Do You Need A License To Do Metal Stud Framing And Acoustical Ceiling Installation?

nautaflcl

I'm a subcontractor at the moment, and i've been doing this work for about five years, and my skills are pretty good. I have tons of experience, but I want to learn more when it comes to the business.
I started learning young, and i'm still pretty young.
But do you need a license of some sort in order to do jobs in those trades? Or does that only make you more legit? Are there even licenses for those trades? I thought only more technical jobs like electricians and plumbers required licenses.
Anyway, thank you very much for your advice.
p.s. I'm in Kentucky, in case you need to know that info. thanks.

Anti-wingnut

It seems that at the minimum, you need insurance and a business license. If you have employees, they must be covered by L+I if applicable. What Kentucky does not require, but should from all businesses operating in the state, is the ability to use Internet search engines such as Google

http://www.contractors-license.org/

http://www.thinkkentucky.com/BIC/ebpermits.aspx

nautaflcl

Lol
Then there are helpful forums like this one.
This is what this forum is here for right?
Then there's no need to act like i just posted an irrelevant question.
I just needed some help from experienced people.
I thought i would find that here.
Anyway, I don't operate under a business name, at least not yet. I however have other's that work under me.
So if i decide to contract work directly with the general contractor then I should have a business license? What about just subcontract work with people under me like i do now?

Anti-wingnut

But too often questions with the tenor of yours come off as

It seems probable that State and/or local business licenses would be required if you were selling newspapers on the street, so yes you should have a license, no matter what.

?

I have no idea what you are trying to say here. How is doing " subcontract work with people under me" any different than contracting directly to the general? If you aren't the prime or general contractor, you are either a employee, or a sub-contractor. Are your "employees" actually employees, or are they being (illegally) treated as sub-contractors themselves?

Anti-wingnut

Obviously you'll need this

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/...=99921,00.html

Anti-wingnut

Since every single post and thread you have ever written pertains to this same subject, I thought I would give you a little help.

1) You do need to realize that the best source of information comes from the web sites of your local and state governments, as well as the Feds. You would be well advised to search these for your answers. You can also visit and call these offices. People here would be much more likely to help given some evidence that you are doing your own research, and trying to help yourself, than your continuous Business 101 questions. These lead many to believe that you want people to hold your hand, and you don’t want to do everything on your own.

2) In your state of Kentucky, it seems that business licenses are all that are required for your trade. Further licenses are only required for HVAC, plumbing, and electricians. You should further research this, but it does seem likely that there would be no trade license requirements for grid ceiling work. Trades where further licenses are common in other states include: GC, elevator, gas piping, environmental remediation, boiler and pressure vessels. This list is merely demonstrative, and is non-inclusive

3) When you get your state business license, I would imagine that somewhere in the morass of forms, you will be able to set up a UI, sales tax, and L&I account for yourself (if applicable) and your employees. There may be further accounts you will need to set up with the state.

4) You will need a tax number from the IRS, so you can pay into your and your employees SS and withholding.

5) You will need coverage from an insurance company for an appropriate amount, to protect yourself in case somebody or something is injured on your job. Most insurance companies will need proof of a business license or of incorporation before they will sell you business insurance. If your job is more “thinking” than doing, errors and omissions insurance is needed. I do not think this is the case with you; an example would be an engineer, consultant or home inspector.

6) Some jobs require bonding. The meaning of this can vary from state to state, or trade to trade. My brother-in-law owns a carpet cleaning company, and his employees are bonded, in as much as if some personal belongings of the HO come up “missing”, there is a level of protection available. There are also performance bonds. These are a financial obligation on the part of the bonding company, ensuring that the contractor will complete the job, or that there is money available to bring in another contractor in necessary. These are common only on very large jobs.

7) You will need to understand that you will be a contractor, and generally always be a sub-contractor, in that you will be billing a prime or general contractor who is responsible to the owner. I have particular experience in commercial construction, and can tell you that you may have certain situation where an owner may approach you direct. I would avoid this situation. Ceiling grids involve the electrician and the HVAC contractor at the minimum. Who then becomes responsible for scheduling? Likewise, your knowledge of the codes may have to become greater. You should have a good understanding of where fire-rated ceiling assemblies are required, and since Kentucky is in a potential tornado area, I imagine that these can also affect your work. I live in Seattle, where seismic concerns and their application to the grid assembly are equally important.

8) Health insurance, profit sharing, and pensions will issues will have to be resolved. In most cases, if you receive retirement and health benefits from an employer (yourself) than all of your employees who meet certain criteria are also eligible. You can really get bit in the butt here.

9) I would like to reiterate that all your employees will need to be covered by L&I.

10) I know it’s coming, so I need to strongly disabuse you of any notion of treating anybody working for you as in independent sub-sub-contractor. It doesn’t work. CT has had many discussions regarding this. In almost all conceivable situations that you as a grid-ceiling contractor may have additional workers installing the ceiling, they would have to be considered employees. It is common for shady and lazy contractors to attempt to call these workers subs, and issue them a 1099. This is incorrect, and can land you in hot water. The IRS web site has some good information about this.

11) There are probably many issues that I have missed, or am wrong about, because my experience is confined to the upper left part of the country. Others may point out differences

I hope that the next time we see a post by you here on CT asking about becoming a contractor, it gives some evidence of somebody who has done a little homework, and you are able to stop asking the same dribble. You need to do your own due diligence

Morning Wood

IMHO you want to get licensed for just about anything you can. Just plan on doing it all. I'm in the process of getting my CSL here in MA, signed up for the RRP at the end of April. I've got my HIC (Home Improvement Contractor) permit, but it is a joke. State wants your $$$. You need a CSL (Construction supervisor License) to do any real work and have it be permitted and legal. Sure I can get by without it, but when you get bigger jobs and have clients that want written contracts and permits etc. you have to be able to provide that. So, go ahead and get the most licenses permits you need and do it right and play it safe. that's my opinion.