Tag: florida contractors license

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.

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.

 

 

Mobile Apps for Contractors Part 3

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Contractors use mobile apps these days more than you think. Mobile apps are great for contractors and their companies because people are able to communicate offline and in the field. From time tracking to project sharing, these mobile apps are making contractors communicate with their team and clients easier.

We wanted to share with you some of the newest and best mobile apps out there that you’ll want to download. There’s an app for almost every aspect of the business these days!

Photo Measures – This app allows contractors to take photos and write dimensions directly onto the photo; people can export these photos or save them to a library.

TRUCKAST – This app allows contractors to set up ready-mix concreate order from a mobile device; it allows you o track delivery times, as well as real-time info about a pour job.

PENTA Mobile Field Inspections – This app is good for field inspectors so they don’t need to use paper.

Fall Safety – For those contractors who work at taller heights, this app provide fall detection and can detect falls. If the app thinks there is a fall, it will sound an alarm for 30 seconds then alert your emergency contacts through email, text, and voicemail.

Corecon Mobile – This lets contractors share punch lists, project dynamics, administration, and daily logs.

iHandy Carpenter – This app helps carpenters by acting as a tool for such things as measuring and leveling.

iSafe Inspections – This app helps construction teams save money while managing their safety programs; contractors can automate the type of inspection (safety audits, work orders, property assessments, asset management, service management, and custom forms.

PlanGrid – This app allows contractors and architects to collaborate on project plans, specs and photos.

Looking for a job in contracting and need to get your Florida contractor’s license? Let us help you. We are a contractor licensing company in Southwest Florida. To get your Florida contractor’s license process started, click here of call 239-777-1028.

Mobile Apps for Contractors Part 2

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Mobile apps make people’s lives easier, even in the workplace. Information is faster to retrieve and communication happens faster. Mobile apps aren’t just for games anymore. Employeers can use these apps to track time, share projects, research information and more. As a contractor, you can use many mobile apps out there whether you’re in the field or in an office. And, many of these apps work offline, so you’re able to record or access information even in a remote, offline area.

Mobile apps are becoming increasingly popular in the contracting community. Here is a few quick statistics: 48 percent of construction companies use mobile technology to get customer and job info, and 47 percent of construction companies use mobile apps for drawings, schedules, photos, and documents.

Below, we wanted to share with you some of the newest mobile apps out there for you to use in your daily life on the job.

BlueVue Plans – This app gives contractors quick and easy access to construction plans and revisions.

FTQ360 – This app helps contractors focus on tracking and improving quality, safety and subcontractor performance. There are more than 150 quality control checklists.

Estimate Rocket – This app helps contractors with estimating, invoicing, scheduling, project tracking and CRM; contractors can create and send digital estimates and invoices from the field.

Autodesk BIM 360 – This app helps an employer keep employees up-to-date with documents, plans, and models. This is a document management software.

Safety Meeting – This app covers 34 different trades and meets OSHA’s required meeting laws; it stores records electronically.

Fast Concrete Pad Calculator – This app calculates quantities of concrete and rebar required for a concrete-pad project. It also calculates cost, waste, and allows people to email estimates.

Looking to get your Florida contractor’s license? You want to make sure you’re licensed, so you don’t get in trouble for practicing illegally. If you’re looking to get a contractor license, let our team help you. We are a contractor licensing team in Southwest Florida. To get the process started, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Mobile Apps for Contractors

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Mobile apps are here to stay. Whether for work or pleasure, people are using mobile apps for everything and anything in their daily lives. All industries these days have their own mobile apps to make life easier for workers. Technology can help people get their jobs done, including professionals in the contracting industry. Contractors are using mobile apps both in the field and in the office. 48 percent of construction companies use mobile technology to get customer and job info; 47 percent of construction companies use mobile apps for drawings, schedules, photos, and documents; 38 percent of construction companies use mobile apps for daily reports; 36 percent of construction companies use mobile apps for cost and project reports; and 30 percent of construction companies use mobile apps to keep time. (These statistics came from Sage Software).

Here are some great contractor apps you should check out:

Timesheet Mobile – This app is free and employees can track their time spent at job sites, with customers, along with writing notes and mileage down. This app also alerts workers to clock in and out.

SmartBidNet – This app allows a person to create and track the bid process and it also allows people to build custom prequalification forms to ID the qualifications and risk level for subcontractors before invited on a bid.

JobFLEX – This app can be used connected to the internet or offline. This app allows contractors to create estimate quick and easy. This app can create estimate for up to 50 customers in one account.

ClockShark – This app allows employeers to track the time and GPS location of employees; no more paperwork needed.

Harmon.ie – This app gives contractors access to documents, emails, and the ability to collaborate; this works off and online.

 

These apps are pretty awesome, but there’s no point in using them if you’re not properly licensed. Looking to get your Florida contractor’s license? We can help you. We are a contractor licensing company in Florida. We make the process easy and simple. Click here or call us at 239-777-1028 to start the process today.

 

Contractor Products Worth Checking Out Part 2

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We live in a high-tech world; people need answers fast and are working more efficiently than ever due to new and improved technological advancements. We wanted to share with our contracting community some new and useful construction products that are currently on the market.

CYBERWATCH SAT – this is a satellite, wireless alarm and location meter, specifically designed for remote locations. In a remote location, a contractor can connect his or her phone to the device mounted on a piece of equipment. With this device, a person can send an email or text.

New Book – “A Guide to Building Natural Swimming Pools” by Schiffer Publishing covers management, excavation, lining, walling, plumbing, electrical. Planting, structure, maintenance and more.

ThermalTech – This company has released a solar-powered smart fabric. It is made from stainless steel yarn, is lightweight, and keeps the body warm even at night. This fabric is not bulky and more fashionable looking.

Starlock Multi-Tool System – This system gives a person a quick-change blades with a color code system so a person chooses the correct blade for the job at hand.

Paperlight – PaperLight is a projection display that is touch enabled; it connects to a computer so a person can view and share full-size drawings digitally.

Live streaming – TrueLook, which produces camera systems for construction project monitoring and time-lapsing, now offer a live-streaming option. Employers and managers can watch a live stream of any job site through a web app.

MyServiceWhale – This is a widget that business owners and contractors can install on their websites to give potential clients accurate quotes.

Liquid Nanotint – This product can reduce radiant and conductive heat from windows, making them more energy efficient. You can paint this product on.

New technologies in the contracting business is exciting, but only if you’re a licensed contractor! Otherwise, it’s illegal for you to be working a job. If you’re interested in becoming a contractor, you’ll want to get your Florida contractor’s license. We are a contractor licensing company. We also help people get their Georgia contractor’s license. To get started on the licensing process, click here or call 239-777-1028.