Florida · before you hire
How to verify a contractor in Florida
Educational research for Florida homeowners. Not legal advice, not a ranking, and not a substitute for the official board.
Updated 2026-08-12
If you already have a name, a truck, or a license number, start with evidence — not reviews and not a marketplace. This page walks through what Florida homeowners typically check before hiring, and how Verify and a Trust Report support each step.
What you should check
Use this as a research checklist. Official boards remain authoritative. Public extracts can lag.
1. License status
Look for Current or Active on the Florida DBPR construction record. Inactive, expired, or other statuses are not automatically “cleared.” Re-check the official board the day you hire — our extract can lag live systems.
In the product: Trust Report license badge and dates
2. License class
The occupation code (CBC, CGC, CRC, CCC, CFC, and others) describes what the person is typically licensed to contract. Roofing is not the same as a general remodel. A mismatch is a reason to ask questions, not a score.
In the product: License class label on the result card and Trust Report
3. Business name vs. license name
The name on your written contract should match the licensed qualifier and, when available, the linked Sunbiz filing. Marketing nicknames are not evidence.
In the product: Display, legal, and DBA fields on the Trust Report
4. Sunbiz entity (when linked)
We only show a Sunbiz status when a high-confidence name-and-location match exists. No link does not mean “no company” — it means we would not invent one.
In the product: Entity status on the card; entity section on the Trust Report
5. Discipline in our extract
Linked board actions appear with dates and source. None linked is a statement about our files, not a lifetime clean-record certificate.
In the product: Discipline section and “what we checked” on the Trust Report
6. Workers’ compensation (separate check)
We do not store coverage status. Ask for a current certificate and use official Florida Proof of Coverage tools before relying on a verbal claim.
In the product: Insurance guidance on the Trust Report
How to use Contractor Trust Hub
1. Search Verify
Go to /verify. A full license id (for example CBC015082) is most precise. A distinctive company name also works. Legal endings like LLC or Inc are optional.
2. Scan the result card
License status, class, location, and a high-confidence entity signal appear first. Open the Trust Report for dates, sources, and “last verified” meaning: present in our last successful ingest — not a live ping at page load.
3. Read “What should I know before hiring?”
That section translates the same evidence into plain language. It is educational — not advice to hire or avoid anyone.
If you do not have a name yet
Planning first is often clearer than browsing a directory. Florida Cost Studio and the kitchen, bath, and roofing calculators produce planning ranges only — never bids — then hand off to verified license matches.
Honest limits
- We are not a consumer reporting agency and not the licensing board. Confirm critical details on Florida DBPR and Sunbiz before you sign.
- Missing from search does not always mean unlicensed — thin shells are hidden by design.
- Local permits, HOA rules, and insurance requirements live outside our extracts. See Disclaimer and Independence.