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Wisconsin fitness center bonds.
$250 flat.

Wisconsin lets a fitness center collect more than $100 up front for memberships only if it posts a $25,000 surety bond with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Ours is $250 flat, set by our carrier's rate book for this bond — the price you see is the checkout price, and it protects members' prepaid dues if the club closes.

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Required under Wis. Stat. § 100.177 to take more than $100 in advance for memberships
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Fixed price, fixed amount — $25,000 bond, $250, no quote process
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Protects members’ prepaid dues if the center fails to deliver the contracted services
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
How it works

Three steps. One sitting.

The fitness center bond is a fixed-amount license bond — about the simplest thing in surety:

NOW · ONLINE

Apply online

Business details and an effective date. That's the application — no financials, no credit section.

MINUTES, USUALLY

Pay & e-sign

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

SAME DAY

File with DATCP

Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to file with DATCP so you can start selling prepaid memberships. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the bond actually covers

Wisconsin's fitness center law (Wis. Stat. § 100.177) protects consumers who prepay for gym memberships. As a baseline, a center may not collect more than $100 in advance from a buyer before the buyer can use the facilities — unless it files a $25,000 surety bond with DATCP.

The bond is a consumer-protection guarantee. If the center closes, breaches the contract, or fails to provide the facilities and services it promised, a member can recover prepaid amounts against the bond. It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety, and the State of Wisconsin and your members (the protected parties).

It is not insurance for you — if the surety pays a claim, you repay the surety. Centers that deliver what they sell treat the bond as the price of admission to take prepayment, not a risk.

Wis. Stat. § 100.177Wisconsin Statutes § 100.177 governs fitness center and weight reduction center contracts. A center may not require or collect payment of more than $100 before the buyer receives, or has the opportunity to receive, the services — unless the center files a $25,000 surety bond with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for the benefit of buyers injured by the center's breach or closure.

You need this bond if you are

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A gym or fitness club that wants to collect more than $100 in advance for memberships
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A weight-reduction center selling prepaid programs in Wisconsin
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A studio or wellness club — yoga, pilates, spa — taking prepaid membership dues
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Opening a new location and pre-selling memberships before you open the doors

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual issuing fields — no credit section, because this application doesn't have one.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the Wisconsin fitness center bond?The premium is $250, set by our carrier's rate book for the fixed $25,000 bond amount — the same for every center. The $25,000 is set by statute, so there is no quote process.
Do I always need this bond?Only if you want to collect more than $100 in advance from members. Under Wis. Stat. § 100.177, a center that takes larger prepayments must file the $25,000 bond with DATCP; a center that collects $100 or less up front may not need it.
Do I pay the $25,000?No. You pay $250. The $25,000 is the surety's maximum liability if valid member claims are made against the bond — not a deposit, and nobody holds your money.
Is there a credit check?The application collects no credit information at all. Most applications approve instantly.
When does it renew?You can buy a 1, 2, or 3-year term. We send renewal notices 60 and 30 days out, with autopay available, and the bond must stay active as long as you take prepaid memberships.
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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Start selling prepaid memberships today.

$250 flat, no credit review, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.

Start application
Your price$250
Apply now →