Month: January 2019

Registered Contractor Vs. Certified Contractor

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Did you know there’s a difference between a registered contractor and a certified contractor? Well, there is in Florida.

 

According to the Florida DBPR (Department of Business & Professional Regulation, a certified contractor is someone who passed the state licensing examination to become licensed (except in cases of Grandfathering and Endorsement). Certified licensees can work anywhere within the State of Florida. While, a registered contractor is someone who registered a local county or municipal certificate of competency with the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board to become a state registered contractor. Registered licensees can only work in the counties or municipalities where they hold a local license.

 

If you’re looking to work in many areas of Florida, you will need a certified contractor’s license.  With a registered contractor license, your license resides in the county. You let Florida know this county license exists. If you let your county license expire, your license overall is considered expired. You need both the county and state registration up to date.

 

With a certified contractor license, you can work anywhere in the state of Florida. You passed an exam and you maintain the necessary insurance. Registered contractors has not taken an exam.

 

You can tell if a contractor is registered or certified by looking them up in Florida’s contractor license search.

 

In terms of quality, registered contractors are as good as certified contractors – only main difference is the registered contractor didn’t take the state exam, but they may have taken a city exam.

 

Looking to get your contractor’s license? Registered? Certified? We can steer you in the right direction. As a Florida contractor licensing company, we will work with you to get your contractor license application approved by the Board. We have helped thousands of contractors in Florida and in other states get their contractor license.

 

We will complete and file all necessary paperwork. To get your contractor license, click Florida contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028.

 

How to Practice Safety on the Job

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Contractor work comes with a lot of risks. When you work with heavy machinery, power lines, power tools, chemicals, sharp objects, heavy objects, etc., there is a higher probability you will get hurt. As a contractor, it’s in your best interest to follow and abide by safety guidelines of your company, of the tools your using, and of a work site.

Each year, there are new safety rules, precautions, tools, and more to ensure worker and work place safety. The goal is to reduce the number of accidents and injuries more and more each year.

We wanted to share with you some tips and things to remember to be safer on a work site or job as a contractor:

  • Know were all the safety supplies are including the first aid kit.
  • Always wear a hard hat when told.
  • Always wear safety glasses and gloves when the job calls for it.
  • Dress appropriately for the weather and job at hand.
  • Watch where you’re stepping.
  • Do not leave tools on the ground.
  • Do not leave machinery running while unsupervised.
  • Do not use equipment you do not know how to run.
  • Always wear proper masks when using certain chemicals.
  • Wear a seatbelt when operating heavy machinery.
  • Keep all tools and equipment cleaned and properly stored away.
  • Inspect all tools and machines weekly to make sure they are running properly.
  • Do not carry or move more than you are physically capable of.
  • Do not keep your back to a machine.
  • Do not ignore safety signs.
  • Do not be oblivious to things around you.
  • Follow safety manuals for machines.
  • Locate all wires, power lines, pipes, slopes, and other hazards at any job and let everyone know where they are.
  • Wear reflective gear.

By following and practicing the above tips, you will likely reduce the number of workplace incidents that occur on you job sites.

Need a contractor’s license? We can help get you licensed. We are a Florida contractor’s licensing company. We know how to file and complete an application, so the Board approves it the right time. We also help get you approved quickly.

To get your Florida contractor license or any state’s contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page. Call us at 239-777-1028 with any questions about a contractor license. We look forward to working with you.

 

How to Become an Electrician

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If you’ve thought about a career as an electrician, you need to be properly certified and licensed in the state of Florida. The Electrical Contractors Licensing Board will issue you your license. In the field of electrical contractor work, there are four specialties: electrical contractor, alarm contractor I (fire alarms), alarm contractor II (no fire alarms), and specialty: residential, lighting, utility line, etc.

You can pursue one or more of these specialty licenses.

If you want to pursue an electrical license, you need to do at least one of the following:

  • Be a manager in this field for at least three years (must occur in the last six years).
  • Be a supervisor in this field for at least four years (must occur in the last eight years).
  • Have at least six years of education/training and/or experience in the electrical field (must occur in the last 12 years).

