Construction/Contractor Business License Wizard

Receive Construction Licensing, Permit and Tax Registration Applications Instantly

Businesses in the Commercial, Contractor, Home Improvement and Specialty Contractor industries are highly regulated by countless state and local authorities often requiring complex and detailed licensing. Due to the potential harm of construction projects, each state has unique contractor licensing laws, specialty classifications and application requirements. Every contractor, from Electrical and Commercial to Landscape and Home Remodeling needs to be properly licensed before it can start operating. Our Construction & Contractor License Wizard performs this research in real-time and takes you straight to the ones you need instantly.

How the Wizard Works

You provide basic information about your business, and we do the rest:

• Research all licensing and permit requirements at every level (including general, specialty and regulated businesses) as well as tax registrations (sales tax, use tax, withholding tax, etc.)
• Provide a free preview listing the number of licenses, permits and tax registrations might be relevant to your business - you'll have the option to purchase the full report delivered via email
• Send you an email with links, instructions and applicable documentation for every application, along with contact information for each respective licensing authority

Industry Background

Construction and contractor businesses can encompass a variety of licenses, from general contractor licenses to specialty licenses and classifications. All businesses will need some sort of license to comply with mandates for safety, competency and taxation. Requirements may also vary by the way in which business is transacted such as obtaining a Certificate of Authority (also called Foreign Qualification) if you are doing business or bidding on a project in another state. Failure to obtain proper licensing could leave you with pricey penalties such as forfeiting compensation, a lack of legal protection as well as criminal penalties, ranging from fines to jail time.

NOTE: You cannot incorporate your business through this tool, but we offer that service too!
A common misconception is that the obtainment of licensing turns your company into an LLC, corporation, or other official entity with the state. If you'd like to incorporate, visit our Incorporation Options page.

NOTE: Certain industries are highly regulated by government agencies, and often incur greater licensing requirements.
Examples of highly regulated industries are agriculture, animal related, hazardous materials, education, explosives & firearms, etc. In such cases, we recommend using our Business License Application Package.

Related Services: Foreign Qualification

The filing that’s most commonly required for a business bidding on a project or transacting business in another state is called a Certificate of Authority, also known as Foreign Qualification. This document indicates that a business is registered to work and in good standing.

Related Services: DBA Filing

Filing a doing business as (DBA) allows you to keep your official company name but transact business under another name. A DBA name is typically used when you want to use multiple names for one business, such as opening multiple business locations.

Need help understanding your business license requirements?

The following are some specific licenses, permits, requirements, and tax registrations that are common for construction and contractor establishments:

Sales and Use Tax Registration: Generally imposed on retail sales, leases, rentals of most goods and on some services, a Sales Tax ID is obtained by the state’s Department of Revenue. A Sales Tax ID enables the business to collect taxes, receive a sales tax exemption, and/or obtain resale certificates. New and existing businesses must understand whether and where they should apply for a Sales Tax ID –- the state will issue penalties if your company does not comply with these laws. Only a few states do not collect a sales tax (AK, DE, MT, NH, OR). Other names for the Sales Tax ID include:

• Reseller Permit
• Sales Tax Exemption Certificate
• Sales Tax Vendor ID Number
• Sales Tax Registration
• State Tax ID Number
• Reseller Tax ID
• Reseller Certificate

Electrical Contractor Licensing: Heavily regulated by state and local authorities, each authority has unique licensing laws and application requirements. Many states have an Electrical Contractors Board or Board of Electrical Examiners which administer examinations and issue licenses. Other states issue the license under the General Contractors Board as a Specialty License. Licensing agencies generally issue the following electrical licenses:

• Electrical Contractor
• Apprentice Electrician
• Journeyman Electrician
• Master Electrician

Several states classify electrical contractor licensing further under the following classifications in order to determine the monetary limits of contracts businesses can conduct:

• Limited/Restricted Electrical Contractors
• Intermediate Electrical Contractors
• Unlimited/Unrestricted Electrical Contractors

Lastly, some states go further and allow local jurisdictions to enact their own regulations which are often more stringent than state requirements. State and local authorities often allow specific licensing exemptions for specific types of electrical businesses such as low voltage contractors.

General Contractor Licensing: Applies to owners and operators that are primarily responsible for the supervision of an entire construction project. Each state has a General Contractor Board that establishes regulations and administers certification examinations to verify the competency, applied background and training necessary to obtain licensing. Many states have local authorities with unique licensing and application requirements.

Home Improvement Licensing: Heavily regulated at the state and local level, many jurisdictions require specific licensing for home improvement which may require multiple application requirements. Licensing applies whether the work is commercial or residential. States and localities specify what home improvement work requires licensing.

Commercial Painter Licensing: Commercial painters are regulated at the state and local level. Some states require a General Contractor’s license with a Specialty License in painting. Multiple application requirements may exist based on the locality within the state where the work will take place. Other states do not require a license but may require registering a business at the state and/or local level. This may involve incorporating if you are starting a new commercial painter business or applying for a Certificate of Authority (also called Foreign Qualification) if you are doing business in another state.

Residential Painter Licensing: Most states require residential painter licensing which may involve licensing at the local level. Some states issue the license under the General Contractors Board as a Specialty License while other states require a Home Improvement license.

Solar Contractor Licensing: The solar industry is heavily regulated at the state and local level, many jurisdictions require specific licensing for solar contractors which may require multiple application requirements. Licensing applies whether the work is commercial or residential. Some states require solar contractors to acquire an Electrical Contractor license or General Contractor license with a Specialty in solar contracting.

Specialty Contractor Licensing: All states and most local jurisdictions regulate specialty contractor licensing to reduce the risk potential for harm during certain types of construction. Common types of contractor classifications that require Specialty Licensing include:

• Concrete
• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Landscaping (some states)
• Painting
• Plumbing
• Roofing
• Swimming Pool
• Solar

Certain contractor classifications may require passing state trade exams to obtain the license.