Giving your contracting business a name has definite requirements and certain limitations in law. So how do licensed contractors decide what to name a new company when they have joined forces? If you’ve seen the red lights flashing in the rearview mirror, will that traffic ticket affect your license application? Maybe yes, maybe no. Can a…
Hopefully, you enjoyed a great holiday and New Year’s celebration. As each year begins new joys and new tests remain ahead for all of us. As we learn from our first questions of 2008, contractors need to be prepared to deal with unexpected change and new challenges to keep their license in good standing… Q: I…
Can a licensed California contractor work in Oregon? You can’t really compare multi-national ‘mega’ construction companies and a local sole proprietor, so why do they both pay the same in bonding? A good question from a large contractor leads us to some basic answers on choosing which license may be best for your company. A last…
Some ‘surprises’ are nice, while some others in life and business, not so much. Sometimes avoiding a ‘surprise’ is just as nice as receiving one. Another contractor caught unaware will find there are sometimes no good answers to share… Q: I got your phone number from a local contractor who says he reads your column. I…
Some people are going ‘old school’ and giving up their PDA’s for pencils and paper. It’s just easier to write it down, rather than spend time pecking notes into a tiny keyboard. While you can find almost anything online these days, it still makes sense to also have some information in a more convenient form. For…
What you need to make your contractor’s application move quickly thru the CSLB is sometimes right at your fingertips. You can ‘do it yourself’ but other times, like our second contractor, it’s a good idea to ask an expert. I’ll help him get ‘pumped up’ to add a new classification without taking a test. Finally, there…
Experience is often the key to unlocking new opportunity. That’s always the case when contractors seek to add a new classification, secure an exam waiver or apply for a new license. A caution for contractors in our final plea, that comes from a workman who is learning the hard way about unlicensed contracting� Q: I’m a…
Readers know that space limitations sometimes reduce how much specific information can be provided for any inquiry. I welcome any questions or need for additional input at any time on the ‘Q&A’ you read here. Hearing from readers is one of the best parts of writing this column. I answer a reader’s request and add to…
There are no words that can encompass the human tragedy of the Southern California fires. Thousands of homes destroyed, lives lost and people impacted for the rest of their lives by the awesome power of fire and nature. We must all think of how we can help give our neighbors and fellow citizens of California our…