Make Sure You’re Covered with Worker’s Compensation Insurance

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Workplace accidents happen. This is why it is important for a contractor to have general liability and worker’s compensation insurance (that is updated and sufficient), especially when on a job site. Florida’s insurance coverage requirements are always in effect for active licenses, regardless if there is a current project going on or not.

When you get your Florida contractor’s license, the state gives licensees a 30-day period from when your license was issues to get worker’s compensation insurance or an exemption. Exemptions are used when a licensed contractor has no employees. However, when it comes to general liability insurance coverage, Florida contractor licensees must obtain the minimum coverage immediately. Whether you plan to work a job immediately or not, you still need to get coverage right away to avoid fines and penalities.

If you move places of employment or ceased the operation of a company, you need to take the proper steps to deactivate the license or move it to a new entity. As long as your license is in an active status, you are required to be properly insured, so make sure your status is inactive if you plan on not working.

Just a reminder: insurance is required to pull permits, so remember to keep your coverages updated and make sure you are covered in all ways you’re legally supposed to be.

If you have any questions about worker’s compensation insurance, exemptions, or general liability insurance for Florida contractors, we can help you. We can also help give you an insurance referral. If you’re looking to get a Florida contractor’s license, we can help you start the process today. We make the process easy and quick. We do all the heavy lifting for you! We know how to properly fill out forms and file to ensure your application will go through and not get denied. Contact us by clicking here or calling 239-777-1028.

What is a specialty structure contractor?

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In the world of contracting, there are a lot of different specialties a person can choose from. For this post, we wanted to share with you one in particular: a Florida Specialty Structure Contractor. In the state of Florida, a specialty structure contractor fabricates, assembles, handles, erects, installs, replaces, dismantles, adjusts, alters, repairs, services, and designs work in accordance with accepted engineering data to manufacturers specifications. This would be done in metal, canvas, vinyl, fiberglass screening, doors, windows, hurricane-protection devices and construction materials.

As a specialty structure contractor, they work with: fabric coverings, metal substructures, screened porches, pool and screened enclosures, preformed panel-post and beam roofs, manufactured housing roof-overs, guardrails, handrails, vinyl and aluminum fences, residential glass window and door enclosures, sunrooms, siding, gutters, and a few other items.

Applicants for a specialty structure contract must have experience in concrete in siding, soffit, fascias, gutters, downspouts, corner cables, rigid bracing, post and beam structures, vinyl and glass windows, screen roofs, screen walls, framed solid panel walls, screen and storm doors, composite metal panel walls, concrete slabs, CMU kneewalls, excavating, laying out, forming and placing pier-type post footings.

These contractors cannot perform work that alters the structural integrity of a building including working with roof trusses, lintels, load-bearing walls and foundations. When it comes to masonry concrete work, these contractors’ work is limited to foundations, slabs, and block kneewalls.

Want to get your Florida contractor’s license and become a specialty structure contractor? Our team of experienced professionals are here to help answer all your questions and get you your license. We have help thousands of contractors get their license. We have been a company since 2007. And around 95 percent of our Florida contractor licensing packages get approved the first time with no issues. To learn more about us click here. To get started on your Florida contractor’s license, click here or call 239-777-1028.

 

What is a Residential Contractor?

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Ever thought of a career in contracting? Like building things? Working with your hands? Thinking critically? Solving problems? If you said yes to all of these things, you may want to look into being a contractor. A contractor is a rewarding career. You get to work on a project and see the fruits of your labor. Hard work pays off in this industry. Plus, you’ll most likely stay in great physical shape because of it. There are also a number of different specialties in the contracting community. One of the biggest contracting specialties is a residential contractor. A residential contractor must obtain a license in the state of Florida to work.

What does a residential contractor do? A residential contractor constructs, remodels, repairs or improves homes (single, two-family, three-family etc) that do not go above two stories. If you want to work on buildings more than three stories, you must get another license, a Florida building contractor’s license. Or, if you want less restrictions on what t=you can build or work on, a general contractor’s license would be your best bet.

