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South Dakota franchisor bonds.
$150 flat.

When South Dakota’s Securities Regulation requires a franchisor to escrow prepaid franchise fees, the Franchise Investment Act (SDCL 37-5B) lets it allow alternatives to escrow case by case. A franchisor can ask to post our carrier’s $30,000 surety bond instead. Ours is $150 flat — set by our carrier’s rate book, and no credit check.

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Filed with the Division of Insurance, Securities Regulation under SDCL 37-5B
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Posted in lieu of escrowing or impounding franchise fees when the administrator requires that protection
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No credit check — the application collects no credit information
A-ratedA.M. Best carriersInstantunderwriting process1–3 yrterms available
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 a South Dakota franchisor bond cost?

$150 at the $30,000 amount, the same for every applicant.

How it works

Three steps. One sitting.

This bond is simple to issue. Here’s the entire process:

NOW · ONLINE

Apply online

Franchisor details and an effective date. That is the application. No credit check.

MINUTES, USUALLY

Pay & e-sign

Fixed-amount bonds like this are among the thousands of bond types that issue right after purchase.

SAME DAY

File with Securities Regulation

Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to submit with your franchise notice filing. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the franchisor bond actually covers

South Dakota regulates the offer and sale of franchises under the Franchise Investment Act (SDCL 37-5B), administered by the Division of Insurance, Securities Regulation within the Department of Labor & Regulation. The Act lets the administrator protect prepaid franchise fees when a franchisor’s financial condition or other circumstances warrant it.

When that protection is required, Securities Regulation may require the franchise fees to be escrowed and may allow an alternative to escrow case by case. A surety bond is the alternative this page covers, and our carrier writes it at $30,000. It protects franchisees who pay fees before the franchisor performs.

This bond is not a mandate on every franchisor — many franchise filings clear without one. It applies when the administrator conditions your filing on bonding or escrow. If you’re unsure whether your filing needs it, or whether Securities Regulation will accept a $30,000 bond, confirm with them first; we issue it at a flat $150 with no credit check.

SDCL 37-5B (Franchise Investment Act)South Dakota’s Franchise Investment Act (SDCL 37-5B et seq.), administered by the Division of Insurance, Securities Regulation, governs the offer and sale of franchises in the state. Under SDCL 37-5B-5, a franchisor that cannot demonstrate to the director of the Division of Insurance its financial ability to fulfill its initial obligations to franchisees may be required to escrow franchisee payments until it performs them and the franchisee has commenced operations, and the director may allow alternatives to escrow depending on the facts, case by case. The $30,000 is the amount our carrier writes this bond at; not every franchise filing triggers escrow, so confirm with Securities Regulation what it will accept for yours.

You need this bond if you’re

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A franchisor filing in South Dakota whose filing is conditioned on protecting franchise fees
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Choosing a bond over escrow to avoid tying up prepaid fees in an impound account
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Renewing a franchise registration that already carries a bond requirement
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Asked by Securities Regulation to post fee protection as part of your notice filing
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 $30,000 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 Securities Regulation. Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to submit with your franchise notice filing. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

What sets the price

The premium is fixed at $150 at the $30,000 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. No credit check.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the South Dakota franchisor bond?The premium is $150 flat, set by our carrier’s rate book for the $30,000 bond amount, the same for every franchisor. The bond is written at a fixed $30,000, so there’s no quote process.
Does every franchisor need this bond?No. Under the Franchise Investment Act, fee protection — escrow, impoundment, or a surety bond in lieu of escrow — applies when the Securities Regulation administrator conditions your filing on it. Many filings clear without a bond. Confirm with Securities Regulation whether yours requires one.
Do I pay the $30,000?No. You pay $150. The $30,000 is the surety’s maximum liability if a valid claim is made against the bond — it’s not a deposit, and nobody holds your money.
Bond or escrow — which is cheaper?The bond is usually far cheaper than tying up prepaid franchise fees in an escrow or impound account. You pay the $150 premium rather than locking up cash that could be working in your business.
Is there a credit check?No credit check: the application collects no credit information. Most franchisor applications approve instantly.
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.
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Nearby states

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Been told you need a different amount?

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

Franchise fee protection, sorted today.

$150 flat, no credit check, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.

Your price$150
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