If you import goods into the United States, you need a customs bond. There are two kinds: continuous and single-entry. Picking the right one can save you real money. Here is how to choose.

What a customs bond does

A customs bond promises U.S. Customs that you will pay the duties, taxes, and fees on your imports. It is required for most commercial imports worth more than 2,500 dollars. Without it, your goods do not clear.

Single-entry bond

A single-entry bond covers just one shipment. It makes sense if you import rarely, maybe a one-time order. You buy it for that shipment and you are done. But if you import often, buying one each time adds up fast.

Continuous bond

A continuous bond covers all your imports for a full year. The amount is usually 10 percent of the duties you expect to pay that year, with a 50,000 dollar minimum. If you import more than a few times a year, this is almost always cheaper than buying single-entry bonds over and over.

Which saves more

Do the math on how often you import. A handful of times a year or more, and the continuous bond usually wins. Just once or twice, and a single-entry may be fine. Many small importers are surprised that a continuous bond costs only a few hundred dollars a year.

We file it for you

Junno Surety files your bond and your eBond electronically with Customs, so your goods are not held up. Tell us how often you import and your expected duties, and we will point you to the option that saves the most.

Related guide: Read the Customs Bond guide.