Our Blog Has Moved!!!

We are super excited to share with all of you our new online image! Please visit our brand new website at www.LicensesEtc.com and take a look around. It was designed by the lovely folks at PWSI Systems and Technology. Their expertise in web design, IT support and even hardware made this upgrade so easy. 

By creating the new look and feel for our site, they have helped to bring our site to the 21^st century. The ease of navigation between the pages will help individuals like you to find information regarding licenses for construction, electric, home inspection or mold, new business startup, running your business, or even just getting a personal or business credit report.

The site has also been re-engineered to be a resource for contractors. Our blog will keep you up to date on the latest news for the contracting world. The resource page has helpful links that give you access to many different facets of the industry. You can even tell the world about your experience by visiting our testimonials page!

Feel free to visit us at our online home and let us know what you think! We always love to hear feedback. Also, visit our friends at PWSI Systems and Technology. and be sure to tell them we sent you! Oh and they can do more than websites... don't go to a chain store for your hardware need, they can build it for you!

Congratulations, April licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in April:

• Paulette Brown at Brown & Brown Residential Builders, Inc. of Punta Gorda, FL
• Arnulf Albrecht at Arnulf Albrecht General Contracting, Inc. of Naples, FL
• Robert Ricciardelli at Pelican Bay Contracting, Inc. of Naples, FL
• John David Lowe at Physical Security, LLC  of  Bessemer, AL
• David Williams at Eikon Builders LLC  of  Fort Myers, FL
• Jeff LeBon at LeBon Services LLC  of  Port Charlotte , FL
• Erique Matta at SPF Roofing Systems, Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL
• Matthew Jackson at T.V. Diversified, Inc. of Lake Worth, FL
• Randolph Carter at All Septic All Plumbing, Inc. of Cape Coral, FL
• Michael Cusick at Mike Cusick, LLC  of  Leesburg, FL
• Gary Huffman at Campus Crest Construction, Inc. DBA Florida Campus Crest Construction, Inc. Charlotte, NC
• Richard Copeland at Thor Construction, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN
• James Calvert at Advanced Service by James Calvert, L.L.C. of Venice, FL
• Shanze Lee at S Lee LLC  of  Lake Mary, FL
• James M. Burbach at Summit Building & Development, Inc. of Lake City, FL
• Perry Hodges at Highway Intelligent Traffic Solutions, Inc. of Lancaster, TX
• Blaise Daluise at Innovative Construction Design LLC  of  Sarasota, FL
• Jose Toledo at Melcon General Contractors, LLC  of  Long Island City, NY
• William Markulin at Modern Concepts HVAC, Inc. of Sarasota, FL           

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

Our Experience with the New Experience

As everyone knows, the biggest part of an application for a new construction license is the experience section. What experience are they looking for? How much do they need? What do they consider valid experience?

For Division II Contractors, the basics are simple. In the minimum four years of experience that the board requires for licensure, if you have not gained experience in all areas of installation listed on the application then it will go for an automatic board review. They then will review your work history with you and decide whether or not you have the required experience to be able to receive a license.

Division I Contractor applications are a bit more complicated than that. They are looking for four years of experience working for a licensed contractor. To prove this, actual project details must be listed. Each project must meet four of the areas required by the statute. If the projects do not, you can list additional projects so that at least four areas are met for the requisite time frame. If there is any doubt in the reviewers mind, the applications are going straight to the board for further clarification.

College can take time off the amount of experience you need to submit. The board specifies that 1 year of college is equal to 30 earned credits at an accredited college. No matter how many credits you have, you will still need a minimum of 12 months of experience as a foreman.

The board also has provided the minimum amount of hours that 1 year of experience is supposed to be. Each year of experience is to be 2,000 hours of work under a licensed contractor. The intent is for W-2 employment. This way the individual is working legally under a contractor and is covered by all appropriate insurances. Many applicants going before the board are being asked to produce W-2s.

This is not a guarantee in any way that your application won’t go for board review. We are seeing more and more sent for review. They are really cracking down. We can help to avoid certain pitfalls that applicants are stepping into. Call us to discuss these details in depth. We are here to help.