Each different electrical specialty also has their specific requirements that you need to follow. Every license is different. You may need to take an exam (or a few) or complete a number of courses.

When it comes to submitting your license application, there are many reasons you can be rejected. You could’ve failed your test. You could’ve missed a fee. You could’ve not had enough experience. You could’ve not had enough education. You could have poor credit. You could have a criminal background. Whatever the reason, the Board can reject you and you may have to apply again (if possible).

If you’re ready to get your electrical contractor’s license but are not sure how to properly put a completed application together, let us help you. We will tell you upfront what you’re missing. If you need more experience, we will let you know. We will let you know the fees you owe. We will let you know deadlines. You will be submitted a completed, accurate application with us.

Let us help you get your Florida electrical contractor license! We are a Florida contractor’s licensing company. We are happy to answer all your questions to get you licensed.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028 with any questions about a contractor license. We know how to get you approved the first time!

 

Annual Report Filing and Scam Reminder

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It’s officially the new year, which means from now until May 1st you need to file an annual report for your business. If you do not file an annual report by May 1st, you will need to pay a $400 late fee as a penalty. The late fee will keep your business from being dissolved.

During this time of year, there are a lot of scams that go around regarding the annual report filings. These scams do not come from the Florida Secretary of State and they’re trying to get additional money from you. One such scam may ask you for your annual minutes, which is not something that needs to be filed with the Department of State in Florida or any state. This scam will solicit a $125 fee.

The annual report is required and must be filed. By filing your annual report, your business will keep its active status. If the state hasn’t received anything from you by September, your company will be dissolved or revoked.

Before the May 1st deadline, the fee to file an annual report for a corporation is $150 and $138.75 for a limited liability company. After May 1st, the fee for a corporation will cost $550 and a limited liability company will cost $538.75. As you can see, $400 was added to each amount.

When you file the report, you can also update and change names of officers, directors, managers and managing members; physical and mailing addresses of the company, the registered agent and registered office address; and the federal employers identification number of your company.

If you made an error in your changes, you will have to file a $35 amendment.

You can file and complete an annual report at c at www.sunbiz.org.

 

Need help filing your annual report? Have questions about the filing? Looking to get a contractor’s license? We can help you! We are a Florida contractor’s licensing company. We are happy to answer all your questions to keep your business running or get you licensed.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028 with any questions about a contractor license or annual report filing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Your Demolition Specialty Contractor License

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In 2014, the state of Florida announced a new specialty license available for demolition contractors called “certified building demolition specialty contractor.”

This license became available, so people and businesses can demolish any residential or commercial structure under four stories. If a four-story or taller structure is in the project, the license holder must hold a valid certified general contractor license. For a more technical definition, “this license has been added so that individuals and businesses who work solely with the execution of contracts requiring the experience, financial means, knowledge, and skill to demolish, if not prohibited by law, steel tanks 50 feet or less in height; towers 50 feet or less in height; other structures 50 feet or less in height, other than buildings or residences over three stories tall; and buildings or residences three stories or less in height. Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to restrict or limit in any manner the scope of work authorized by law of other contractor classifications.”

To get this licensed, you need to pass the state certification exam. You must get your license within four years of getting your exam score. For this license, you need to have four years of experience or a combination of college credits and experience. You must also go through a background check that includes fingerprinting.

For this license, you need public liability and property damage insurance. You also need to obtain workers compensation insurance within 30 days of getting your license.

Thinking about getting a demolition specialty contractor’s license? We can help you. We know all the requirements necessary for you to obtain this license. We will let you know if you’re missing anything. We will let you know about all deadlines and fees. We have helped thousands of contractors in Florida and in other states get their contractor license.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028 with any questions about a demolition specialty contractor license or any contractor license.

 

 

 

Is there a Handyman License?

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You’ve probably heard of the term, “handyman,” many times in your life. In short, it’s a person who can do a lot of odd jobs. However, is this person certified to do these jobs? Does he or she need a license to do this kind of work?

