---
title: "Embroker vs Marsh Surety Bonds"
description: "Embroker quotes construction bonds on a platform with credit-band examples; MMA places contract, commercial and international surety through specialists and publishes practice-scale statistics."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/surety-bonds"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Embroker vs Marsh Surety Bonds

Embroker quotes construction bonds on a platform with credit-band examples; MMA places contract, commercial and international surety through specialists and publishes practice-scale statistics.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Embroker and Marsh for Surety Bonds against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

Embroker lists construction bond types and example premiums by credit. MMA brokers contract, commercial and international surety with 150-plus specialists, $353 million of reported premium, indemnity negotiation and no public online bond application. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

## What Is Embroker?

Embroker is a business insurance broker and online platform serving startups, technology companies and professional-services firms, with proprietary programs and broker-assisted placements. [1](https://www.embroker.com/ "Embroker") [2](https://www.embroker.com/terms/ "Terms And Conditions") [3](https://access.embroker.com/ "Embroker Access")

[Embroker profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/embroker)

## What Is Marsh?

Marsh is a global insurance broker and risk advisor. In the United States it places coverage through core Marsh teams and through Marsh McLennan Agency for many middle-market buyers, including technology, cyber, property, casualty and benefits programs. [5](https://www.marsh.com/en/home.html "Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments") [6](https://www.marsh.com/content/dam/marsh/Documents/PDF/US-en/us-client-compensation-guide.pdf "Compensation guide for US clients") [7](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/marsh-mclennan-agency.html "Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA)") [8](https://www.marsh.com/en/industries/technology.html "Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management")

[Marsh profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh)

## What Are Surety Bonds?

A surety bond is a three-party agreement: a surety guarantees an obligation your business (the principal) owes to a customer or other party (the obligee) if your business defaults. It isn't insurance that pays your business for its own losses. [10](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms "Glossary of Insurance Terms") [11](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/surety-bonds "Surety bonds")

## Key Differences in Surety Bonds

### Construction Catalogue Versus MMA Practice Lines

Embroker and MMA both broker surety. Embroker lists contractor license, bid, performance, payment, maintenance, utility, supply and subdivision bonds. MMA describes contract surety, commercial surety (including nationwide license and permit bonds and letter-of-credit substitutes) and international surety, plus joint-venture and teaming prequalification. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

Embroker’s page is a construction-bond explainer with cost examples. MMA’s page is a middle-market practice with headcount, premium and market-share statistics. MMA’s reviewed coverage summary does not itemize utility, supply or subdivision the way Embroker does. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

### Credit Illustrations Versus Indemnity Negotiation

Embroker shows 1–5% versus up to 20% of bond amount by credit. MMA lists competitive indemnity-package negotiation, industry benchmarking, continuity and ownership-transfer consulting, and program design review — services Embroker’s surety page does not describe. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

Neither names a standard issuing surety. MMA cites national market representation and markets it says write 95% of U.S. contract bonds. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

### Platform Versus Named Supervisor

Embroker: identify type and amount, quote on the platform. MMA: work with a surety specialist and a named Surety Department Supervisor, not an online bond application. Embroker also says developers often want GL, property and workers’ compensation alongside the bond. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

