Is YOUR CONTRACTOR really "licensed"?
We have all seen them. Advertising mailers, TV ads, magazine ads or signage on a
truck......"Licensed, insured and bonded." What does this really mean?
First, don't believe any answer you get without proof. I cannot tell you the number of times I have received phone calls from salespeople who tell me they are working in my neighborhood and can do any construction project. I ask if they have a state license and their company name. Inevitably, most every one has told me that they are licensed by the state. While they were on the phone, I checked online. When I tell they that they are not licensed by the state, I get a variety of responses (some too rude to mention here): hang-ups, outright lies and claims that they are licensed, backtracking and then claiming that they mean a local business license. So let's talk about Licenses.
Not all contractors and construction people are required to have state contractor's licenses. There are a number of "exemptions" which are mention below. It is confusing, even to those in construction. So let's start with the easy clarification:
Business License or Occupational Tax License.
Every business should have this license and should be able to provide you a copy. If they don't have it, they may not be paying taxes to their local authority. THIS is NOT a state contractor's license. It is not a professional occupation license. It is merely a license issued to any business who submits the right form and a check in the right amount. I have a business license. Some business licenses also indicate a "profession". This is self-reporting and is generally not verified by the local agency, although some have become more sophisticated and have started asking for a state contractor's license if the contractor seeks a business occupation license for a licensed profession. But note: The state contractor's license is the REQUIRED prerequisiton license.
State Residential or General Contractors License
Certain contractors who perform remodeling or new home construction, basically anything to do with the building structure should usually be presumed to be required to have a state license. They have a "pocket card" they can show you. You can look up their state license information on websites for the State of Georgia. Contractors who have a state license should be able to provide a license number that begins: RB (for Residential Basic), RLC (for Residential Light Commercial) or GC (for General Contractor). Any of these state licensed contractors may perform construction work on single family homes other than work which requires a license under Chapter 14 (explained below). Be sure to have the contractor specifiy in their contract with you that they are state licensed and their license number. Really, in several conditions this can make much more feeling to purchase a good wrist watches purchase when compared to a replica watches uk.
truck......"Licensed, insured and bonded." What does this really mean?
First, don't believe any answer you get without proof. I cannot tell you the number of times I have received phone calls from salespeople who tell me they are working in my neighborhood and can do any construction project. I ask if they have a state license and their company name. Inevitably, most every one has told me that they are licensed by the state. While they were on the phone, I checked online. When I tell they that they are not licensed by the state, I get a variety of responses (some too rude to mention here): hang-ups, outright lies and claims that they are licensed, backtracking and then claiming that they mean a local business license. So let's talk about Licenses.
Not all contractors and construction people are required to have state contractor's licenses. There are a number of "exemptions" which are mention below. It is confusing, even to those in construction. So let's start with the easy clarification:
Business License or Occupational Tax License.
Every business should have this license and should be able to provide you a copy. If they don't have it, they may not be paying taxes to their local authority. THIS is NOT a state contractor's license. It is not a professional occupation license. It is merely a license issued to any business who submits the right form and a check in the right amount. I have a business license. Some business licenses also indicate a "profession". This is self-reporting and is generally not verified by the local agency, although some have become more sophisticated and have started asking for a state contractor's license if the contractor seeks a business occupation license for a licensed profession. But note: The state contractor's license is the REQUIRED prerequisiton license.
State Residential or General Contractors License
Certain contractors who perform remodeling or new home construction, basically anything to do with the building structure should usually be presumed to be required to have a state license. They have a "pocket card" they can show you. You can look up their state license information on websites for the State of Georgia. Contractors who have a state license should be able to provide a license number that begins: RB (for Residential Basic), RLC (for Residential Light Commercial) or GC (for General Contractor). Any of these state licensed contractors may perform construction work on single family homes other than work which requires a license under Chapter 14 (explained below). Be sure to have the contractor specifiy in their contract with you that they are state licensed and their license number. Really, in several conditions this can make much more feeling to purchase a good wrist watches purchase when compared to a replica watches uk.
Search for your contractor's state license informationSearch by company or individual. These links will take you to the Georgia Professional
Licensing Board search site. |
What do I check?Be sure to check the type of license you are searching for and consider search alternatives -- Ken Jones could be under J. Kenneth Jones or Ken J. Jones. Acme Remodel and Construction may have several alternatives. My recommendation is to look up the name of the corporation specified on the contract with the Secretary of State's office. If the corporation is not licensed, it does not matter that the individual who may be "associated" with the company is or that a related company is licensed. The company or individual that MUST hold a state contractor's license for licensed construction work is the contractor named in the contract. If you cannot find that the company listed with the Secretary of State's website it may be operating under a
trade name, ask for a copy of their trade name reqistration.
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