Licenses, Etc. - A DBPR Approved Credit Reporting Agency

In Florida, to work as a State Certified Contractor the Department of Business & Professional Regulation’s Construction Industry Licensing Board requires all applicants need to provide credit reports personally and on the business entity they want to qualify. Both credit reports must indicate that local, state, and federal records have been searched and personal credit reports must contain a FICO derived credit score.

Licenses, Etc. is now on the Florida DBPR’s List of approved Credit Reporting Agencies!

Our credit reports include:

• FICO Score
• Statement that Public Records have been searched at the Local, State and Federal Levels

So whether you need just a report run or you need an entire application service, call the team at Licenses, Etc.

Credit Report FAQs

Why do I need a Credit Report to get a Contractor’s License?
Your Personal Credit Report enables the State to make a decision on your Financial Responsibility and lets them ensure that the contractor applying for the license is Financially Responsible.

Why do I need a Credit Report for a newly formed business?
They are checking for open liens, judgments and bankruptcies. The State requires that all companies must have a credit report included in the application. The fact that it is a new company does not negate the need to have a report run on that company.

Can I have I have any open bankruptcies, judgments or liens?
The company, applicant and any officer of the company cannot have any unpaid Liens, Judgments or non-discharged Bankruptcies. You will be required to show legal documentation of satisfaction or discharge as proof in order to have your application reviewed.

Congratulations, March licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in March:

• Anthony Onesti at US Electrical Construction Co, Inc. DBA US Construction Group of Woodstown, NJ
• Armando Quintero at Intellisite, Inc. of St. Pete Beach, FL
• Maynard Grover at Elektro Systems, LLC of Ocala, FL
• Clifford Byrd at Specialty Building Services, Inc. of Naples, FL
• Trevor Kutz at Progressive Power Group, Inc. of Rossmoor, CA
• Ryan Hughes at Ryan Hughes Design, Inc. of Palm Harbor, FL
• William Martell, III at Martell & Slattery Construction, LLC of Sarasota, FL
• David Jones at Jones Air Conditioning & Electric, Inc. DBA R-Value Insulation Contractors of Naples, FL
• Greg Walls at Fallsafe Solutions, LLC DBA Fallsafe Walls & Ceilings of Ft. Myers, FL
• Mary Ceavers at Lefta Construction, LLC of Miami , FL
• Louis LaMarca at LaMarca Construction Managment, Inc. of Pittsburgh, PA

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

Alert! BOGUS Certificate of Status Request Form

If you recently set up a new business on the Department of State, Division of Corporations website (sunbiz.org), you may be sent a 2013 Certificate of Status Request Form. Please be aware that this is NOT required to complete any registration process with the state.

These notices are NOT from the Dept. of State, Division of Corporations. The request asks you to make checks payable to Florida Center of Corporations for a fee of $54.47. Do NOT confuse these notices with the messages sent by the Division of Corporations. If you receive this letter--toss it out. This is NOT an official government document, it is a SCAM.

They cleverly are stating that “You have one step left to receive your Florida certified certificate of status.” It appears to the untrained eye that this means there is one step left to be active with the state of Florida. If you are in need of a Certificate of Status for any reason, they can be obtained directly from the Dept. of State, Division of Corporations for only $5 for an LLC and $8.75 for a Corporation.

This should also in no way be confused with your annual report. You DO need to file an annual report with the Department of State, Division of Corporations (AKA Sunbiz), but these are two separate issues. Annual Reports can be filed online directly at www.Sunbiz.org or you can call us for help with the filing. THESE MUST BE SUBMITTED BY MAY 1^ST TO AVOID A $400 LATE FEE.

As always, the team at Licenses, Etc. is here to help you in any way that we can. If you have any questions or need assistance, give us a call. We can help make sure that you don’t get scammed.

Don’t Forget: The Tax Man Cometh a Month Earlier for Businesses

Just a quick reminder from Hill, Barth and King, LLC that the deadline for corporate income tax returns (Forms 1120, 1120A, and 1120S) or to request an automatic six-month extension (Form 7004) is March 15, 2013.

