Tag: contractor licensing help

Florida Residential Contracting Licensing

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In most states, you must obtain certain types of licensing to legally operate within the state as a contractor of any kind. In Florida, residential contractors of all types are required to sit for two different exams to qualify for the license that allows you to operate in the state.

 

Whether you yourself are a contractor, or you own a contracting business, licensing is required from everyone within the organization. In Florida, contractor’s licenses must be renewed every two years in order to maintain compliance.

 

There are two tests required of general contractors, specialty contractors may be required to take a different set of tests specific to their field. These tests relate to finance and basic business practices.

To even qualify to take the test, you must be able to show proof of at least four years of experience within your field. You will also be required to subject an asset disclosure and will have to have a certain net worth to qualify for certain types of contractor classification.

It is also required that you have proof of general liability insurance that has certain minimums for bodily injury and property damage.

Once you have met all these requirements, you are eligible for the tests required to receive licensing. If you pass both tests and receive your contracting license, you will need to renew the license every two years. One of the requirements for renewal is that you take at least 14 hours of continuing education courses during that two-year period. You can contact the state directly to get a detailed list of what all counts as continuing education for the purposes of license renewal.

 

The process is straightforward and simple. There are a wide range of different study materials that you can obtain to help prepare you for the two tests you must take in order to pass the licensing test. Knowing everything you will need to have in order ahead of time makes the process of getting a license a lot easier than it might otherwise be. It allows you to be better prepared and likely more confident in your ability to pass the required tests.

 

To legally operate as a residential contractor in Florida, you must obtain the appropriate licensing from the state. To become a licensed residential contractor, you will need to provide proof of net worth, liability insurance, experience, and you will also need to take two pertinent tests. If you pass, you will then receive licensing for two years. To renew your license every two years, you must participate in a small amount of continued education in order to qualify for renewal.

 

Looking to get your Florida residential contractor’s license? We can help you through the process; we can make it pain-free and simple. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. To get started with us, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Reasons to Become a Florida Contractor

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The world of contracting is vast. There are many specialties within this industry for an individual to choose a specialty in. Whether you enjoy working on buildings, AC units, swimming pools, or water tanks, contracting is a great way for you to work with your hands and solve problems on a daily basis.

As a Florida contractor licensing company, our job is to help people get their Florida contractor’s license. However, we also take pride in sharing important information and news with the contracting community. Rules are changing all the time and technologies improve so we want to be able to let you know what the 411 is, so you can be on top of what’s going on in your field today.

For this article, we’re directing it to the individuals who are considering a career as a contractor. Below, we’ve listed a number of different reasons to consider a career in this industry.

  • There is always a need for contractors. The numbers for each specialty continue to grow each year. With a growing population and reconstruction, along with old buildings aging, there is always a high demand for the work contractors do. Even when the economy is bad, the jobs of contractors are always needed in some way.
  • You get to work with a lot of different people and develop communications skills, while learning hands-on specialized skills from them.
  • A contractor’s license gives you credibility and people will trust the work you do.
  • With a contractor’s license, you’ll be able to land high-paying jobs at bigger companies.
  • You get to work on a variety different projects, and the chance of getting bored is rare.
  • You don’t necessarily need a college degree to work. But, you do need experience and training.
  • In many specialties, salaries are in a good range. For example, an electrical contractor can earn up to $85-90K per year.
  • With the proper experience, you can move up in this industry and eventually even own and run your own contracting company.

Thinking about getting your Florida contractor’s license? Let us help you. We do all the hard work for you. We have helped thousands get licensed to begin their careers. Click here or call 239-777-1028 to get started on the contractor license process today.

Obtaining a Contractor License in Florida

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When it comes to contracting jobs, in any state, there are unique laws and licensing requirements that one must adhere to in order to operate lawfully within the state. The rules between each state vary, and there can even be variances between different counties within the same state. Anyone who plans to work or operate a contracting service needs to be well versed with the licensing laws in his or her state.

 

In the state of Florida, there are strict licensing laws that require almost all contractors to be licensed by the state in order to operate lawfully. The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation handles this type of licensing, more specifically, the Construction Industry Licensing Board.