Well, there isn’t a contractor license out there that allows you to do it all. You can’t get a license to fix a leaky faucet, install drywall, and repair a roof – it just doesn’t exist! All these jobs fall under individual specialty licenses. To fix a roof, you need a roofing license. To fix a leak in a pipe, you need a plumbing license. To rewire a room, you need an electrical license. Etc. etc.

In Collier County, Florida, there is a “handyman” license, but it is called a maintenance license. Every county allows a person with maintenance license to do different things. You may be surprised to find out the scope of this license isn’t very big. A maintenance license isn’t legally allowed to do as much as you’d think a “handyman” can do. With a maintenance license in Collier County, you can:

  • Assemble Exercise Equipment
  • Assemble Toys
  • Assemble Furniture
  • Assemble Gas Grills
  • Change Light Bulbs
  • Clean & Change Ceiling Fan Blades
  • Clean Garages
  • Clean Gutters
  • Edge Lawn
  • Hang Pictures
  • Haul trash to Dump
  • Install Garage Organizers
  • Move Furniture
  • Mow Lawn
  • Pressure Clean Driveways and Walkways (no Roofs)
  • Rake Leaves
  • Repair Screens
  • Replace caulking
  • Replace Door Handles
  • Wash Windows
  • Perform residential/commercial cleaning
  • Perform construction Cleaning

If you want to work with wires, plumbing, air conditioning units, and so on, find out what license you need before you start working your way toward it. You don’t want to get yourself the wrong license and work illegally!

If you’re looking to apply for a contractor’s license, we can help you with this process. We can get you licensed fast, and we can make the process stress-free. We have helped thousands of contractors in Florida and in other states get their contractor license.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028 with any questions or to get started.

 

 

Help with Getting a Florida Contractor License

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If you want to work as a contractor in the state of Florida, you need a Florida contractor’s license. We are a contractor licensing company, and we can help you get licensed in Florida and other states. Getting a Florida contractor’s license can be a complicated process as many contractors end up getting denied when the application isn’t filled out properly or things are missing. Since the process can be complicated, we wanted to share some frequently asked questions that we get during the contractor license application process.

HOW LONG ARE MY TEST SCORES VALID?

For construction contracting, it’s four years. For electrical contracting, it’s two years.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REGISTERED AND A CERTIFIED CONTRACTOR LICENSE?

A “certified contractor” is a state-wide contractor licensed at the state level.  A “registered contractor” is a contractor who has a county license (or multiple) who then had to register that license with the state because it was a major trade. Registered contractors can only work in the county in which they have a competency card.

AM I ABLE TO USE OUT-OF-STATE / OUT-OF-COUNTRY EXPERIENCE WHEN APPLYING FOR A CONTRACTOR LICENSE?

When it comes to contractor licenses, experience is important and valid no matter where it occurred, if it was legal experience and the projects meet requirements.

I HAVE A TROUBLED PAST; CAN I STILL GET A CONTRACTOR LICENSE?

It depends on the severity and number of incidences and how recent these incidences are. Click the link below to contact us and learn more.

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO RENEW MY LICENSE AND/OR COMPLETE CONTINUING EDUCATION?

In Florida, a certified contractor needs to complete 14 hours of board-approved continuing education every two years by August 31 of an even-numbered year. For registered contractors, they need to renew in odd-numbered years.

If you’re looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, renew your license, or upgrade your license, we can help!

Our contractor licensing company can make getting a Florida contractor’s license easy. We will pull together all the things needed to complete the Florida contractor license application. We will let you know what courses, tests, exams, and experience you need or are missing.  Our goal is to make the process smooth and simple for you.

We are a Florida contractor licensing company but help people in all states get licensed. To get started on the process, click our contractor’s license page or our Florida contractor license page call us at 239-777-1028.

 

How to Market Yourself as a Contractor

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If you’re a contractor, you need to market yourself. How else will people know you exist? As a contractor licensing company, we wanted to share with you a few tips on how you can market/promote yourself as a contractor, so you can get yourself the most business.

