
For bond product or state regulatory pages, our surety specialist verifies underwriting context, premium ranges, and carrier eligibility.
- 5
Publish + date-stamp
Page goes live with author byline, reviewer name, and a "Last reviewed" date. The date reflects verification, not just text edits.
- 6
Quarterly recheck
Page is re-verified against its source at least every 90 days. State law changes or regulator bulletins can trigger an out-of-cycle review.
Corrections policy
We make mistakes. When we do, we want to fix them quickly and transparently.
Reporting an error: Email office@buysuretybonds.com with the page URL and a brief description of the issue. Include a source if you have one.
Response time: We acknowledge corrections within 2 business days. Material errors (incorrect bond amount, wrong statutory citation, expired carrier listing) are corrected within 7 business days.
Public corrections: When we correct a material error, the “Last reviewed” date on the affected page is updated and the change is logged internally.
How we make money & conflict of interest
BuySuretyBonds.com earns a commission from the surety carriers in our network when a bond is issued through the platform. This is the standard compensation model for licensed insurance and surety producers. You do not pay more for using our platform — commissions are paid by the carrier, not added to your premium.
Carrier selection: We work exclusively with Treasury Circular 570 listed carriers with an AM Best rating of A- or better. Carrier choice for any specific bond is based on your risk profile, the bond type, and the state — not on which carrier pays the highest commission.
No paid placements in editorial content: Our learning center, bond guides, and state requirement pages are not paid placements. We do not accept compensation to recommend a specific carrier or product in editorial content.
Affiliate links: When we link to a third-party tool or resource, we disclose any affiliate relationship explicitly. We do not currently use affiliate marketing in our bond requirement pages.
Authoritative sources we cite
Primary (regulatory)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury — Circular 570
Definitive list of carriers approved to write federal surety bonds
- State Departments of Insurance & Licensing Boards
Bond requirements, statutory citations, regulatory bulletins for each state
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Freight broker bond (BMC-84) requirements under 49 CFR § 387
- NAIC — National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Regulatory bulletins, financial standards, multi-state guidance
- AM Best
Carrier financial strength ratings — we require A- minimum
- State Statutes & Regulatory Codes
Bond amount thresholds, eligibility, and obligor requirements (e.g., NRS 624.270, CA B&P §7071.6)
Secondary (industry standards bodies)
Editorial inquiries
Spotted an error, want to suggest a source, or have a question about our methodology? Reach the editorial team directly.
office@buysuretybonds.comThis editorial policy was last reviewed in April 2026.