[larryg]

Hi all,

Took the Florida general contractor exam at the beginning of this month, and passed all three sections the first try(thank god).

Now the hard part begins! Starting and running a business...

So while applying for my license with the state, I am in the process of finally deciding on a company name. Being in Florida, a few of the names I thought of were already taken...and am trying to come up with one but am drawing blanks.

Any words of wisdom? Include the word construction at the end, etc??

(for example I was considering a name of "______ builds" but wonder if the word construction would be better than the word builds.(I am beginning in residential work for now, remodel and new construction)


Thanks!

 

[480sparky]

Choose a name that you can get a website for. You don't want to use Freds_Builds_Blahblah for a website because fredsbuilds is already taken.

 

[pcplumber]

Hi all,

Took the Florida general contractor exam at the beginning of this month, and passed all three sections the first try(thank god).

Now the hard part begins! Starting and running a business...

So while applying for my license with the state, I am in the process of finally deciding on a company name. Being in Florida, a few of the names I thought of were already taken...and am trying to come up with one but am drawing blanks.

Any words of wisdom? Include the word construction at the end, etc??

(for example I was considering a name of "______ builds" but wonder if the word construction would be better than the word builds.(I am beginning in residential work for now, remodel and new construction)


Thanks!

The name 'Contractor' applies to all of your trade categories. When you use a name like 'Builder', Construction, etc. you are telling people that you specialized in specific types of contracting and you are limiting the type of services you offer. There are many types of services a person may not call a builder or construction company for.

 

[TNTRenovate]

The name 'Contractor' applies to all of your trade categories. When you use a name like 'Builder', Construction, etc. you are telling people that you specialized in specific types of contracting and you are limiting the type of services you offer. There are many types of services a person may not call a builder or construction company for.

That's a load of crap. I know plenty of builders, electricians and plumbers who do a lot of remodeling.

Just market yourself, you of ask people should know that.

 

[Calidecks]

That's a load of crap. I know plenty of builders, electricians and plumbers who do a lot of remodeling.

Just market yourself, you of ask people should know that.

Unless your a GC in this state you can't use the words construction or builder in your title. A GC here is considered a critical classification and has more leeway with the use of there title.

 

[SectorSecurity]

Can you do anything in Cali?

It's probably illegal to shake more then twice lol.

As for a business name I have found it doesn't always matter what your name is its the work you do.

 

[Mordekyle]

Make sure your business name translates to email well.


John C Smith Construction would be fine, but don't expect a single piece of email to

john_c_smith_construction_llc@gmail.com

(Unless, of course, you have a hot link from your website or FB)

jcsconstruction@gmail.com would be an easy email, and JCS Construction wouldn't pigeonhole you into any one trade.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Calidecks]

Can you do anything in Cali?

It's probably illegal to shake more then twice lol.

As for a business name I have found it doesn't always matter what your name is its the work you do.

I'm a GC I can build anything I want. Would you be ok if I advertised as a surgeon if I wasn't properly credentialed?

 

[Calidecks]

It's pretty simple if you're painting contractor and advertise as a builder that would be false.

 

[TNTRenovate]

Unless your a GC in this state you can't use the words construction or builder in your title. A GC here is considered a critical classification and has more leeway with the use of there title.

I'm not arguing the legality of a particular state, just that you can use builder or construction in your name and still do remodeling.

 

[larryg]

well....I will be a GC

 

[TNTRenovate]

I'm a GC I can build anything I want. Would you be ok if I advertised as a surgeon if I wasn't properly credentialed?

General contractor is about as generic of a title as you can get.

Synonyms for "general"

Inexact
Broad
Unspecific

And contractor simply means by contract.

So it's nothing like advertising as a surgeon when not qualified. Now advertising as a plumber or electrician I would agree. It's common knowledge that those are specialty trades and require specific training.

I can't think of a single state that would allow anyone to operate as a surgeon without a license, but most don't require a license to be a GC.

 

[Calidecks]

General contractor is about as generic of a title as you can get.

Synonyms for "general"

Inexact
Broad
Unspecific

And contractor simply means by contract.

So it's nothing like advertising as a surgeon when not qualified. Now advertising as a plumber or electrician I would agree. It's common knowledge that those are specialty trades and require specific training.

I can't think of a single state that would allow anyone to operate as a surgeon without a license, but most don't require a license to be a GC.

GC has a very specific meaning in some states.

 

[Calidecks]

Here's what the board has determined a General contractor is in Cali. For legal and advertising purposes.

