Tag: how do i become a florida contractor

Report: Construction jobs increased in August

On: By: admin

 

The U.S. construction industry added 28,000 jobs in August, but contractors expressed difficulties finding experienced workers.

 

According to reports by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Associated General Contractors of America, last month’s employment gains followed a hiring dip in July. The construction industry has added 214,000 jobs since the start of the year, including 129,000 jobs in specialty trades.

 

The number of unemployed individuals whose last job was in construction fell to 448,000, the lowest August total since 2000.

 

“Construction firms have stayed busy, adding employees in the past year at nearly twice the rate of employers throughout the economy, but more than two-thirds of contractors report[ed] difficulty finding craft workers as the number of unemployed, experienced construction workers hit a 17-year low,” AGC’s Chief Economist Ken Simonson said in a press statement. “Although construction spending has fluctuated recently, many contractors are still looking for qualified craft workers and project managers.”

 

An industry-wide survey in August found that 70 percent of contractor firms had difficulty finding qualified craft workers. Forty-three percent of those surveyed expect hiring will continue to be difficult over the next 12 months.

 

“Half or more of the 1,608 respondents said they were having trouble finding carpenters, bricklayers, electricians, concrete workers or plumbers,” Simonson noted. “Some salaried positions — notably project managers and supervisors — are also hard to fill.”

 

Trade association officials have urged leaders at all levels of government to take steps that help recruit and prepare more young adults for high-paying construction careers, including increased funding for technical education programs.

 

“Exposing students to construction as a career path will encourage more of them to pursue these high-paying careers,” AGC’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Sandherr said.

 

New to the industry? A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit  our Florida contractor licensing website or call 239-777-1028.

 

What Does A General Contractor Do?

On: By: admin

Do you know what a general contractor does exactly? What the position entails? There’s so many different types of contractors today that it can be hard to remember who does what. If you’re looking to hire a general contractor for work, you want to make sure he or she has the right skills you need for the job.

In the state of Florida, a general contractor is recognized as a “a contractor whose services are unlimited as to the type of work which he or she may do, who may contract for any activity requiring licensure under this part, and who may perform any work requiring licensure under this part, except as otherwise expressly provided in s. 489.113.”

In order to become a licensed general contractor, a person must show 48 months on jobs with at least 12 months as a foreman or a combination of college and experience totaling at least 48 months with at least 12 of those months as a foreman. This person must also show at least 1 year or more of experience with habitable structures bigger than 4 stories. He or she must also have responsibility in at least four of the following areas in construction: Foundation/slabs greater than 20,000 sq. ft, Masonry walls, Steel erection, Elevated slabs, Precast concrete structures, Column erection, and Formwork for structural reinforced concrete.

If you’re a homeowner and need work done in or outside your home, most likely, you’ll need to call up a general contractor. Looking to build a home theater? Game room? Home office? Hobby room? Outdoor deck? Raised ceilings? Want a second floor? Outdoor kitchen? A total remodeling? A general contractor and his team of subcontractor can plan and execute this project.

A general contractor can help a person or family renovate and improve the look of their home without them having to buy a new home to fulfill their new needs or desires.

If you or someone you know is looking to become a licensed general contractor, we can help. We are a Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of contractors get their license. To learn more about this process, click our Florida general contractor page. We make the process fast and simple. To start working with us today, click our Florida contractor page or call 239-777-1028.

New home starts, sales data signals good news for Florida contractors

On: By: admin

New housing starts and home sales are considered to be indicators of economic strength. So the latest data should signal good news for Florida contractors and workers in the construction trades.

 

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released statistics that show an uptick in new residential construction activity during the month of June 2017.

 

Nationwide, the number of privately owned, new home construction starts was 1.21 million — up 2.1 percent over the June 2016 level. The number of privately owned housing completions for the month was 1.20 million – up 8.1 percent year-to-year.

 

The news followed a June report by Reuters that noted U.S. homebuilding had fallen for the third-straight month in May. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the construction industry gained 16,000 new jobs in June and 6,000 new jobs in July, with the residential sector fueling growth.

 

Locally, FloridaRealtors reported positive movement in the sale of single-family homes, townhouses/condos and manufactured homes in June, noting that new homes listed in the Sunshine State are selling quickly.

 

Compared to the same month last year, the number of single-family home sales rose 4.3 percent, while townhouses/condo sales increased by 4.9 percent and manufactured homes sales jumped 9.1 percent.

 

Sales prices in June were also higher: The average price of a single-family home was $328,921 (up 7.3 percent); for townhouses/condos, the average price was $255,717 (up 5.9 percent), while the average price for a manufactured home was $87,288 (up 14.8 percent).

 

The data, so far, are in line with what analysts predicted the housing market would look like in 2017. Sales prices are expected to continue to rise with increased demand from homebuyers, with younger individuals born after 1980 increasingly looking to own a home rather than rent. Some experts suggest that there may also be a growing premium on high-end homes because they’re more profitable to build.

 

Housing and real estate data for July 2017 will be released later this month.

