Aon vs 
Marsh: How Do They Compare for Surety Bonds?
Aon: construction surety bonds and describes them as financial security intended to guarantee contractor performance and payment to specified subcontractors, laborers and material suppliers. Actual bond obligations depend on the bond form and its terms. Marsh: mMA offers Contract Surety for construction and similar projects, Commercial Surety issuing license and permit bonds nationwide (in lieu of or alongside letters of credit and other banking obligations), and International Surety for global operations facing varied regulatory requirements. 3,8
What Is Aon?
Aon’s U.S. Commercial Risk terms describe brokerage for certain insurance programs, while its Middle Market page describes a dedicated practice for mid-sized organizations across North America. The public materials reviewed do not identify the licensed producer or insurer for a particular placement. Ask which entity will produce each line and which insurer will issue the policy; request jurisdiction details for the proposed placement and ask how compensation and claim notice work for your account. 1,2
What Is Marsh?
Marsh suits technology and larger businesses seeking specialist cyber placement or broad global risk advice; small firms wanting a quick standard quote should compare its MMA route or digital agencies. 4,5,6,7
What Are Surety Bonds?
A surety bond guarantees that your business meets a specific obligation to a customer, contracting party or government agency. If a contract, license or permit requires one, get its exact form and amount; a bond is not insurance for your own losses. 9,10,11,12,13
Key Differences in Surety Bonds
Bond forms for the stated obligation
Aon describes its global construction practice designs and places risk solutions and uses broking experience and a global network across construction insurance lines. For construction surety, this is evidence of Aon’s brokered market offering; the page does not identify the insurer for a buyer’s placement. Marsh describes mMA offers Contract Surety for construction and similar projects, Commercial Surety issuing license and permit bonds nationwide (in lieu of or alongside letters of credit and other banking obligations), and International Surety for global operations facing varied regulatory requirements. A bond protects the obligee under the named obligation, so compare the required form and conditions against the contract or license before choosing a route. 3 8
Applicant profile and service model
Aon identifies its global construction and infrastructure practice as serving contractors, owners, developers, engineers, architects, designers, financiers and investors, and says it works with organizations of varied sizes and complexity. Marsh identifies mcLennan Agency (MMA), Marsh's middle-market subsidiary, arranges surety bonds through a dedicated surety practice rather than underwriting them itself. A contractor or business should ask whether its trade, financial profile and bond amount fit the stated market and what documentation will be needed. 3 8
How the application moves
Aon describes its global construction practice designs and places risk solutions and uses broking experience and a global network across construction insurance lines. For construction surety, this is evidence of Aon’s brokered market offering; the page does not identify the insurer for a buyer’s placement. Marsh describes you work with an MMA surety specialist directly; the page names a Surety Department Supervisor and describes advisor-led placement rather than an online bond application. Confirm the submission deadline, required indemnitors and how the executed bond reaches the obligee. 3 8
What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes
- Ask Aon to confirm the quoted bond form, obligee and indemnity terms; its offering says construction surety bonds and describes them as financial security intended to guarantee contractor performance and payment to specified subcontractors, laborers and material suppliers. Actual bond obligations depend on the bond form and its terms. 3
- Ask Marsh to confirm the quoted bond form, obligee and indemnity terms; its offering says mMA offers Contract Surety for construction and similar projects, Commercial Surety issuing license and permit bonds nationwide (in lieu of or alongside letters of credit and other banking obligations), and International Surety for global operations facing varied regulatory requirements. 8
Aon and Marsh Review Scores for 2026
These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.
Aon Review Score
Review Score
3 rated sources
Public ratings for Aon are low: Trustpilot shows 1.2 out of 5 from 782 reviews, and BBB shows 1.6 from five. Aon is a global firm, so those pages mostly reflect other parts of the business, not large U.S. commercial accounts.[4][6][7]
Read Aon reviewsMarsh Review Score
Review Score
2 rated sources
Marsh’s global Trustpilot profile has a poor 1.3/5 score. Treat it as a service warning to investigate with your proposed team; it does not isolate US commercial accounts.[2][4][7]
Read Marsh reviewsAon vs Marsh Surety Bonds Compared
Aon vs Marsh: Surety Bonds: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Aon Construction Surety brokerage and risk-advisory offering | Marsh McLennan Agency Surety Bonds |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Aon says its global construction practice designs and places risk solutions and uses broking experience and a global network across construction insurance lines. For construction surety, this is evidence of Aon’s brokered market offering; the page does not identify the insurer for a buyer’s placement. 3Company-reported. Aon’s global construction and infrastructure practice page. This establishes a marketed brokerage/advisory offering, not policy issuance or account-specific placement. | Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), Marsh's middle-market subsidiary, arranges surety bonds through a dedicated surety practice rather than underwriting them itself. 8Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page. |
| Issuing Insurer | The reviewed practice page does not name the insurer or producing legal entity for a specific placement. Ask for both on the quote and binder. 3Not found in reviewed sources. Aon’s global practice page as reviewed 2026-09-30; no state-specific placement schedule or buyer quote was reviewed. This does not establish that Aon cannot arrange a placement. | The reviewed page does not name a specific surety insurer for a standard bond; MMA says it offers national market representation, implying the issuing surety varies by placement. 8Not publicly disclosed. MMA surety insurance page as read on 2026-09-23. |