 

The Construction Industry Licensing Board is tasked with a variety of different jobs, including the conducting of informal hearings, reviewing disciplinary action, and, of course, considering and granting contractor licenses.

 

This is also the place where you would lodge a complaint to the state against a particular person, business, or contractor. Through this department, you can also easily verify contractor licenses to ensure that anyone you hire is properly licensed.

 

The department also handles unlicensed activity. This is actually a pretty serious offense and if a complaint is verified with evidence, the offender’s information will be forwarded to the state attorney general’s office, who may or may not decide to file charges against the person or company in question.

 

Since the laws are so varied and the penalties for working without appropriate licensing are so steep, it is recommended that you really double check before proceeding with any contracting work without a license. While all may seem above board, it is a big hassle and can be a bit financial burden if the work you are doing was supposed to be licensed work. The fines and penalties for even unwittingly doing unlicensed work can be pretty steep.

 

If you are a company that hires contractors, it is up to you to ensure that everyone who works for you has the appropriate licensing they need to operate lawfully on a given project or work site. Oftentimes, both the unlicensed worker and the company that employed said individual can be held liable for damages in the event of an accident or other issue. The same department that handles issuing and renewing licenses also makes it easy to quickly verify a license so that everyone can ensure that the appropriate requirements have been met.

 

 

Looking to get your Florida contractor’s license? We can help. We are a contracting licensing company in Florida who has helped thousands get licensed. Click here or call 239-777-1028 to get started today.

Change In Mechanical and Air Conditioning Contractor Licensing Exams

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Starting in August, the Mechanical and Air Conditioning “Class A” contractor exams with no longer be given in pencil and paper format; there will be a switch to a computer test. This is great news! People can now take the tests whenever they want, as long as they schedule it. Before, people had to go to certain locations and the exams ran only once every 2 months.

However, construction license exams in pencil and paper format still exist, but they have been cut back to one day exams.  The exam schedule is as follows:

  • Wednesday, August 16, 2017 – Deadline, July 16, 2017
  • Wednesday, October 18, 2017 – Deadline, September 17, 2017
  • Wednesday, December 13, 2017 – Deadline, November 12, 2017

 

If you have questions about any of the exams, our team is here to help. Every type of contractor license requires a different type of testing. If you are unsure about what exams or other requirements that are needed for the type of license you’re trying to acquire, visit our Contractor Licenses page or gives us a call at 239-777-1028.

 

For example, a mechanical contractor has the following requirements and experience needed for a person to obtain a license.

 

  • A person needs to have at least 4 years of experience working for a licensed contractor, or
  • A person needs a combo of college credits or military experience,
  • 12 months of this experience, at least, have to be has a foreman

 

During this experience, a person must do sheet metal ductwork, piping for lift stations, install systems more than 25 tons for cooling and 500,000 BTU for heating, install ACs, install heating equipment, install refrigeration equipment, install boilers, install condensate piping, install digital control wiring and direct it, and more!

 

Like stated above, these requirements are different for each specialty of contracting, but all contractors must pass the exams. Let us help you get your license! Click here to contact us.

 

Does Your Contracting Service Require Florida Licensing?

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When it comes to providing a range of different contractual services in Florida, you may or may not need licensing and even certain permits in order to proceed with the project and be good with the laws of the state. Failing to obtain the proper permits or licenses can result in hefty fines, penalties, and even worse if you are a repeat offender. This is why it is really important to know whether or not you need licensing for a project you have been contracted to undertake.

The basic rule of thumb is that, for most construction related services, your company and perhaps everyone who works in said company, will need to be licensed by the state in order to operate lawfully. This licensing is not required for, say, a group of friends getting together to help a buddy with a weekend project. These licensing requirements are intended for people who receive financial compensation for their work.

Pretty much any sort of major undertaking, particularly if it can affect the structural integrity of the building you are working on, is going to require each person on the project have the appropriate state licensing. However, even if you are getting compensation, there are some projects that do not require state licensing.