Business & Professions Code
Division 3, Chapter 9. Contractors, Article 4. Classifications

7057. (a)*Except as provided in this section, a general building contractor is a contractor whose principal contracting business is in connection with any structure built, being built, or to be built, for the support, shelter, and enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or movable property of any kind, requiring in its construction the use of at least two unrelated building trades or crafts, or to do or superintend the whole or any part thereof.

This does not include anyone who merely furnishes materials or supplies under Section 7045 without fabricating them into, or consuming them in the performance of the work of the general building contractor.

(b)*A general building contractor may take a prime contract or a subcontract for a framing or carpentry project. However, a general building contractor shall not take a prime contract for any project involving trades other than framing or carpentry unless the prime contract requires at least two unrelated building trades or crafts other than framing or carpentry, or unless the general building contractor holds the appropriate license classification or subcontracts with an appropriately licensed specialty contractor to perform the work. A general building contractor shall not take a subcontract involving trades other than framing or carpentry, unless the subcontract requires at least two unrelated trades or crafts other than framing or carpentry, or unless the general building contractor holds the appropriate license classification. The general building contractor may not count framing or carpentry in calculating the two unrelated trades necessary in order for the general building contractor to be able to take a prime contract or subcontract for a project involving other trades.

(c)*No general building contractor shall contract for any project that includes the "C-16" Fire Protection classification as provided for in Section 7026.12 or the "C-57" Well Drilling classification as provided for in Section 13750.5 of the Water Code, unless the general building contractor holds the specialty license, or subcontracts with the appropriately licensed specialty contractor.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Chapter 812 (SB 857).)

 

[dsconstructs]

FWIW I went with my name...Construction. I do not do new builds, strictly remodels and repairs. For the most part it's been fine, though there have been a couple times over the years that someone has commented that they assumed I was a larger building company.

Doesn't matter much. It's mostly about how you market yourself. If you are using your name as part of the business name, that's mainly what people are going to associate when doing business with you and passing you along to their friends.

 

[TNTRenovate]

GC has a very specific meaning in some states.

Great! But I'm not arguing that legally it may have a very specific definition, but that even in your own state I bet most residents don't know what it is. So I so stand by what I said. Adding building or constriction to your name doesn't limit what you could do in most people's minds.

 

[Calidecks]

Great! But I'm not arguing that legally it may have a very specific definition, but that even in your own state I bet most residents don't know what it is. So I so stand by what I said. Adding building or constriction to your name doesn't limit what you could do in most people's minds.

But my point is to check your state that may not be correct. The legality of your state is more important than what people think.

 

[pcplumber]

That's a load of crap. I know plenty of builders, electricians and plumbers who do a lot of remodeling.

Just market yourself, you of ask people should know that.

The question is not about who does remodeling. The question is about what is the best name for a contracting company.

When a potential customer is searching for specific services the names XYZ Contracting, XYZ Construction and XYZ Builders give the perception each company is limiting, or not limiting the services they offer.

Generally, if a person wants a bathroom remodeled that person is not going to call a 'Builder' when the name implies that the company builds buildings. For a room addition, I suppose a person would look for a builder or a contractor more than they will look for a construction company.

A construction company implies that the company constructs things and that could be anything from remodeling a bathroom to billion dollar jobs. Construction companies build homes, bridges, shopping centers and millions of other things, but, generally, you will not find that construction companies focus on bathroom & kitchen remodels, decks, etc.

The words 'contractor' as in Acme Contractors does not place any perceived opinion regarding what type work the company specializes in. When a person wants a bathroom remodeled they look for a remodeling 'contractor' a tile 'contractor' a roofing contractor, or even a general 'contractor', and they don't look for construction companies nor builders.

I never heard of someone saying they called a builder or construction company to build a deck, remodel, etc.

The legal definitions have nothing to do with how customers perceive the type services you offer.

I am not calling a 'builder' who builds entire homes to remodel my bathroom. I am not calling a construction company that has bulldozers and cranes to build a deck. But, when I call a contractor his name does not tell me what he does and I am more-likely to call to find out if he offers the services I want.

If you are a 'construction' company that constructs things then that name suits you. If you focus on building homes then you are a builder and that is the name you should choose. If you do building, construction and you also put a lot of focus on remodeling, decks, etc. then I think using 'contractor' is the most suitable choice since is has less perceived limitations.

 

[TNTRenovate]

But my point is to check your state that may not be correct. The legality of your state is more important than what people think.

Again in not arguing that. I never suggested overriding state law with what the public thought. It was purely from a market stand point.

 

[Calidecks]

Again in not arguing that. I never suggested overriding state law with what the public thought. It was purely from a market stand point.

Then I guess we are making two separate points then. Neither is an argument against the other. Both are relevant.