  • Word of mouth – Spread the word to family and friends that you are officially licensed customer. Let them know what you do for work and your skillset. Give them a business card.
  • Social media – Make yourself a professional social media page on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Take photos of your work and share it. Engage with people. Talk about your services.
  • Website – Build yourself a website or hire a website development company to make one for you. It’s 2019. If you don’t have a website, you’ll find behind. People want to go online to look at your credentials, work, testimonials, etc. if you don’t have a website, potential customers may not think you’re professional or credible. Even if you are a one-man operation, a website is still necessary. A website, id an online calling card. Your website is an online presence. The internet is where people turn to for information on everything. It’s the new yellow pages. By typing into the search engines, they can easily find you based on keywords like “general contractor in Naples, Florida.”

You need an online presence as a contractor. If you’re not online, you’ll be missing out on so many potential customers. The internet is where your customers are!

If you’re in the processing of becoming a contractor and need a license, we can help you with this process. We can do the paperwork for you faster and get you licensed faster. We have helped thousands of contractors in Florida and in other states get their contractor license. We know what the contractor licensing board is looking for, and we make sure everything is properly included in your application.

We will complete and file all necessary paperwork for the application. To get your contractor license, click Florida contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028.

 

 

 

 

Taking Your Florida Contractor Exam

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In order to become a contractor in the state of Florida (legally), you need a contractor license. In order to get a contractor license, you need to pass the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board’s construction contractor exam. To pass the exam, you must score a 70 percent or higher. The test takes two days and takes place several times throughout the year across the state.

In August 2018, the general, building, and residential examinations began to be administered in a computer-based testing format, while plumbing examinations are still be administered in a paper and pencil format in Orlando

This year’s Florida construction contractor exam dates and locations:

Test date:

February 12-13, 2019 (Deadline: January 12, 2019)

April 16-17, 2019 (Deadline: March 16, 2019)

June 11-12, 2019 (Deadline: May 11, 2019)

If you want a tower Specialty, Demolition Specialty or Industrial Facilities Specialty license, you need to  pass the general category examination of three parts: Contract Administration, Project Management and Business and Finance.

If you want am electrical, mechanical Class A or B air conditioning, gas line, commercial pool, glass and glazing, gypsum drywall, irrigation, Specialty Structure, Underground Utilities, you can test whenever you are ready – there is no strict schedule with these specialties.

If you need help figure out how and when to take your exam or how to apply for a contractor’s license, let us help you. We are a Florida contractor’s licensing company. We are happy to answer all your questions to get you licensed fast. We make the process less complicated and stressful. We have helps thousands of contractors across many states get their contractor license.

To get your Florida contractor license or any state’s contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028 with any questions about a contractor license. We know how to get you approved the first time!

 

Start Your New Year Off with a Contractor’s License

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Can you believe it’s 2019 all ready? Happy New Year! Where did the time go? What’s your new year’s resolution this year? Have you been putting off getting your contractor’s license? Now is a better time than any to get it done! Remember, in the state of Florida, you can not work as a contractor legally without a Florida contractor’s license.

You’ve probably thought to yourself, “getting a contractor’s license is a lot of work,” which is probably why you’ve been putting it off. Well, it doesn’t have to be hard!

As a contractor licensing company in Florida, it is our job to help you get licensed. Below, we’ve detailed some steps that you need to take to get licensed.

  1. Figure out what license you are applying for. General contractor’s license? Electrical? Plumbing? HVAC?
  2. If a test is necessary for this license, sign up for a prep class and take the test.
  3. Figure out what requirements are necessary for the license. You want to make sure you have enough experience and education for you to be approved.
  4. Look at what fees you need to pay.
  5. Send in your application to the state so the Contractor Licensing Board can review your application.

Now, many people send in their applications with errors or missing information. It can be overwhelming to send in a “perfect” application – there is a lot to account for. As a contractor licensing company, we do all this work for you. We know what the Board is looking for. We know how to write/phrase items in your application. We know what qualifications, tests, and fees you need. We make sure we have everything before we mail out the application. We do all the heavy lifting, which makes getting a contractor license easy-as-pie for you.

Let us help you get licensed. Kick off your new year on the right foot.

 

As a Florida contractor licensing company, we will work with you to get your contractor license application approved by the Board. Leave it up to us to get the paperwork filed correctly! To get your contractor license, click Florida contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028.