I am looking into a small bizz that I often see advertised as Lic/Ins/bonded after a bit of online research I am having a hard time finding out just what they are bonded for , The service is pet walking. What kind of bond and where might I get one? Thank you:confused::confused::confused:

Hi, sabrinacorrigan!

Basically, the kind of bonding that is referred to here, is an insurance guarantee to people who employ someone, that if the person employed, or employees of the person employed cause an unforeseen financial loss, that the person who suffered the loss is guaranteed to be covered in some way monetarily for the loss.

I believe that the type of bonding about which you're asking concerning being self-employed, is usually referred to as a Surety or Indemnity Bond. Although, there are various types of bonds, and it might actually be called something else, depending on that for which the bonding is needed.

A person can get bonding insurance usually from most full coverage insurance agents or from just looking for people in the Yellow Pages of the phone book who will provide that kind of insurance.

In a lot of instances, the people who advertise that they are bonded aren't really required to be so because of any laws and being bonded can just make them look better for advertising purposes. There may be some rare instances where a customer might require someone to be bonded in order to do the work.

I've been doing various things in people's homes and yards for over 30 years now, and only once has a customer asked me if I was bonded. My response was, that it isn't required in the states where I work to do the kind of work that I do. Everything was okay, then.

A person who is self-employed while working for others, should always at least have liability insurance.

The laws concerning these things will also vary depending on where someone is doing the work, so it would help to know at least the approximate location as to where this is happening.

Also, how much do you want to work at this type of business, please?

Thanks!