Before getting a license, a person must take three different exams: the Residential Contract Administration exam; the Residential Project Management Exam; and the Business and Finance Exam. The Residential Contract Administration Exam is 45 questions long, open book and lasts 4 hours and 45 minutes. The subjects on the exam include: pre-construction activities, project contracts, obtaining licenses, permits and approvals, construction procedures and operations. The Residential Project Management Exam is 60 questions, open book and lasts 4 hours and 45 minutes. Subjects in the test include: construction methods, materials, tools, equipment, safety, reading plans and specifications. The Business and Finance Exam is 120 questions is 6 hours and 30 minutes. Subjects on this test include: establishing contracting business, managing admin duties, managing trade operations, conducting accounting functions, managing human resources, and complying with government regulations.

If you have taken the exams and are ready to apply for a Florida contractor’s license, let us help you. The process can be confusing, and often times, people fail to get their license if things are missing or filled out incorrectly. We are an experienced team of professionals who have helped thousands of people get their contractor’s license. Click here to get your license process started today or call 239-777-1028.

Is a carpenter a contractor?

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Is a carpenter a contractor? Usually, a carpenter is not a contractor, but is usually employed by one. In essence, they are a sub-contractor. However, a carpenter can be a contractor. Contractors provide carpenters, and other workers, with jobs to do and instructions.

Often, many carpenters do not have an education beyond high school,  and can be both skilled and unskilled; they work with materials and tools to build a new or unfinished project. They are a laborer designated for construction tasks.

Carpenter construct, install and repairs structures from wood and other materials; they work on homes, buildings, kitchens, bridges, highways, and more. A carpenter’s skills can be huge. Some carpenters know how to frame walls, put in doors, put in windows, build stairs, install molding, install cabinets, build tunnel bracing, build concrete tunnels, replace glass, replace tiles, repair furniture, change locks, move machinery and more.

This job is a good 40 hours a week, and it is a very physically demanding job. Carpenters do a lot of heavy lifting, standing, bending, kneeling, climbing, and more. They work with a lot of sharp, heavy, and rough materials so safety is a concern.

After high school, many people interested in becoming a carpenter work with a carpenter or attend a trade or vocational school. Some companies offer apprenticeships to people to learn the craft of carpentry; these apprenticeships combine classroom studies with on-the-job training. These programs are usually three to four years.

Skills needed and required of a carpenter include: good hand-eye coordination, physical fitness, manual dexterity, balance, good at math, and more.

If your state requires a license to be a carpenter, it’s essential you get one, or else you will be working illegally. By being licensed, this shows you have experience, that you’ve passed certain tests, and you know the laws.

If you’re looking to get a Florida contractor’s license, let us help! We are a team of professionals who has helped thousands of contractors get their license so they are able to work. We make the process easy and fast for you. To learn more, click here or call 239-777-1028.

What is an Irrigation Contractor?

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Contracting is a huge industry. When a person things of contracting, often times, construction or electrical industries, come to mind. However, there are so many specialties in the world of contracting. Whether you like working with pipes or wood or windows, there is a type of contracting out there to suit a person’s interests and skill set. For this particular article, we wanted to focus on: a irrigation contractor.

A Florida Irrigation contractor maintains, repairs, alters, extends, manages, monitors, audits and designs irrigation systems, including excavation work. Irrigation systems including piping, fittings, sprinklers, drip irrigation products, valves, irrigation controllers, control wiring, water pumps, rain sensors, water conservation devices, water harvesting systems, irrigation main lines, utility alternative water supply distribution lines, and dedicated backflow prevention devices.

To become an irrigation contractor in the state of Florida, a person must take and pass two state certification exams. The Irrigation exam and the Business & Law exam. The Irrigation exam is an open-book test consisting of 80 questions and people are tested on the topics of: pre-construction, construction, maintenance and repair, scheduling and water conservation, rules, laws, and codes. The Business and Finance exam last 6.5 hours and is 120 questions. Topics on the test include: establishing the contracting business, managing administrative duties, managing trade operations, conducting accounting functions, managing HR, and complying with government regulations.

