Small Bonds, Big Business: How Tinubu Commercial Bond Automation Increases Carrier Profits

The Surety bonds that make headlines are for giant construction projects that cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build. But they are not the only way to have a successful Surety business. At the other end of the scale, small commercial bonds for as little as $150 can lead to handsome profits for a carrier. But not if they are done the traditional way.

Many businesses—especially small and mid-sized enterprises—require bonds for licenses, permits, and regulatory compliance. These small bonds are low in margin but high in volume, and the sheer amount that a carrier can issue adds up to a significant line of business. The downside is that when small bonds are issued manually, their associated labor cost has a major impact on profits. The key question for commercial bonding sureties, then, is how they can scale these businesses effectively?

Tinubu has solved this problem with automation, making small bonds into big business for carriers.

Instant Issuance and Auto-Renewals Based on Custom Rules

Tinubu’s platform allows carriers to pre-configure bond types with automated underwriting rules, reducing manual intervention. Carriers select the questions and criteria for each bond type, and when an applicant meets these criteria, the bond is issued instantly—no underwriter review is needed. 

Credit score is typically among the criteria that customers choose: our system integrates with the major credit score organizations. The system can also be configured so that if the score on file is, for example, over a year old, a new score is pulled. Criteria can also include business credentials (e.g., valid license, no prior claims) or other risk-based questions that a carrier may choose.

Once a bond is in the system, renewals are automatically generated, ensuring continuous coverage without extra work being required.

Smart Referrals for Edge Cases

Tinubu’s system can be configured so that if an application is narrowly outside the criteria for auto-issuance it can be flagged for manual review. (For example, if an applicant’s credit score is between 575-599 when auto-approve is set for scores above 600). Even in such instances, the system still accelerates the process by pre-sorting applications.

Seamless Agent and Broker Integration

Agents can submit applications through Tinubu’s portal, eliminating paperwork. Also, if carriers allow it, agents and brokers can embed self-service bond applications on their websites, letting their customers apply directly. When a carrier offers this feature, it’s very attractive to agents, as it saves them time, reduces back-and-forth with applicants, and cuts down on errors.

As one of our newer clients—a Surety automation leader at a rapidly growing company—told us, “The Tinubu platform allowed us to quickly launch agent-branded, self-service bond portals. The agent simply provides a logo and the bond classes they want to offer. Tinubu handles the backend, issuance, and compliance. For us, that was a game-changer.”

Scalability and a Competitive Edge

Automated workflows don’t just help carriers manage their workloads more cost-efficiently: they allow them to scale, dramatically increasing the number of bonds they can issue, all while improving the margin on each bond. This would not be achievable with manual processing.

With Tinubu’s automation of bond issuance, carriers reduce underwriting overhead while maintaining control over risk. Agents and brokers save hours on data entry and follow-ups. Customer satisfaction is increased: instead of waiting days for approval, businesses get bonds in minutes. Companies using Tinubu’s end-to-end automation can also price bonds more competitively, attracting more agents and clients. 

For carriers, agents, and brokers, Tinubu’s automated bond issuance isn’t just a tool—it’s a strategic advantage. By automating manual tasks, streamlining approvals, and enabling scalability, it transforms high-volume, low-margin bonds into a profitable and streamlined business.