Embroker vs 
Nationwide: How Do They Compare for Surety Bonds?
Embroker describes contractor license, bid, performance, payment and other construction bonds, with pricing driven mainly by credit and a published range from 1–5% for excellent credit to as much as 20% for poor credit. Nationwide describes commercial bonds but does not publish a pricing range in its overview. 4,8
What Is Embroker?
Embroker suits technology firms seeking a single application for management coverage plus eligible Tech E&O and cyber, and law firms seeking a grouped package; buyers needing only standard small-business coverage should compare direct carriers. 1,2,3
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. 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
Construction Bond Menu and Pricing
Embroker lists contractor license, bid, construction performance, payment, maintenance, utility, supply and subdivision bonds, and says pricing depends mainly on credit. It gives a typical 1–5% of bond amount range for excellent credit and up to 20% for poor credit. Nationwide describes commercial bonds as guaranteeing a principal’s financial responsibility or compliance with an obligation, with underwriting depending on the form and applicant; its overview does not publish a comparable rate range. A contractor can use Embroker’s figures as a rough credit-sensitive reference, then compare the actual premium and bond form quoted by Nationwide. 4 8
Bond Obligation and Business Protection
Embroker emphasizes that the obligee receives the bond’s protection and that the contractor still needs separate insurance for its own losses. Nationwide describes bonds as guarantees of financial responsibility or compliance, which also makes the bonded obligation central to the quote. Buyers should confirm the obligee’s exact form and carry separate business insurance for their own property, liability and workers’ compensation risks. 4 8
What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes
- Ask Embroker what credit and financial records support its premium estimate, and verify whether the required bond type is available. 4
- Ask Nationwide for the exact bond form, penal sum, obligee wording and premium basis for the obligation. 8
- Confirm which separate liability, property and workers’ compensation policies the contractor needs beyond the bond. 4
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.
Embroker
Review Score
3 rated sources
Embroker’s reviews are mixed, and BBB records a complaint-response concern. The feedback is too limited to establish consistent service quality.[4][6][7]
Read Embroker reviewsNationwide
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 reviewsOffering Details
Embroker vs Nationwide: Surety Bonds: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Embroker Surety Bonds | Nationwide surety bonds (official overview) |
|---|---|---|
| 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. 4Company-reported. Product-page description; not a statement about which surety company backs a specific bond. | Nationwide describes offering surety bonds for the audience stated on the cited product page. 8Company-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 | 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. 4Company-reported. Product-page 'Who are Surety Bonds for?' and 'What Is a Construction Bond?' sections; not a guarantee of bond issuance for a particular applicant. | Businesses and principals seeking commercial bonds; bond form and underwriting depend on obligation and applicant. 8Company-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 | 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. 4Company-reported. Product-page 'Types of Construction Bonds' and 'What Do They Cover?' sections; specific bond terms depend on the bond issued. 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. 4Company-reported. Product-page What's Not Covered section. | 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. 8Company-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 | 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. 4Company-reported. Product-page 'What Do They Cost?' section; actual bond premiums depend on underwriting. | 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. 8Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. |
| 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. 4Company-reported. Product-page 'How to Secure a Construction Surety Bond' and 'What's Not Covered' sections; no quote was requested during this research. | 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. 8Company-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. |
Full Comparison
More Embroker vs Nationwide Comparisons
Other Surety Bonds Comparisons
Sources
Embroker
- Embroker. Embroker; Industry navigation; quote and sign-in links; coverage options; footer availability qualification. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Terms And Conditions. 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.
- Embroker Access. Embroker; EMIS announcement; appointed-broker quoting, binding and issuance; product links; footer identifies Embroker Insurance Services, LLC. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Construction Bonds: Surety Bond Types & Cost. 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.
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.
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.