What does all this mean?

Put simply, if your business is a corporation --whether a regular C corporation or an S corporation—you need to have all of your IRS forms filed no later than the last available postmark timestamp on Friday, March 15^th or at the least, you must have completed and submitted the appropriate paperwork to file for an extension.  The good news on the latter is that it’s a simple document and requires little more than your request and your signature.

Just as a quick refresher: C-corporations contain all the typical company characteristics such as possessing “legal persons” status and offering shareholders limited legal liabilities.  They are taxed on their income before distributing their earnings to their shareholders. S-corporations are a in a separate classification because they are not taxed on their income and shareholders shoulder the company’s legal status and protections evenly.

If you have any questions about business or personal income tax, feel free to contact Kevin J. Deardorff, CPA, MBA of Hill, Barth & King LLC’s Naples office by calling (239) 263-2111 or e-mailing him at kdeardorff@hbkcpa.com.

By Kevin Deardorff

Hill, Barth and King LLC® ranks as the 83^rd largest public accounting firm in the nation.  HBK LLC® employs nearly 300 professional and support staff members who serve clients in 12 offices located throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida.

To learn more about Hill, Barth and King LLC® visit www.hbkcpa.com.     

Congratulations, February licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in February:

• Adam Johnson at Air Jam Cooling & Heating, LLC at Port of St Lucie, FL
• Thomas DiTommaso at BBT Construction, Inc. of North Miami Beach, FL
• Arnulf Albrecht at Arnulf Albrecht General Contracting, Inc. DBA Pelican Bay Remodeling of Naples, FL
• David Arent  at Build, LLC of Naples, FL
• James D. Martin at HLM Environmental Remediation, Inc. of Rockledge, FL
• Todd Woodall at Todd Woodall Enterprises, LLC of Vero Beach, FL
• Marc Lerdon, Florida Design and Remodel, Inc. of Port St Lucie, FL
• Jeremy Earl at Signature Bridge, Inc. of Willougby, OH
• Rigoberto Rangel at State Plumbing, Inc. of Miami, FL
• Lawrence Campbell at Best Electric and Air, Inc. DBA Best Home Services of Bonita Springs, FL
• Leland Redfern at Redfern Real Estate Services, LLC of Fort Myers, FL
• Alejandro Vidal at Right Now Air Solutions, LLC of Miami, FL
• Barry W. Ahern at Barry's Cooling and Heating Services, LLC of Naples, FL

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

Registered Vs. Certified

With all this talk about grandfathering of registered licenses, we have gotten calls from many registered license holders. One of the state’s stipulations to this application is that the applicant must have a valid county competency card. Unfortunately some of the individuals that we have spoken to have let their county license lapse thinking that keeping the state registration current was all that they were required to do. This is not the case.

To fully understand a registered license, let’s start with the actual definition as given in the Florida Statutes:

“Any contractor who has registered with the department pursuant to fulfilling the competency requirements in the jurisdiction for which the registration is issued. Registered contractors may contract only in such jurisdictions.”

In laymen’s terms, first, you get a county license and then, second, you just tell the state that it exists by registering it. The license actually resides in the county. Letting the county competency card expire is letting the license technically expire.

So remember, keep the county competency card current and keep your state registration current. To be legally licensed both of these needs to be kept up to date. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to call. We are always here to help you.

Get Yourself a Website

About half of the contractors we meet through our firm don’t have a website.  Most of these contractors are small one-man operations who don’t understand why a website is necessary.  If you’re in the same boat, we would like to share what a website can do for you:

• A website will act as an online calling card. This means that people can find information that will allow them to contact you for quotes and dates of availability

• A website will give you an online presence. This is particularly important as fewer and fewer people are hitting the phone books and newspapers to find contact information for contractors like you. Think about it: why would they bother flipping through the Yellow Pages when they can simply type “Plumber in Naples” into Google and get an immediate result?  

