Replies

1. 
   Mongo | Nov 13, 2003 10:14pm | #1

   I think the only state requirement is for asbestos. Other than that you're working at the local level. This was sent to me way beck when by NYC. Don't forget to bark when jumping through the hoops:

   A person or business must have a Home Improvement Contractor license if engaged in the construction, repair, remodeling or addition to any land or building used as a residence. This includes, but is not limited to, the construction, replacement or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, terraces, patios, landscaping, fences, porches, garages, basements and other improvements to structures or upon land which is adjacent to a home or apartment building. Note: This is only a general explanation of which businesses need to have a Home Improvement Contractor license. For a copy of the actual law regarding this license category, call (212) 487-4069/4075/7074 or come in person to the New York City Licensing Center at the address above.

   To view a sample Home Improvement contract, click here.

   Below are the requirements for a Home Improvement Contractor license. All requirements must be submitted when filing your application.

   Applications must be filed in person at the New York City Licensing Center, 42 Broadway, 5th floor in Manhattan between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

   To speed processing, please submit documents in the order listed below.

   You may not begin to work as a Home Improvement Contractor until you have received your license or the passing results of your Home Improvement examination.

   • Basic Premise License Application (download).

   • For Sole Proprietorships, submit a notarized copy of your Business Certificate. The County Clerk of the borough in which your business is located must certify this certificate. The address appearing on your Business Certificate must be identical to the address for which you are seeking a license. If you are a sole proprietor doing business under your own name, and not a trade or doing-business-as name, you do not need a Business Certificate.

   • For Partnerships, submit a notarized copy of your Partnership Certificate. The County Clerk of the borough in which your business is located must certify this certificate. The address appearing on your Partnership Certificate must be identical to the address for which you are seeking a license.

   • For Corporations, submit a stamped Certificate of Incorporation or a filing receipt. If applicable, you must also submit your corporation's Assumed Name Certificate. These certificates must be stamped by the New York State Secretary of State. For more information, contact the NYS Secretary of State’s Division of Corporations at (518) 473-2492.

   If your business is an out-of-state corporation, you must obtain a Certificate of Doing Business in Good Standing from your home state’s Secretary of State and file this with an application for Authority to Conduct Business in New York with the NYS Secretary of State. A filing receipt from the NYS Secretary of State will be accepted as proof.

   • Sales Tax Identification Number. This is the number on your New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Certificate of Authority. You must enter this number on the attached Basic Premise License Application form. Applications for a Sales Tax Identification Number are available at the NYC Licensing Center at 42 Broadway, 5th floor in Manhattan; the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance office at 86 Chambers Street, 2nd Floor in Manhattan; 55 Hanson Place in Brooklyn; or by calling the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance at 1-800-462-8100 and ask for publication 750. Allow four to six weeks after applying to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance to receive your Certificate of Authority.

   • Photo ID of the person submitting the application. Acceptable identification includes:

   • a driver's license or a non-driver's ID issued by a State Department of Motor Vehicles
   • a passport
   • an alien card/green card
   • a license or permit issued by a government agency
   • a food stamp or AFDC/welfare card
   • if applicant is a city, state or federal employee, an employee identification card

   Note: If this application will be filed by someone other than an owner, partner or corporate officer, the person filing the application must submit an original notarized Affidavit Granting Authority to Act (download) together with one of the above acceptable forms of ID.

   • Proof of premise address. You must provide the original and a copy of the following: 1) utility bill, dated within last 90 days (telephone, gas, electric, cable, water); 2) current lease or deed; 3) current rent or mortgage bill.

   • Proof of current home address. For each proprietor, partner, director, corporate officer and each stockholder owning 10% or more of company stock, you must provide the original and copy of the following:

   1) utility bill, dated within last 90 days, (telephone, gas, electric, cable, or water)

   2) current lease or deed

   3) current rent or mortgage bill

   4) driver's license.

   If you live at another person's address, you must submit:

   1) a signed notarized letter from this person stating that you live with them

   2) proof of address of that person (as outlined above) containing that person's full name and address.