 

A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor’s license site or call 239-777-1028.

 

 

Contractor Products to Add To Your Wishlist Part 2

On: By: admin

A contractor needs to be in with the new. Whether it’s the latest trend or technique, he or she has to be well versed in the present and future of contracting. If there is a better and more efficient way to do something, you’ve got to know it! Otherwise, you and your business will fall behind and other contractors will be picked over you for certain jobs. Although certain practices, products and regulations will never go out of style, there are plenty of ways to enhance the field of contracting. With more education and technology in the world, the more advance our work, our techniques, our safety, our products, and our environments can be.

As a Florida contractor licensing company, we take pride in sharing new information with our clients and the contractor community. For this article, we wanted to share a few new products on the market that can benefit a variety of different specialties within the field on contracting. We have shared new products with you before, but there are so many released every year! We want you to know about as many as possible.

Here are a few new tools that you may be interested in investing, especially if you are in the plumbing field of contracting.

Milwaukee: M12 Drain Snake Kit – For plumbing contractors, this tool will help you with tough jobs. It works on jobs through 2-1/2” drain lines. This device weighs 10 pounds, and is the lightest drainage cleaner tool out there. It is powered by a Redlithium battery pack.

Rothenberger Robend 4000 Bending Tool – This tool is powered to bend pipes up to 1 3/8 inches. There is little friction with this tool. When the bent angle is complete, the machine shuts off. It’s strong enough to bend stainless steel.

Ridgid MR-10 Magnetic Locator – This device can find buried iron and steel objects, and it can do it fast. It’s far superior to a regular metal detector, and it gives the user a more accurate reading. It looks specifically for iron and not aluminum or copper.  It can help contractors find septic tanks, drainage grates, studs, pipes, valve boxes, and more. It can find objects up to 10 feet deep in the ground.

A few other new products:  DeWalt Press Tool DCE200, Milwaukee The Cheater™, DeWalt Threaded Rod Cutter DCS350.

It’s always important to be in the know about the latest and greatest gadgets. Some of these tools can truly benefit you.

Are you looking to become a contractor? Or work for one? You’ll need a contractor’s license. In the state of Florida, you cannot work legally without a license. If you need help getting your Florida contractor’s license, we can help! We are a Florida contractor licensing company who helps people get their contractor license fast. We specialize in making the process easy and stress free. To get started on your application, click our Florida contactor’s license page to learn more or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

Help for Running a Contractor Business

On: By: admin

Running a business is hard. It doesn’t matter how many years you’ve put in into the industry, running a business is a lot of work. There’s a lot to do, remember, take care of, etc. etc.  It can be hard to run the day-to-day parts of the business when you need to get a lot of other work done, including working on projects and managing other contractors – that’s where we come in. We are a Florida contractor licensing company who helps people get their Florida contractor’s licenses, as well as help them start a business and continue to run their business.

For this article, we wanted to share with you how we can help you run a business.

We can help you:

  • Keep track of deadlines for your license and business
  • Keep you from paying reinstatement and late fees
  • Give you a comprehensive list of requirements (that your state and county) requires for your business and licenses, even if you have several.
  • Remind you when to file your annual report.
  • Remind you when your continuing education (CEUs) need to be completed.
  • Help you with corporate amendments, foreign qualification, corporate name change, s-corp election, DBA, and registered agent services.

 

Once we have made of list and done all these things, we can offer you a maintenance service to take care of things for you out the year. Some things we can help you with while other things you need to do on your own, but we will make you aware of that. We will take care of everything on time so you won’t be paying late fees. When you work with us, you’ll never have to worry about missing anything.

 

Our services offer you convenience. We will take a lot of work and stress of your plate. If this sounds good to you, let us help you run your business like a well-oiled machine. Contact our contractor licensing team by clicking here or calling 239-777-1028 for a personalized quote! We have helped thousands of contractors get their licenses and businesses. We make the process easy and stress free.

 

Unlicensed contractors target of undercover investigation

On: By: admin

Think unlicensed contracting work is no big deal?

 

Think again.

 

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the arrest of nine men in July on charges related to performing unlicensed contracting work, following an undercover investigation dubbed “Operation Freelancer IV.”

 

With the help of Florida’s Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, detectives contacted individuals who were advertising home repair services – work that requires one or more state-issued license.

 

Once the contractor showed up to a home to perform the work, authorities checked with the DBPR to determine if they held a license, were registered as a contractor in Florida and were required to hold workers’ compensation coverage.

 

The three-day sting reportedly resulted in 11 felony charges and seven misdemeanor charges. Those arrested ranged in age from 42 to 69, and resided in Bradenton, Englewood, North Port, Myrtle Beach, Port Charlotte and Sarasota.

 

Typically, a first offense results in a civil citation, but subsequent violations can lead to misdemeanor or felony criminal charges. Those charged can also expect to receive a cease and desist order from the State of Florida.