People can take classes to prepare and pass for the two exams. If a person does not take the exams, he or she cannot apply for a license.  In-person classes for these exams are not mandatory; there are also online classes. There are also a variety of books available that can prepare a person for these exams.

Thinking about getting a Florida contractor’s license? In irrigation? Or any other contracting specialty? Our team of professionals can help you. We work with our clients to help them get through the contracting process fast and easy. We do in-depth reviews of licenses packages to ensure everything is exactly right and everything is included. Contact us today. To learn more or start the process, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Florida and Georgia Annual Report filing time

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The annual report time has come and contractor business owners need to file this report before May 1. If a person or company files late in the state of Florida, there is a $400 late penalty that will be given.

The annual report lists important information about a business including: address, registered agent information, officer information and more. When doing this filing, a person also needs to pay the annual renewal fee; this keeps the company active for another whole year. The fee for a corporation is $150 while the fee for a LLC is $138.75.

Like stated above, this filing is necessary because it lets the Secretary of State know you want to keep your company active for another year. This is also the time for any updates you have to outdated or wrong information about your company.

If by the month of September you still do not file this annual report, the corporation or LLC will become administratively dissolved. You can however reinstate and you’ll be subject to any and all annual report payments missed in previous years. A business name is only held for one year.

In Georgia, the annual report filing fee is $50 for both corporations and LLCs. If you file after April 1, the fine is $25 for being late.

Have any questions about the annual report? Need assistance with the filing of the report? Whether you live in Florida or Georgia, we can help! We are a company who helps contractors get their Florida contractor licenses and their Georgia contractor licenses. We make the process easy and it goes by fast. We will help you with any question you may have. Contact us at 239-777-1028 or at support@licensesetc.com. If you want to learn more about or services or contact us online, visit our website here.

How Do I Get A Florida Contractor’s License?

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Are you looking to get your Florida contractor’s license? Great! We hope this blog article helps. In the state of Florida, you need your contractor’s license to practice legally. The Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board issues certified contractor’s licenses to:

Division 1: general, building, and residential
Division 2: Mechanical, roofing, plumbing, Air conditioning class A, Air conditioning class B, Pollutant storage systems, Dry wall specialty, Solar, Sheet metal, Underground utility and excavation, Tank lining applicator, Gas line specialty, Solar water heating specialty, Commercial pool/spa, Residential pool/spa, Pollutant storage systems, Glass and glazing specialty, Pool/spa Servicing, and specialty.

To get a Florida contractor’s license, an applicant must pass an exam. To qualify for the exam, a person must be at least 18 years old and has to meet at least one of the following bulleted items from the list below.

  • A person must have a four-year construction-related degree from an accredited college and one year related experience (that can be proven).
  • A person must have one year of experience as a foreman and no less than three years of credits for any accredited college-level courses.
  • A person must have one year experience as a workman, one year experience (proven) as a foreman, and two years of credits for any accredited college level courses.
  • A person must have two years of experience as a workman, one year experience as a foreman, and one year of credits for any accredited college level courses
  • A person must have four years of experience as a workman or foreman of which at least one year must have been as a foreman
  • A person must have hold an active certified or registered Florida contractor’s license.

If you need help applying for your Florida contractor’s license, we are here to help make the process fast and easy for you. Click here to get started on the process today, or call 239-777-1028.

Change in Administrative Code

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This blog’s intention is to provide contractors information, news, and tips about the profession of contracting. With that said, we wanted to share an update within the industry. Last year, in 2016, the Construction Industry Licensing Board was working on amending a part of the administrative code that details qualifications for contractor licensure. Back in November 2016, the Board presented a final version of this amendment and it went into effect January 5, 2017.

What has changed?

They took out wording that used to state that the applicant needed to provide affidavits from Florida state certified contractor, architect, engineer, or building official. This was eliminated in 2012. Now, any applicant has to provide details of their experience and sign an affirmation page on the application.

Out-of-state experience is now acceptable, but it has to be documented that the applicant was working legally under a licensed contractor. Any “exempted” work will still not be accepted.

