Not in Illinois? Browse bonds by state

Illinois collection agency bonds.
$125 flat.

Looking for the Illinois credit services organization bond?

Illinois licenses collection agencies through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and the Collection Agency Act requires every licensed agency to file and maintain a $25,000 surety bond under 205 ILCS 740/8. Ours is $125 flat, the price you see is the checkout price. No credit check.

✓
Required to license a collection agency in Illinois under 205 ILCS 740/8
✓
Fixed price, fixed amount — $25,000 bond, $125 flat, no quote process
✓
Multi-year terms available — set it up once for up to 3 years
A-ratedA.M. Best carriersInstantissuance at checkout$125 flatsame price at checkout
Trusted by industry leaders
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG)
Capital Development Partners
McKinney Properties
Terra Capital
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
Triple Five Group
The Georgetown Company
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG)
Capital Development Partners
McKinney Properties
Terra Capital
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
Triple Five Group
The Georgetown Company
Price

How much does an Illinois collection agency bond cost?

$125 at the $25,000 amount, the same for every applicant.

How it works

Three steps. One sitting.

Collection agency license bonds are among the simplest filings in surety. Here's the entire process:

NOW · ONLINE

Apply online

Business details, an effective date, and a term. That is the application. No credit check.

INSTANTLY

Pay & e-sign

This bond is checkout-priced at $125 flat, so it issues the moment you pay — your executed bond and power of attorney generate on the spot.

SAME DAY

File with IDFPR

Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to file with your collection agency license application at the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the bond actually guarantees

Illinois regulates collection agencies under the Collection Agency Act — recodified at 205 ILCS 740 and administered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's Division of Financial Institutions. Section 8 requires a licensed agency to file and keep in force a $25,000 surety bond, issued by an insurer authorized to write fidelity and surety business in Illinois, in the form prescribed by the Secretary.

It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier, and the State (the obligee). The bond runs to the benefit of creditors — if an agency collects money on a client's account and fails to remit it, a creditor who wins a judgment can recover against the bond. The bond is continuous in form and runs concurrently with each license period.

It is not insurance for you — if the surety pays a claim, you repay the surety. The bond has to stay continuously on file for the license to remain in good standing; we track the term and send renewal notices 60 and 30 days out.

205 ILCS 740/8Section 8 of the Illinois Collection Agency Act requires a collection agency to file and maintain in force a surety bond in the sum of $25,000, in the form prescribed by the Secretary, issued by an insurance company authorized to transact fidelity and surety business in Illinois. The bond is for the benefit of creditors who obtain a judgment based on the failure of the agency to remit money collected and owed. Debt buyers pursuing accounts they own are exempt under Section 8.6(b).

You need this bond if you're

✓
Applying for an Illinois collection agency license — new applicants filing with IDFPR
✓
Renewing your license — the bond is continuous and must stay on file each period
✓
Collecting consumer or commercial debts on behalf of Illinois creditors
✓
Reinstating a license that lapsed with an expired bond
After you buy

Claims, renewal, filing, and what sets the price.

If a claim is made

A claim comes from the party the bond protects, the obligee named on the form, when the duty the bond guarantees is not met.

The surety investigates and pays a valid claim, up to the $25,000 bond amount. You then repay the surety: a surety bond is a guarantee of your performance, not insurance for you.

Renewal and term

The premium covers a one-year term from the effective date you choose; a longer term is the same price per year, chosen at checkout.

Renew before the expiry date to keep the bond in force: the license, permit or contract it backs expects continuous coverage.

How to file it

File with IDFPR. Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to file with your collection agency license application at the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

What sets the price

The premium is fixed at $125 at the $25,000 amount for every applicant: the carrier’s rate book prices this bond by the form, not by your credit or your business profile.

No credit check.

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual issuing fields — business details, an effective date, and a term. That is the entire application.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the Illinois collection agency bond?The premium is $125 flat — set by our carrier's rate book for this bond, the same for every collection agency. The $25,000 bond amount is set by 205 ILCS 740/8, so there is no quote process, and the price you see is the checkout price.
Do I pay the $25,000?No. You pay $125. The $25,000 is the surety's maximum liability if a valid claim is made against the bond — not a deposit, and nobody holds your money.
How fast will I have the bond?This bond is checkout-priced, so it issues the moment you pay — your e-signed bond and power of attorney arrive by email, ready to file with your IDFPR license application.
Do debt buyers need this bond?Generally no. The Act exempts a debt buyer from the Section 8 surety bond requirement for activities collecting accounts it owns. If you collect debts owed to others, the bond applies.
Is there a credit check?No credit check: the application collects no credit information. The price stays $125 flat either way.
Which A-rated carriers underwrite these bonds?Typically Arch Insurance Company (A.M. Best A+) or Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (A.M. Best A). Which one writes your bond depends on the bond type and your state. The carrier's name and official signature are printed on the bond you receive.
How do I contact Light RFP about this bond?Email insurance@lightrfp.com. It reaches the bond team at Light RFP Risk Management Services LLC (NY DFS License # PC-1978982). Write to us about quotes, applications, bond forms or certificates. We will respond within 24 hours.
Related bonds

Other Illinois bonds.

Nearby states

The same bond in nearby states.

Been told you need a different amount?

Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .

Finish your collection agency license today.

$125 flat, issued the moment you pay, no credit check. Free until issued.

Your price$125
Apply now →