The Capitol Connection is our weekly Q & A column for contractors that focuses on topics pertaining to contractor's licensing.
Long time readers have already learned that getting the best or latest interpretation of license law always comes from the main office. When contractors grow, by ‘doing-business-as’ (DBA) a second or third license entity, how you structure those companies does make a difference. Although Dave’s not here, I will help him find his answer about what…
Just as the Giant’s and A’s renew their cross-Bay rivalry to open the baseball season, a contractor also makes a great ‘catch’ here. Another contractor will discover he’s been pitched a real ‘curveball’ from his past. I’ll take a ‘swing’ at hitting the ‘sweet spot’ as he already has two ‘strikes’ against him… Q: As the…
There are always sad stories coming from economic crisis, but letting frustration with those conditions determine your behavior is also sad. We begin with a contractor who let things go too far in seeking ‘justice’ for money owed. You can lend a ‘hand’ in controlling a growing problem for licensed contractors, and we ‘engineer’ a solution…
‘Green’ technology is helping revitalize building. Who can properly install that solar energy system may unexpectedly create new profits for some contractors. As in most economic downturns businesses look for new ways to work, and contractors are ‘generally’ on the ‘cutting edge’ when it comes to innovation… Q: I have a General building license and want…
If you ‘pay the freight’ you might naturally expect to receive delivery of what you paid for. However, government doesn’t necessarily always meet those expectations. Unfortunately, today it’s more like ‘business unusual’ in California. No matter how long you’ve been licensed there is always more to learn. A concrete contractor helps us ‘cement’ the learning curve…
As I have advocated for many years in the end piece for this contractor’s Q&A, ‘knowledge is power’. I share with you the benefit of knowing your license, and the laws that apply to using it. We also visit that place between the ‘rock’ of private contracting law and the ‘hard place’ of public works rules…
If you don’t want to get ‘soaked’ by the wet weather, compliance with new runoff rules will ‘divert’ the potential for fines. While many are doing business ‘as usual’ contractors in California should be on high alert about a bill that would make a fundamental change in how and when license suspensions occur… From time to…
A new Federal rule reminds us that you may not be able to ‘see’ the future, but you can anticipate some problems before they occur. For contractors, especially those involved in demo, renovation or remodels in older buildings, you must ‘lead’ the way in preventing toxic exposures. Finally, we help subs know when to put a…
If we had a ‘Way Back’ machine like the old ‘Rocky and Bullwinkle Show,’ we could revisit those days when government kept what it knows about you and your business on file cards. As one contractor has discovered that isn’t the case in our ‘information sharing’ society. Another aspiring contractor takes us back to some ‘basic’…