Contractor Licensing FAQs

We help corporate contractors, sole proprietors and anyone else who may have a question about some aspect of obtaining or using your State license. Small and disabled-veteran contractors are getting more support from the State of California. We give a contractor a ‘helping hand’ to keep the business in the family by reaching beyond his ‘grasp’……

A contracting business, like a marriage, often starts out well. Unfortunately, half of the marriages end in divorce. Who holds the ‘cards’ when the business deal is done? A lot could depend on how the ‘game’ is being played. Like a diploma, many contractors want to display their achievement when they get a license. Do you…

People often seek a second opinion when they don’t like the answer they get. When it comes to applying the law to contractor’s licensing, the CSLB usually has the final say. However, it seems there is some ‘exception’ to the law. Another contractor learns too long ago is also too late when trying to ‘revive’ an…

In writing this column, reader feedback is one of the best ‘gifts’ I receive from contractors’. It signals validation of the value readers receive in taking time to educate themselves beyond the basics. Our first contractor has come back to the well for a double-dip of license advice. Another contractor wants to know if he can…

Have you ever played “Whack A Mole”? If so, you can understand some contractor’s frustration with people trying to scam them. As soon as one scam is exposed another pops up to take its place and waste more of your valuable time. With every recession, these types of con games seem to multiply like moles. A…

‘Time is money’ is an old cliché. However, waiting too long or missing a deadline can cost you plenty. While one contractor learns he can’t afford to wait ‘one day’ to renew an expired license, another will likely be given ‘one year’ to wrap up issues with their license change… Q: I was the Responsible Managing…

Even in the best of times some people will try to ‘fool’ you out of your hard earned dollars. In today’s economy the idea of ‘buyer beware’ is always a good caution before writing the check, especially when fear is used to motivate your spending that buck… Q: I received a mailing from the CA Secretary…

Contractors are finding one ‘bright’ spot in the growing demand for ‘green’ energy. Another electrical contractor feels they are getting ‘burned’ by misinterpretation of the license rules. I will ‘bond’ with another contractor before helping a crane operator understand when a license is required to work in California… Q: Can a contractor perform solar work under…

The Chinese character for crisis is the same as that for opportunity. With the recession requiring contractors to find new ways and new avenues to profit, the idea of qualifying a new license is one frequent topic of conversation. I am also discovering that some contractors are looking farther away to find work now… Q: We…