 

“Maintenance operations like these should be a good reminder for consumers to always seek licensed contractors to perform work on their homes or businesses,” Sheriff Tom Knight said in a WFLA News Channel 8 report. “Consumers are exposing themselves to financial and physical risk by allowing these people to enter their home, unlicensed, and in some cases, with criminal histories. Let this be a warning to criminals who come into our community and illegally solicit services that their behavior will not be tolerated.”

 

In a separate sting operation in June called “Operation Builder Bust,” authorities in Lakeland arrested eight men on similar charges. Those charged reportedly advertised their abilities to perform wide-ranging plumbing and electrical work on the Internet without licenses or training, and all but one had no workers’ compensation coverage to protect their employees, according to news reports.

 

A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. We are a Florida contracting licensing company. We can help get you licensed. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor license website or call 239-777-1028.

 

An ‘active’ year predicted for hurricanes in Florida

On: By: admin

It’s mid-July, and we’re 1½ months into the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. Weather forecasters have predicted an active hurricane season, with as many as 17 storms expected (and named, from Franklin to Jose, Ophelia to Tammy). A handful of those could turn from tropical storms into hurricanes, with sustained winds up to 74 to 95 mph — the range for a Category 1 storm – or higher.

 

Officials say it’s never too early to start preparing for the uncertainty of hurricane season. 2016 was the most active year for hurricanes in the Sunshine State since 2012, with four major storms wreaking havoc along the state’s eastern seaboard. Hurricanes Matthew and Hermine together caused more than $1.5 billion in property damage, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

 

And while hurricane season officially ends Nov. 30, the potential for severe weather remains year-round: In January, a series of tornadoes ripped through areas of Florida and Georgia over two days, causing extensive property damage and killing more than a dozen people.

 

Wild weather poses unique challenges for contractors – whether they’re installing solar panels, repairing swimming pools or remodeling homes. Here are some things to consider as the hurricane season advances into August:

 

–With storms developing by the week, it’s important to keep tabs daily – or even hourly — on changes in weather systems, so that project schedules can be adjusted at job sites.

 

–Communicate regularly with workers about emergency procedures and safety plans. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publishes guidelines for storm preparedness.

 

–With major storms closing in, contractors should clean up and secure work sites, especially those with heavy machinery and equipment. Objects such as portable bathrooms, garbage bins, tools and loose building materials can turn into damaging projectiles during high-wind events. Board-up windows and seal doorways, and expect localized flooding.

 

In a storm’s aftermath, when the demand for emergency repairs is high, don’t get caught performing unlicensed work. Roof repairs, the installation of new windows, plumbing work, electrical rewiring and the rebuilding of marine docks all require a license – and not just one single license. The penalties for performing unlicensed work, even for first-time offenders, are stiff — up to one year in prison or 12 months of probation, and a fine of $1,000.

 

That’s especially important to know for out-of-state contractors seeking work in Florida.

 

A Florida contractor licensing company can help companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida Contractor Licensing website or call 239-777-1028.

Do You Want a Career in Roofing?

On: By: admin

If you like working with your hands, and doing physical labor, a job as a roofing contractor could be a great match for you. Well, unless you’re afraid of heights!

What does a roofing contractor do? They install, maintain, repair, alter, extend and design everything to do with roofs. They are skilled in knowing how to waterproof, coat, repair, stop leaks, and more. Roofing contractors repair and replace and install roofs in both residential homes and commercial buildings. A roofer can be self-employed or work for a larger construction-based company. This job  will never be put out of work as roofs will always be found on homes and buildings across the country and world.

You can’t just have knowledge of roofing to become a roofer. You need a license. Without the license, you are practicing illegally and unsafely. If any problem occurs, you can get into a lot of legal trouble.

As a roofer, you can also have a specialty. Roofs are made from all different materials. Roofers can choose which type of roofs they are exceptionally skilled at installing or repair, like metal or tile, and some even do solar panels.

As a contractor licensing company, we can help you get your Florida roofer contractor’s license. We have helped thousands complete their application successfully and get their license fast. As part of the application process, there are certain requirements and experience needed in order to get a license. Here is a list of what is required.

  • Four years of experience working under a licensed roofing contractor. This experience can be reduced by up to 3 years with college credits and/or military service.
  • At least one year out of the four years of work experience must have been as a foreman
  • You have to show experience from this employment period that shows substantial compliance with statutory experience requirements in all of these areas:
    • Built-up Roofing Systems
    • Built-up Roofing
    • Roll Roofing
    • Modified Bitumen
    • Cold Process
    • Single-ply Systems
    • Single-ply
    • Foam
    • Architectural Metal Roofing
    • Concrete and Tile Roofing
    • Shingles & Shakes
    • Gutters and Downspouts

 

If you’re ready to get your Florida roofer contractor’s license, please contact us to get started. The process can be stressful and complicated, but we know the ins and outs of everything needed. We will do all the hard work for you. Click here or call 239-777-1028 to get started on the contractor license process today.

 

 

Florida Residential Contracting Licensing

On: By: admin

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.

Mobile Apps for Contractors Part 2

On: By: admin

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.