I have a limited experience with bonding and let me tell you they get the rubber gloves out!
Digdug I here what you are saying with the smaller bonds - like subdivision bonds ($20k-30K), erosion control bonds ($3k-6K) and sidewalk/street improvement performance bonds ($2k-$5k) - yeah I know:beatsme. These bonds were fairly easy to get.
The kicker is I had to have a $750K performance bond for a development I am finishing - which I did not know the City required before I started moving dirt:Banghead and I had already purchased the property (that is another story). It took me 3 months of constant paperwork, faxes, emails and phone calls to get it. The bonding companies ultimately want to see liquid assets in the amount of the current bonds you have or are trying to get - which in a perfect world happens but in reality if you had that kind of money would you be out working your xxx off or need their services?:beatsme
The bonding companies do take into consideration real estate, equipment owned, savings accounts, etc (cash being the key) when they underwrite you. My wife, which does not own any of the company, had to sign the personal guarantee before we got the bond. The bonding company will want to know everything that you and the corporate officers of the company own, are currently involved in, bank account amounts and the like. Like I said it is frustrating at best. Hope this helps.
Anchor Insurance brokered our bond locally but I can't remember the company that provided it.