Fifteen years ago, SuretyBonds.com got its humble start. It all started with a domain and an idea — an idea that grew wings and took flight.
Early on, we established four core values:
- Put people first
- Innovate and simplify
- Obsess over service
- Grow through education
Guided by these principles, SuretyBonds.com has kept a firm grasp on the culture and what really matters: our people and our customers. Now, as we celebrate our 15-year anniversary, we can proudly say we are the best surety agency in the country.
Here’s a look back at the past 15 years and what we’ve accomplished together.
2009: Launch Day
After getting his start with Veterans United Home Loans, CEO and founder Josh Kayser purchased the SuretyBonds.com domain. March 13th, 2009 would mark the start of a story coded in innovation and simplicity.
2010: First Bond Issued
In June of 2010, we issued our first bond. As more and more people began visiting the website and submitting bond applications, we began to realize the true scale of this industry and the value of our streamlined online bonding process.
Self-taught, Kayser figured it out as he went. Of course, this couldn’t be done without the help of team members who stuck by his side from the beginning. Together, they continued to grow through education, becoming the surety industry authorities and working to innovate new solutions and processes.
“Build what your clients want, not what you feel like building.” – Josh Kayser, CEO and founder
2014–15: Small Business of the Year & New Ventures
Just five years after our founding, SuretyBonds.com was named the 2014 Small Business of the Year by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, we were acquired by HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. which was then acquired by Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. in 2015 — opening even more doors of opportunity.
2016: Instant Issue Bonds
Creating the path of least resistance for the business owners and licensed professionals we service is our top priority To streamline the bond search, we introduced our online purchase portal in 2016, making us the first surety bond provider to offer instant issue bonds.
This launch offered full bonding service without agent interaction or an application because we understand that simplicity and speed can go a long way. Of course, we are still there by your side if you need to speak to one of our kind representatives.
“I always tell my clients that I want to be the person that picks up the phone if they ever need anything.” – Blake Oliver, Senior Account Manager
2019: Growth to 50 Employees
The people behind the phone at SuretyBonds.com are exactly that: people. People who know what it’s like to wait on hold or struggle to find an answer without access to a human being. People who care about every phone call and question. People who simply want to help others.
By 2019, our staff increased to 50 dedicated employees. There is no doubt in our mind that the SuretyBonds.com team is obsessed over service. We want to ensure you receive the help you need and 15 years later, that has not changed.
2023: New Downtown Office Move
As our staff grew, we realized we needed a bigger space to host new accomplishments and memories. We began construction on our new office in early 2023, taking over the fifth and sixth floors of the Hawthorn Bank building in downtown Columbia, MO. With a beautiful office space, wonderful views and community-centric layout, the SuretySkyline is like a second home for our hard-working team. 
2024: 15,000 Reviews in 15 Years
As we enjoy the skyline view in our new office, we continue to break records and hit new milestones. 2024 seems to be the year of “15”. In our fifteenth year of operations, we surpassed 15,000 Trustpilot customer reviews with a 4.9 star average rating.
The numbers speak for themselves — no one knows surety better than us. We provide a quick, easy and well-informed purchase for every client who calls or visits our site.
2025–On: The Sky is the Limit
One small accomplishment after another, we are constantly forging a path to a better future for SuretyBonds.com, our cherished customers, and the industry.
“If you chip away at something every day for 15 years — it doesn’t matter what it is — it’s going to be awesome.” – Josh Kayser, CEO and founder
The past 15 years have brought successes, challenges, memories, growth, and most importantly, built a wonderful family. Here’s to the next 15!
Written By: Ellie Weien