Things that are superficial or aesthetic, such installing non-fixed awnings, cleaning of pools and spas, installation or maintenance of irrigation systems, can all be performed for compensation without a license. Driveways and sidewalks, water filtration systems, and even replacement of drywall (so long as it does not effect a load bearing wall) can also be undertaken without a license.

Regardless of what type of project you plan on undertaking, it is recommended to check to ensure that you have the right licensing and permits for any project you are going to be compensated for. Almost all major projects, including anything electrical, structural, or dealing with lead bearing walls or frames, is going to require all who are on the contracted team to be licensed by the state.

 

However, there are smaller, more superficial projects that are routine parts of most contracting jobs that can be performed by an unlicensed worker without any issue. You can find a comprehensive list of what actions require licensing and which do not on the Florida state website, but it is still advised to double check, especially if the project you have been tasked with isn’t on the list.

 

If you’re looking to get a Florida contractor’s license, we can help. We are a Florida contracting licensing company. For more information, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Calling all future contractors!

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Calling all future contractors! The construction world needs you right now.  Right now, there is a high demand in the United States for construction jobs; however, there is a lack of workers. According to the National Association of Home Builders, there are about 200,000 construction jobs that need to be filled across America. The average age of a construction worker continues to rise, and fewer younger people are coming into the industry. Once the Baby Boomer generation retires, then there will be a true shortage in the number of construction workers out there.

Construction is a fast-growing industry right now, increasing 2.8 percent each year. There will be close to 800,000 jobs added in this industry in the next 7 years.

Being a contractor can be a rewarding job, but it can also be a stressful and demanding one, which may be a reason why some people have decided not to pursue a career in this industry. Most, if not all, construction jobs are physically demanding, which means a person needs to be a certain level of physically fit to complete tasks. Many construction workers are also out of work due to sickness of injuries resulting from a job. Construction sites can be dangerous, but also extremely physical, like stated before; people can end up with broken bones, strains, heart issues, hurt backs, pulled muscles, etc.

If you take care of yourself and practice safety measures at any jobsite, your chance of getting hurt of sick will be less. It is good to be physically active with the body, but sometimes it can become too demanding. Checkups with a doctor, chiropractor, massage therapist are great ways to keep the body healthy and limber.

The world will always need contractors. Construction will always occur whether it’s on a new building or an old bridge.

If you’re interested in becoming a contractor, we can help you make that happen. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We will gather all necessary information from you and do all the hard work for you. We will have you licensed fast with little-to-no hassle! To learn more, click our Florida Contractor’s License page or click here or call 239-777-1028 to contact us.

Contractor Warranty Information

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We are a Florida Contractor Licensing company, and although our main focus is helping people get their Florida contractor’s license, we also share information with our clients and the contracting company. The information we share is crucial for people to know to succeed in a career in contracting. For this post, we wanted to share information on warrant claim.

Florida’s Condonminimu Act says that contractors and suppliers must provide a warrant of fitness and merchantability as work and materials provided for condominium developments. The law/act requires the right words be used to describe a claim in order for the claim to be enforced.

Here is an example: An association’s boat storage building had work done on a roof that failed. The association called the roofer, who came out to repair the roof, but he realized the problem wasn’t with the work he did, but the actual materials. At this point, the association made a call to the manufacturer of the materials, but the company would not take responsibility for the leaks that were occurring in the roof. The association decided to file a suit against the manufacturer based on the product’s warranty. The association said they were entitled for the roof to be repaired based on the guaranty given to the roofer by the manufacturer. This did not hold up in court. The court needed to say that the manufacture “furnished, sold and/or delivered materials to the project.” If they used the correct wording, the association would have been able to go after the manufacturer.

As you can see from this example, wording is important.

If you have any questions about this topic, we can help. We help our contractor clients with all sorts of questions in the industry.  If you’re looking to get a Florida contractor’s license, we offer a fast and easy contractor license application process. Contact us about getting your Florida contractor’s license today.

 

 

Self-Reporting Crime as a Contractor

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Did you know as a contractor yourself supposed to self-report any crime you did? Whether or not you knew this information, we want to make you aware of the rules when it comes to self -reporting so you will not get in trouble more than you have to.