• A website can be your very best selling tool. You can tell people about yourself, what you offer, and show them examples of your previous jobs. Include customer testimonials, too!

Don't stay behind the times. Make sure you are a presence where your customers are searching. 

Congratulations, January licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in January:

• Andrew Waters at QJ, Inc. DBA Ace Air Conditioning of Lantana, FL
• Stephen Brillati at Brillati Carpentry, LLC of Macomb, MI
• John C. Gratton at Keys Contracting Services, Inc. of Marathon, FL
• Chester Forbes at Forbes Can Fix It, L.L.C. of Melbourne, FL
• Rollo C Page, II at Reel Construction Enterprises, L.L.C. of Santa Rosa Beach, FL
• Robert Hine at Morca Construction Services, Inc. of Marco Island, FL
• Jason Sain at Deangelis Diamond Healthcare Group, LLC of Naples, FL
• Nicolas Costabile at High Rock Builders, LLC of Boynton Beach, FL
• Shawn Beckman at Air Cool Inc of Naples, FL
• Adam Eckelbarge at Mader Southeast and EB Builders, Inc. of Edgewater, FL
• Kristopher Belligan at Sentry Metals, LLC of Nokomis, FL
• Dennis Kaiser at DK of Naples, Inc. of Naples, FL
• Garland Weis at Inlet Pools & Spas Corp. of Naples, FL
• Reid Kessel at Central Florida Site Development, Inc. of Orlando, FL
• Robert Bisbee at Advanced Technology Solutions Ocala, LLC of Ocala, FL
• Lance Jones at Clear View Security Group of Orange Park, FL
• Jorge Vaca-Ribera at JVR A/C Services, Inc. of Naples, FL
• James McCann at The Posh Plumber, Inc. of Naples, FL
• Richard Lowisz at Services 4 All Seasons, Inc. of Jacksonville, FL
• John El-Koury at All Tropical Construction, LLC of Islamorada, FL
• Kenneth Pence at Pence Plumbing, Inc. of Jupiter, FL

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

Is Your Resolution to be Licensed?

We are already a month into 2013. This is the time when everyone starts to  realize that the resolutions made with all intention of following through, just aren’t getting accomplished. To achieve our goals, it takes action…

If your resolution was to be licensed, be in business for yourself or add a new level of service to your business, there are clear steps to take.

• Step one: Identify the license needed.

• Step two: If a test is necessary, sign up for an exam prep class and take the test. Resources can be found here.

• Step three:  Submit the application to the state.

Accomplishing your goals can be achieved. Don’t give up before you try. If you want to make it even easier, contact the team at Licenses, Etc. We can advise you on the license you are able to apply for, assist in starting the business and help the application portion go as smoothly as it possibly can. Don’t just wish, resolve and accomplish!

Self-Reporting of Criminal Offenses

As of October 1, 2009, the Florida Statutes require all license holders to self-report to the department. This must occur within 30 days of being convicted, found guilty of, or pleading nolo contendere or guilty to a crime of any kind, anywhere. 

The statute also requires the reporting of any convictions that occurred prior to October 1, 2009.  If you do not submit this information, you can be subject to fines, suspension or license revocation.  You must report any felony, misdemeanor or traffic offense that is not for parking, speeding, inspection, or traffic signal violations. This is true regardless of whether you were placed on probation, had adjudication withheld, were paroled, or pardoned.

It is important to ensure that you are not jeopardizing your license over something as small as a careless driving ticket or speeding in a manatee zone. To report this information, complete the criminal self-reporting document and mail it to the department. You can always call the Licenses, Etc. team as well for help!