Major structural remodeling work is now accepted towards the experience requirement for Division 1 applicants. What does this mean? This means all of an applicant’s experience doesn’t have to be new construction from the get go. Experience can be nearly any habitable structure.

If you want to see the full, new administrative code, click here.  Click on the Qualification for Certification, effective 1.5.2017 section.

If you have any questions about the changes, we are more than happy to help. Looking to get your Florida contractor’s license? We can help. We are a team of professionals that work with contractors to help make the license process fast and easy. We have helped thousands of contractors get licenses and form new businesses. Our clients are usually licensed around 10 days from submission of their application. Let us help you! You won’t have to do much work at all. To get started, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Unlicensed Contracting in Florida is Illegal

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In the state of Florida, it is illegal and a criminal offense to engage in contracting work without a contractor’s license. If a person is caught working without a license, he or she can face misdemeanor or felony charges.

In Florida, there are nine different ways to commit the crime of practicing unlicensed contracting. All a person needs is to do one of these nine things (and get caught with proof) to get a conviction. The nine ways are:

  1. Falsely saying he or he or their organization is licensed, when they are not.
  2. Pretending to be a certificate holder or registrant.
  3. Presenting someone else’s certificate or registrations.
  4. Giving false or forged evidence to the board.
  5. Use a certificate or registration that is suspended or revoked.
  6. Operating a contracting business after 60 days of termination
  7. Performing work that requires a building permit without the build permit being in effect.
  8. Disregarding or violating municipal or county ordinances related to uncertified/unregistered licenses.
  9. Advertising oneself or business as an available registered contractor.

In Florida, a certificate is a certificate of competency that is earned by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, while registration means registrations with the department in accordance with Florida statues.

For the most part, an unlicensed contracting charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, which has penalties of up to one year of probation or jail and a $1,000 fine. If this person has been convicted before or working without a license, they could be charged with a third-degree felony. This felony has penalties of up to five years in prison or probation and a $5,000 fine. There is also court-ordered restitution when the victim claims the work performed was sub-par and caused a loss of some sort.

If a person pleads guilty, they will have a permanent criminal record that can ruin their chance of obtaining a license in the future.

As you can see, obtaining a contractor’s license is important and necessary. If you’re looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, we can help. We specialize in getting our clients their licenses fast and easy. Click here to contact us.

What is an Iron Worker?

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Enjoy welding things? It might be time for you to consider a career as an iron worker. An ironworker is always taking on new challenges, works as part of a team, works outdoors, performs physically demanding work, performs mentally challenging work, and much more. Ironworkers install structural iron and steel that forms and supports buildings, bridges, and roads.

As an ironworker, a person will read and follow blueprints, unload and stack iron and steel onto slings, signal crane operators, use shears, use rod-bending machines, use welding equipment, align structural and reinforcing iron, weld equipment, connect iron and steel with bolts, wires, or welds.

In this field, ironworkers are often working at high heights. They often work in safety harnesses to prevent falls. Many ironworkers work in all kinds of weather. In this position, injuries and illnesses are common from people experiencing cuts from metal and equipment. Also each years, several people die due to falls and contact with equipment and objects.

Most ironworkers go through an apprenticeship, but many learn the career on the job. As of 2015, the average salary for an ironworker was $49,970. The job outlook for an ironworker is projected to grow nine percent from 2014 to 2024. Ironworkers made up 80,100 jobs in 2014. With more buildings and population increases occurring, there is a demand for ironworkers. Ironworkers are also often called upon to help restore and maintain bridges and other buildings.

Unless other contractors, ironworkers usually are not self-employed. To become an ironworker, a certification in welding, rigging and crane signaling can increase a person’s usefulness on the job. Depending on the state, you may need a general contractor’s license to legally conduct work.

Thinking about getting your contractor’s license? In the state of Florida, you’ll need to get a Florida contractor’s license to work; otherwise, you will be working illegally. Let us help you get your license no matter what specialty of contracting work you’d like to pursue. We do all the work for you. Start the process with us today by clicking here.