As of now, if you are a contractor, you a required to report any crime you have been found guilty of or pled no contest to within 30 days. Any charge falls under this ruling, even if it has nothing to do with your job. It is regardless of adjudication.

If the Licensing Board finds that you, the licensed contractor, were charged during a time that you had a license, and you didn’t report it, the Board can do any number of things from mild penalties to more severe ones.

The Board can: issue a formal reprimand, restrict your practice, suspend or permanently revoke your license, fine you up to $5,000 per offense, place you on probation with the possibility of requiring you do to more exams, schooling hours and treatment (drugs, anger) if it correlates to your offense and charged crime.

If you self-report, you can avoid a Board review when submitting applications for your current license, including transferring your license to another company, changing to active status or qualifying an additional entity.

When you submit any application, a background check is done, and if the Board finds a crime you committed during the time you held your license and didn’t report it, it is most likely you will be called in before the board. It’s in your best interest to report.

If you have any questions about self-reporting or getting your Florida contractor’s license, let us help you. We are an experienced Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of people get their license. For more information or to start today, view our Florida Contractor’s License page.

Intent with Wording for a Contractor

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Contractors, especially those running their own business, have to know a lot more than the basics of the trade. For this post, we wanted to discuss letters of intent. In the contracting world, contracts and deals happen all the time. Letters of intent are enforceable when they are properly written, but they must include essential terms of the agreement at hand including the price, payout, scope of work, duration of project, and a commitment to sign a contract for the work by a certain date. If this letter of intent says it’s not binding until a formal contract is signed, then in a court of law they will say no terms were agreed upon yet.

Think of a letter of intent as a halfway point between a verbal agreement and a formal contract. There is always the chance that letters of intent are unenforceable. If you’re worried about any issues arising, you’re better off skipping this step and creating a formal agreement right off the bat. With a formal contract, looked over by lawyers, there is no question about what is being promised and delivered for a deal or project. All the details are laid out and this contract binds both parties to the agreement.

When you’re a contractor, you also have to think about legal information, along with other rules, regulations and daily duties. If you have any concerns about legal issues or rules in the contracting industry, please feel free to reach out to us. We are a Florida contractor licensing company and we stay on top of all the latest news and rules that you need to know to practice legally.

Looking to become a Florida contractor? We can help get you licensed. We’ve helped thousands get their Florida Contractor’s license and we help them do it fast and efficiently. 95 percent our applicant’s license package makes it through on the first try. Let us help you get your career started. To learn more, get help on other contractor issues, or get your license, click our Florida Contractor’s License page.

Florida Contractor Licensing Company Celebrates 10 Years

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Happy Birthday to us! We are a Florida contractor licensing company and we’re celebrating a big anniversary. Our 10th anniversary! On April 2nd, our company has officially benn in business for 10 years helping Florida contractors get their Florida contractor’s license. We also help people get their contractor licenses in other states, as well.

Since 2007, it has been our mission and goal to deliver the best service in the industry to contractors. In fact, we have helped thousands of contractors successfully get their licenses. We have also helped contractors form their own and new businesses. The purpose of our contractor licensing company is to help people get licensed fast while making the process stress free and easy. We do all the heavy lifting. We are experts in putting together contractor license applications. We know the correct information to provide and everything the Licensing Board needs to know. We take pride in how painless, fast and efficient we make the process.

Our team members are experienced and knowledgeable in this field. In our business, we have be able to get 95 percent of the licensing packages approved for licensure the first time around with no deficiencies. We are also able to get people new businesses and LLCs within a few days.

Our team members are essential to our success. We are dedicated to helping out clients every step of the way. We have worked with electrical contractors, building contractors, and remodeling companies. We also have a well-rounded business background.

If it wasn’t for our clients, we would not have made it 10 years. So, thank you to all out-contractor clients who have made our business a success. Thank you for trusting us to help get your contractor license in Florida.
Not only do we love helping our clients get licensed, but we love being a wealth of information for them, as well. We share contractor news, tips, and legal information to help our clients succeed in their careers.

 

Let’s hope we have another 10 years of helping Florida contractors get licensed in the future. TO learn more, click our Florida Contractor’s License page.