Congratulations, December licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in December:

• Kevin Taras at Done-Rite Cooling & Heating, LLC of Naples, FL
• Scott Montgomery at Valley Tank Testing, L.L.C. of Apollo Beach, FL
• Scott Beck at Valley Tank Testing, L.L.C. of Apollo Beach, FL
• Robert Hine at Naples Building Group, LLC of Naples, FL
• Ruth Lofquist at Gator Construction Enterprises, Inc. of Auburndale, FL
• John Verhoff at The EcoPlumbers of Florida, LLC of Fort Myers, FL
• Jeffrey Eisenberger at Hayden Air, Inc. of Palm City, FL
• Francia Fernandez at Electro-Mechanic Industries, Inc. DBA Vermana of Orlando, FL
• Dale Kinsell at Barry Rutenberg & Associates, Inc. of Gainesville, FL
• Kevin Hart at KWH Construction, LLC of Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Lance Martin at Lance Martin Construction, LLC of Naples, FL
• Ricardo Lara Reza at Total Roofing Systems Specialist, Inc. of Martin, FL
• Carrera Padilla at Right Roofing, LLC of Oakland Park, FL
• Robert White at White Inspection Services, L.L.C. DBA White Construction of Winter Park, FL

Any questions? Call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

New License Added: Irrigation Contractor

Big news has been announced regarding a new contractor category for Irrigation Contractors. As to when this license will be active, all we have heard is “in the near future”. What we do know is that the Irrigation Contractor’s exam will be administered via pencil and paper during the April and June 2013 exams. Even better news is that it will be converted to Computer Based format exam in August of 2013. 

This license has been added so that individuals and businesses who work solely with execution of contracts requiring installation, maintenance, repair, alterations, extension, and design of irrigation systems will now be able to legally provide this service without a separate license that is out of the scope of work performed. It is known that this does not include the installation of backflow preventers, which is work that must be performed by a licensed plumber. The Irrigation Contractor’s domain begins at the downstream side of the backflow preventer. Irrigation systems used for agricultural purposes shall not be included within the scope of this license either.

Contractors that would like to take this exam in April or June will be able to register starting in February. The team at Licenses, Etc. will definitely keep you up to date with any new information as it becomes available.

Congratulations, November licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in November: 

• Antonio Uzcategui at Beta Calum, LLC of Jacksonville, NC
• Jeff Lackner at Benchmark Alliance Group, LLC of Naples, FL
• Mike Ricklick at Americold, LLC and RCI Air Conditioning Company of Palmetto Bay, FL
• Charles Everett, Broward Dock and Seawall, Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL
• Maurice Sweet at Tier 1 Custom Builders, LLC of Miramar Beach, FL
• Celia Swink at Swink Consulting and Management, Inc. of West Palm Beach, FL
• Joseph Jack Polansky at JEST Consulting, L.L.C. of Davie, FL
• Brad Lee at Brad Lee Construction, LLC of Havana, FL
• Jason Cline at Cline Roofing Services, Inc. of St. Petersburg, FL
• Mark Raley at Revolution Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. of St. Petersburg, FL
• Alan Wackes at Allied Bean Demolition, Inc. of Coconut Creek, FL
• Robert Miller at Highland Contractors, Inc. of Wellington, FL

FYI:  Since the rules changed, qualifying an additional business entity application is much easier.  You might want to reconsider that second business you always wanted to open. It’s a great time to do it!

Fictitious Names May Be Up for Renewal

Fictitious names, also known as DBAs (Doing Business As), are valid for 5 years and expire on December 31st of the fifth year. Make sure you do not forget to renew if yours is due this year.

Each Fictitious Name Registration must be renewed between July 1 and December 31 of the expiration year to maintain active status. The Division of Corporations will mail to the last reported mailing address, at least 3 months prior to its expiration date, a statement of renewal. This is one reason it is very important to keep your current address on file with the Division of Corporations.

Remember that a DBA is owned by the business entity not the individual, unless you are a sole proprietorship. Operating as a sole proprietorship is typically not the best choice due to tax issues, the fact that you cannot obtain worker’s compensation exemption, and the lack of liability protection. Always consult an attorney or accountant when making decisions like this about your business.

Let us know if you have any questions about renewal. We are always here to help. Our team is your team.

Foreign Filing Facts

Many have expressed confusion about exactly what a foreign filing is. We would like to take a moment to discuss this subject. What is it and why would you do it?

Simply put if you want to conduct business in a state other than the state in which your business was formed, you need to file for foreign qualification with the new state where you would like to conduct business. 