| Who It’s For | Aon describes its global construction and infrastructure practice as serving contractors, owners, developers, engineers, architects, designers, financiers and investors, and says it works with organizations of varied sizes and complexity. 3Company-reported. Audience described for Aon’s global construction and infrastructure practice. It does not establish U.S. state availability or underwriting eligibility for a placement. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Coverage Features | Aon lists construction surety bonds and describes them as financial security intended to guarantee contractor performance and payment to specified subcontractors, laborers and material suppliers. Actual bond obligations depend on the bond form and its terms. 3Company-reported. Aon’s marketing description of the brokerage/coverage area. The page is not the insurer’s policy form and does not establish an insured's entitlement to coverage. | MMA offers Contract Surety for construction and similar projects, Commercial Surety issuing license and permit bonds nationwide (in lieu of or alongside letters of credit and other banking obligations), and International Surety for global operations facing varied regulatory requirements. 8Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page, Surety Coverage section. |
| Limits and Retentions | The reviewed page does not state a buyer-specific limit, retention, deductible or other placement terms. Confirm these in the quote, bond or issued policy. 3Not publicly disclosed. Aon’s global practice page as reviewed 2026-09-30; no quote, bond form or issued policy was reviewed. | MMA says it has more than 150 surety professionals across all 50 states, placed $353 million in surety premium for nearly 10,000 clients, and that its markets write 95% of all contract bonds in the U.S., according to the company. 8Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page; company-reported statistics, not independently verified, and do not indicate bond size or capacity for an individual client. |
| Risk Services | Aon describes project risk-advisory services to understand project-specific risks and develop risk-transfer, management or mitigation strategies. It also describes a global construction team and market access. These are company-reported brokerage and advisory services, not coverage benefits. 3Company-reported. Company-reported advisory services on Aon’s global practice page; account-specific service scope is not stated. | MMA lists competitive indemnity package negotiation, industry benchmarking, joint-venture and teaming-agreement prequalification support, continuity and ownership-transfer consulting, and competitive program design review as services tied to its surety practice. 8Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page, Benefits of Surety and Surety Coverage sections. |
| How to Apply | Confirm in your quote. | You work with an MMA surety specialist directly; the page names a Surety Department Supervisor and describes advisor-led placement rather than an online bond application. 8Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page. |
Related Pages for Aon vs Marsh Surety Bonds
Surety Bonds Pages for Aon and Marsh
Other Coverage Lines Compared for Aon vs Marsh
Other Surety Bonds Provider Comparisons
Sources for Aon vs Marsh Surety Bonds
Sources About Aon
- Commercial Risk Solutions U.S. Brokerage Terms of Service. Aon; Lines 120–127: certain-program broker-of-record scope, consultation, application assistance, client signature and bind instruction, and account administration; lines 140–147: variable and contingent compensation, potential placement incentive, and client request route; lines 206–213: no price guarantee and surplus-lines limitations; lines 229–231: client insurer-notice duty unless separately agreed. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Middle Market Clients. Aon; Lines 125–132: mid-sized organizations and middle-market framing; lines 165–173: dedicated practice and North America statement; lines 188–224: Commercial Risk capabilities. No numeric company-size cutoff or U.S.-only eligibility rule is stated on the reviewed page. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Construction and Infrastructure Insurance and Risk Management. Aon; Construction client audience and global placement role, lines 123–126; offering descriptions lines 135–156; coverage-area taxonomy lines 167–195; contact link lines 120–122. Global practice page; no U.S. state or account-specific placement schedule. Accessed 2026-09-30.
Sources About Marsh
- Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments. Marsh; Hero and capability tiles; FAQ: What does Marsh do?; industries served; Is Marsh the same as Marsh McLennan? January 2026 brand change. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Compensation guide for US clients. Marsh; US broking segments; broker role; retail commissions, client fees, wholesale, insurer consulting, contingent and supplemental commissions; Marsh LLC and Marsh USA LLC; page 3: broker role and Marsh & McLennan Agency segment; page 7: copyright © 2024 Marsh LLC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management. Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; practice links including data center insurance, fintech and Stratus; Talk to us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk. Marsh McLennan Agency; Opening positioning and stats (150+ surety professionals across all 50 states; $353 million in surety premium for nearly 10,000 clients; 95% of all contract bonds in the U.S. written in our markets); Surety Coverage: Contract Surety, Commercial Surety, Joint ventures and teaming agreements, International Surety; Benefits of Surety. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Sources for the Surety Bonds Guide
- Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Surety Bond; Fidelity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety bonds. U.S. Small Business Administration; Opening guarantee of work completion; Contract or commercial bonds; Bid, Payment, Performance, Ancillary; Eligibility > credit, capacity, and character. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 40 U.S. Code § 3131 — Bonds of contractors of public buildings or works. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, reproducing 40 U.S.C. § 3131; §3131(b) Type of Bonds Required — performance bond and payment bond. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety Bonds. Chubb; Construction Surety Bonds (performance, payment, maintenance); Commercial Surety Bonds (license and permit, court, commercial contract). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety Bonds Insurance. Harper; What is Surety Bonds insurance?; A bond is not insurance; License & permit bonds; Contract bonds — bid, performance, and payment; Is a bond the same as insurance? Accessed 2026-09-16.