   • Fingerprints. All sole proprietors, partners, directors, corporate officers and stockholders owning 10% or more of company stock must be fingerprinted. Each person to be fingerprinted must come in person with photo ID to the New York City Licensing Center at 42 Broadway, 5^th floor to be fingerprinted. Each person to be fingerprinted must pay a processing fee of $75 by US Bank Money Orders, Agency Checks, Corporate Checks, Postal Money Orders, Western Union Integrated Payment Systems Money Orders, American Express Money Orders and Travelers Express Money Orders (cash and personal checks will not be accepted) payable to NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services. Your fingerprints will be submitted to the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) where they are checked against DCJS’s database for any criminal records that you may have. Note that a conviction will not necessarily prevent you from being granted a license. However, failure to reveal a conviction can constitute grounds for the denial of your application.
   • Contractual Compliance Agreement and Checklist. (download)

   • Workers' Compensation Insurance. Must name the Department of Consumer Affairs as the Certificate Holder. This insurance may be obtained from a private insurance carrier or the New York State Insurance Fund Office at 199 Church Street in Manhattan: (212) 312-9000. If you are exempt from Workers' Compensation Insurance, you must complete the attached Affidavit Claiming Exempt Status form.

   • $20,000 Continuous Performance Bond, properly signed and notarized, and a bond receipt showing that the bond has been paid in full and does not expire prior to the end of the licensing period.

   In lieu of A Bond You May Join Our Trust Fund. The fee for joining the trust fund is $200 every 2 years. The trust fund fee can be paid by check or money order to the Department of Consumer Affairs. This contribution is non-refundable. If you choose to join the fund, please COMPLETE AND SIGN THE ATTACHED TRUST FUND APPLICATION (download).

   • Written Exam. Upon the review and acceptance of your Home Improvement Contractor license application, you must take the Home Improvement Contractor Exam. Fifty (50) minutes is allowed for this exam. There are a total of thirty (30) questions of which you must answer twenty (20) correctly. Be sure that you have carefully reviewed the Quick Study Guide for the Home Improvement exam, which is attached to the Home Improvement Salesperson's application.

   • Home Improvement Salesperson’s License. One of the proprietors, partners, or corporate officers must have a Department of Consumer Affairs Home Improvement Salesperson license or have submitted an application for a Home Improvement Salesperson license OR your company must employ a licensed Home Improvement Salesperson. Please enter the relevant license number on your Qualifying Experience Record form.

   • Qualifying Experience Record and Roster of Employees  (download).

   • Indicate on the Qualifying Experience Record whether you will be hauling or transporting waste resulting from the operation of your business. If yes, you will need to obtain a Commercial Refuse Class One Self-Hauler’s license. Contact the New York City Carting Commission at the following address or phone number for more information.

   New York City Trade Waste Commission

   253 Broadway, 10th Floor

   New York, NY 10007

   Phone: (212) 676-6213

   • If you are SOLE PROPRIETOR doing business under your own Name, you must submit a Notarized Child Support Certification form (download). If your business is a CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP, or if you are a SOLE PROPRIETOR who has filed a Business Certificate (Doing-Business-As form) with a County Clerk’s office, a child support certification form is not necessary.

   • License Fee. Must be paid by check or money order payable to NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. The chart below lists the amount due depending upon when your license application is filed. Note: An odd year is any year ending in an odd digit, for example, 1999, 2001, 2003, etc. An even year is any year ending in an even digit, for example, 2000, 2002, etc.

   Home Improvement Contractor License
   License Term	License Expiration Date	If You File Your Application Between These Dates:	Your License Fee is:
   2 years	December 31st even years	From December 31st in an even year to June 30th in an odd year	$100
   		From July 1st in an odd year to December 31st in an odd year	$75
   		From January 1st in an even year to June 30th in an even year	$50
   		From July 1st in an even year to December 30th in an even year	$25

2. 
   SunnySlopes | Nov 13, 2003 10:15pm | #2

   tree, 

        This is only the tip of the iceberg.

   Do your homework.  http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/hic_tips.html

      You will need insurance first, and be prepared to make lots of phone calls to shop around for insurance, don't be surprised if you can't find a company to insure you and if you do find one, don't be shocked at the premium. 

      Find a good accountant who understands the needs of contractors  and  is competent.  Be prepared to pay him/her and don't cheap out.  You will save money in the short run with a cheap idiot accountant, but you will go out of business.  Believe me, I am speaking from experience. 

      Find a good attorney, who also understands the needs of contractors and have him/her provide you with the proper worded contracts, change orders, etc.  that you will need to conduct your business.  Again, use an idiot,  you go out of business.  Make sure you understand each and every word of the contracts that you present to your clients to sign.  Your attorney will sit down with you and explain them to you. 

   I can go on and on but that would literally take volumes of books.  Ask questions, read books, ask more questions and research some more.  then when you are tired of all the information that you have found in starting a contracting business, find some more.  It is a never ending battle of learning. 

                     I won't wish you luck  because luck is what you need at the crap table.  Not in starting a business.

                                                        Regards,  Woodrow

   "One measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions"

   
   

   ---

   Edited 11/13/2003 2:17:38 PM ET by Woodrow