Common reasons why business owners perform a foreign filing versus creating a separate, new corporation:

• Tax benefits in the home state.
• Ability to file under the same Federal Identification Number.
• Insurance only needs to be obtained by the one entity.
• All employees are under the same umbrella company and able to work on any projects that the company has going.

This is just a bit of information on foreign filings. We are neither accountants nor attorneys and any specific questions as to what would be right for you should be directed to one of these professionals. Remember if you have a foreign filing, you still must stay on top of the filings for the home state or it will become a defunct company! Let us know if you have any questions.

Congratulations, October licensees!

Congratulations to the following Licenses, Etc. clients who were approved in October:

• William DeBella at Golden Pool Service, LLC of Naples, FL
• Josh Martin at Vermillion Toney, LLC dba ServPro of Cape Coral of Cape Coral, FL
• Thomas Cain at Aluminum FX Construction, Inc. of Plant City, FL
• Anthony Esposito at Dana Engineering, Construction, Consulting Co. of New Port Richy, FL
• Michael Suggs at Michael Suggs Enterprises, Inc. of St. Augustine, FL
• William Green at B. Green Builder, LLC of Naples, FL
• Rick Stephano at Campbell, Rosemurgy, Stephano Construction Services, LLC of Deerfield Beach, FL
• Daniel Zuloaga at Real Rock Company of Naples, FL
• Steven Pittman at Rifenburg Construction, Inc. of Troy, NY
• Brian Machin at Xtreme Home Builders DBA Eagle Fence Corp of Hialeah, FL
• Phillip Grannell at Grannell Enterprises Inc. of Englewood, FL
• Robert B. Krampen, Sr. at Brico Home Conditioning LLC of Fort Myers, FL
• Traci Brentano at Ceco Pipeline Services Company, Inc. of Houston , TX
• Reina Yvonne Longsworth at Longsworth Comfort Air, LLC of Lehigh Acres, FL

And remember if you would like to be set up on Social Media Networking sites, call Lisa at 239.777.8321 for more information.

It is Now MUCH EASIER to Qualify an Additional Business Entity!

The Qualifying an Additional Business Entity application has been streamlined and we are finding that it has helped a lot of individuals be able to realize their goals. The CILB no longer requires CPA prepared financials or letter of capitalization which means that they are not checking for positive equity any longer if it does not go to the board for review. They also do not require 3-months of bank statements, bank verification letter, a list of projects completed by each company, information about vendors or who can pull permits, or a signature from a “responsible party” of each company.

What they do still require is that you own at least 50% of each business independent of each other to have the application processed and approved at the DBPR.  Officially they have 30 days to do this review, but typically things are getting completed in 2 weeks or so. If the qualifier does not own at least 50% of each of the business entities, then the application will have a mandated review by the CILB.  This review will bump the approval process from the 2 weeks to about 3 months.  This is all because of scheduling for the board meeting.  The qualifier would need to attend the meeting and answer any and all questions posed by the board. 

Things to keep in mind:

• The qualifier must either be an equity owner of BOTH companies OR a W2 employee of BOTH companies, or a combination thereof.  If they are not, there is a VERY slim chance that they will approve the application, and it is not recommended to proceed.
• Ideally, the two business entities should be geographically convenient to each other, as the qualifier will need to be able to explain how they will be able to properly supervise the projects being undertaken by both companies.
• The board can ask any other questions that they deem relevant to this process.

In addition to this, they are still looking for open bankruptcies/liens/judgments, but now also look at CREDIT SCORES.  Any applicant with a credit score below 660 is required to get a financial stability bond.  For Division-1 licenses (CRC, CBC and CGC), the bond is $20,000. For Division-2 licenses (everything else), the bond is $10,000.  Bond amounts can be cut in half ($10,000 D-1, $5,000 D-2) by taking a 14-hour financial responsibility course.

We know this is a lot to take in… trust us… WE KNOW. No one likes change, but this could be just the change you have been looking for. The one thing that can be counted on, we are here to help you.