Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs 
Nationwide: How Do They Compare for Surety Bonds?
What Is Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance?
BHSI provides commercial and specialty insurance in the U.S., with product-specific industry lists that include healthcare, energy and technology. Online quote and application submissions are nonbinding. 1,2,3,4
Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance profile
Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Surety Bonds page
What Is Nationwide?
Nationwide’s commercial catalogue includes common small-business policies and separate specialty products. A catalogue listing does not establish eligibility or policy terms; confirm the issuing company and coverage for your state and business. 6,7,8
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. 10,11,12,13,14
What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Nationwide Surety Bonds?
Construction forms and commercial obligations
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance lists performance, payment, advance-payment, maintenance, supply and warranty bonds for its surety line. Nationwide’s cited page describes commercial surety as a guarantee of a principal’s financial responsibility or compliance with an obligation, with form and underwriting dependent on the applicant and obligation. A construction firm can start with BHSI’s named contract forms; a business with a commercial compliance bond should ask Nationwide which form addresses the specific requirement. 5 9
Bond scope and underwriting
Nationwide’s cited page describes commercial bonds that guarantee a principal’s financial responsibility or compliance with an obligation. BHSI lists six construction surety forms. The descriptions address different obligations, so match the obligee’s wording to the proposed form and ask Nationwide how the commercial obligation is classified. 9 5
What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Nationwide Surety Bonds Quotes?
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Nationwide Review Scores
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.
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Review Score
Review Score
No reviews found
The public ratings for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance are low but thin: Trustpilot shows 2.1 out of 5 from 9 reviews and BBB shows 1 out of 5 from 6. Both mix travel and commercial customers, so we don't count them in a score.[5][7]
Read Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance reviewsNationwide Review Score
Review Score
4 rated sources
Experts like Nationwide more than customers do. NerdWallet gives it 4.5 out of 5 for business insurance, while small-business customers on ConsumerAffairs give it 2.5 out of 5 from 19 reviews.[1][10]
Read Nationwide reviewsBerkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide Surety Bonds Compared
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide: Surety Bonds: documented features by provider
| Criteria | U.S. Surety | Nationwide surety bonds (official overview) |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | Nationwide describes offering surety bonds for the audience stated on the cited product page. 9Company-reported. surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Who It’s For | BHSI names regional, national and global contractors and construction suppliers or service firms among its target accounts. 5Company-reported. A target description does not establish approval, bonding capacity or qualification for a particular contract. | Businesses and principals seeking commercial bonds; bond form and underwriting depend on obligation and applicant. 9Company-reported. surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Coverage Features | BHSI lists performance, payment, advance-payment, maintenance, supply and warranty bonds. 5Company-reported. The catalogue identifies bond types; actual obligations are set by each bond form, principal, obligee and governing jurisdiction. BHSI lists performance, payment, advance-payment, maintenance, supply and warranty bonds as separate bond types. 5Company-reported. Each bond carries its own obligation; the product list does not establish bond form terms or approval. | The cited product page describes commercial surety bonds that guarantee a bonded principal's financial responsibility or compliance with stated obligations. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. 9Company-reported. surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The cited overview does not set a universal limit or retention for this line. Ask for the proposed policy form, limits, retentions, exclusions, and conditions in the quote. 9Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. |
| Risk Services | BHSI says its surety team supports public-private partnership and project-delivery arrangements. 5Company-reported. The page does not specify the scope or availability of that support for an individual account. | Confirm in your quote. |
| How to Apply | Confirm in your quote. | The page directs prospective customers to contact an agent or request a quote. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. 9Company-reported. surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
Related Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide
Surety Bonds Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Nationwide
Other Coverage Lines Compared for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide
Other Surety Bonds Provider Comparisons
Sources for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide
Sources About Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
- At A Glance. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; United States section, zero-based PDF pages 49–53 (viewer pages 50–54): product/industry lists on pages 49–50; U.S. disclosure/version footer on page 53 is 2026-8-03 A. The 2026-09-14 A footer is on preceding European page 48, not the U.S. section. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- About Us. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; About BHSI; company profile page re-opened through official site on 2026-09-28; company says it is part of National Indemnity group. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Terms of Service. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Important Information Concerning Use of this Web Site, paragraphs 2–4; nonbinding submissions, contracted-agent authority, state variation, product availability and policy-specific terms. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Public Disclosure — Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Singapore Branch. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Singapore branch public disclosure, Company Profile ¶¶ 1–2; direct page opened 2026-09-28. ¶ 1 identifies BHSIC as a Nebraska-domiciled direct P&C insurer; ¶ 2 states BHSIC is wholly owned by National Indemnity Company, itself wholly owned by Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Surety. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Retained canonical source record locator: U.S. Surety product highlights list performance, payment, advance-payment, maintenance, supply and warranty bonds; target contractors and construction suppliers/services; lines 6–32. Prior access 2026-09-28; direct re-open failed in this session. Accessed 2026-09-28.
Sources About Nationwide
- Small Business Insurance. Nationwide; Small business products and solutions, lines 185–214: BOP, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, umbrella, EPLI, cyber and surety; purchase guidance lines 235–247. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Small Business Insurance Solutions for Agents. Nationwide; Specialized small commercial solutions: BOP, auto, workers’ compensation, cyber, EPLI, umbrella, inland marine and professional liability; page states appetite varies by state, lines 129–163, 191–193. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Terms and Conditions for Nationwide.com. Nationwide; P&C products not offered by all companies/states; policy/declarations control; NMI and affiliates may underwrite; each underwriter responsible for own products, lines 358–368 and 391–394. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Commercial Surety Bonds. Nationwide; Commercial surety bond page; bond types and obligations. Accessed 2026-09-30.
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.