## What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes

- If you need international surety or JV prequalification, ask MMA; Embroker’s list is domestic construction types. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost")
- Ask MMA what indemnity package it would negotiate; treat Embroker’s percentages as examples. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost")
- Compare platform quote versus specialist-led placement for the same penal sum. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")
- Get surety legal name from both. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Embroker Surety Bonds | Marsh McLennan Agency Surety Bonds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Embroker arranges surety bonds, describing itself as the party helping the business (the principal) secure a bond backed financially by a surety, for an obligee that is typically a government agency. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page description; not a statement about which surety company backs a specific bond..) | Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), Marsh's middle-market subsidiary, arranges surety bonds through a dedicated surety practice rather than underwriting them itself. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Not described in the reviewed sources. | 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. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: MMA surety insurance page as read on 2026-09-23..) |
| Who It’s For | Embroker frames surety bonds as most commonly needed in construction, required at the state, county or city level before a contractor can work on a project, but says they matter in other industries too. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page 'Who are Surety Bonds for?' and 'What Is a Construction Bond?' sections; not a guarantee of bond issuance for a particular applicant..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Coverage Features | Embroker lists contractor license, bid, construction performance, payment, maintenance, utility, supply and subdivision bonds as construction bond types it can help obtain, and explains that a bond protects the obligee, not the contractor who purchased it. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page 'Types of Construction Bonds' and 'What Do They Cover?' sections; specific bond terms depend on the bond issued..)<br><br>Embroker says surety bonds are not insurance and do not cover the purchasing business's own losses, so a bonded contractor still needs separate general liability, commercial property and workers' compensation insurance to protect itself. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page What's Not Covered section..) | 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. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page, Surety Coverage section..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Embroker says surety pricing is based mainly on the applicant's credit score, with a company with excellent credit typically paying 1-5% of the bond amount versus up to 20% for a company with poor credit; it gives a $50,000 bond as an example costing $500-$2,500 for good credit versus up to $10,000 for poor credit. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page 'What Do They Cost?' section; actual bond premiums depend on underwriting..) | 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. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page; company-reported statistics, not independently verified, and do not indicate bond size or capacity for an individual client..) |
| Risk Services | Not described in the reviewed sources. | 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. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page, Benefits of Surety and Surety Coverage sections..) |
| How to Apply | Embroker directs applicants to identify the specific bond type and bonding amount needed, then get a quote through its platform; it says most developers will also require proof of general liability, commercial property and workers' compensation insurance before hiring a bonded contractor. [4](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/ "Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page 'How to Secure a Construction Surety Bond' and 'What's Not Covered' sections; no quote was requested during this research..) | 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. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Embroker vs Marsh](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Are Surety Bonds?](https://spot.insure/coverage/surety-bonds): A surety bond guarantees an obligation your business owes to a customer or other party if your business defaults.
- [Embroker vs Marsh Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/commercial-property)
- [Embroker vs Marsh Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/crime)
- [Embroker vs Marsh Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/cyber)
- [Embroker vs Marsh D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/directors-officers)
- [Embroker vs Marsh Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/employment-practices)
- [Embroker vs Marsh Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/fiduciary)
- [Embroker vs Marsh Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/management-liability)
- [Embroker vs Marsh Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Embroker vs Marsh Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/technology-errors-omissions)
- [Embroker vs Marsh Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-marsh/workers-compensation)
- [Chubb vs Embroker Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-embroker/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-marsh/surety-bonds)
- [Coverdash vs Embroker Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-embroker/surety-bonds)
- [Coverdash vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-marsh/surety-bonds)
- [Embroker vs Gallagher Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-gallagher/surety-bonds)
- [Embroker vs Harper Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/embroker-vs-harper/surety-bonds)

## Sources

### Embroker

1. [Embroker](https://www.embroker.com/). Embroker; Industry navigation; quote and sign-in links; coverage options; footer availability qualification. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [Terms And Conditions](https://www.embroker.com/terms/). Embroker; Introduction; §§2A–B Insurance services, 13 Applications and quotes, 15 Insurance companies and underwriting guidelines, 16 Certificates, 21 Surplus lines products, 22 Payments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
3. [Embroker Access](https://access.embroker.com/). Embroker; EMIS announcement; appointed-broker quoting, binding and issuance; product links; footer identifies Embroker Insurance Services, LLC. Accessed 2026-09-15.
4. [Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/surety-bonds/). Embroker; What are they?; What Is a Construction Bond?; Types of Construction Bonds; Who are Surety Bonds for?; What Do They Cover?; What's Not Covered?; What Do They Cost?. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Marsh

5. [Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments](https://www.marsh.com/en/home.html). 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.
6. [Compensation guide for US clients](https://www.marsh.com/content/dam/marsh/Documents/PDF/US-en/us-client-compensation-guide.pdf). 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.
7. [Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA)](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/marsh-mclennan-agency.html). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management](https://www.marsh.com/en/industries/technology.html). Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; practice links including data center insurance, fintech and Stratus; Talk to us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
9. [Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html). 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.

### Surety Bonds Guide

10. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Surety Bond; Fidelity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
11. [Surety bonds](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/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.

Updated 2026-09-23. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

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