I've been in the construction business for 5 year. I'm sick and tired of my bosses making cash off of me. I'm ready for my B license. I did some research on a few contractor schools. Just wondering what your guys think about these schools. Ca contractor school online and icontractorschool. They both seem cool, ca contractor school online seems to offer a lot more stuff, but icontractorschool reads to you and is cheaper. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.
I'm ready for my contractors license. I need advice.
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226 Posts
what are you 13?
Pay your dues son, no one is "makin' cash off you".
G'head git your license.... but don't burn any bridges, by the sound of your post... you'll be back.
Pay your dues son, no one is "makin' cash off you".
G'head git your license.... but don't burn any bridges, by the sound of your post... you'll be back.
Once you submit your application, you will suddenly be deluged with a massive amount of junk mail offering books and home study courses. The B license test is very easy, heck they all are very easy considering they are designed so the average construction worker could pass.
The trade part you will find very easy, but people find the law part more challenging. It's about as hard as the motorcycle written test at the DMV, yeah, you gotta study but it's passable.
I'd wait until you start getting the junk mail, then buy a book or a home study guide. I actually took a contractors law course at L.A. Trade Tech and that was all the preparation I did.
Good luck!
The trade part you will find very easy, but people find the law part more challenging. It's about as hard as the motorcycle written test at the DMV, yeah, you gotta study but it's passable.
I'd wait until you start getting the junk mail, then buy a book or a home study guide. I actually took a contractors law course at L.A. Trade Tech and that was all the preparation I did.
Good luck!
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4 Posts
Ready for your license
Do you want to get your GC or just Drywall license?:thumbup::thumbup:
I recommend not doing it online. If its online you tend to have too many distractions at home. Cant really ask questions on the fly.
Hows business in CA Now?
May have to weight that option also.
For the school, bond and License your looking at $2500.00
give or take a few hundred.
If you choose to get your license, it is a bold and big step
that takes lots of responsibility. Good luck
Do you want to get your GC or just Drywall license?:thumbup::thumbup:
I recommend not doing it online. If its online you tend to have too many distractions at home. Cant really ask questions on the fly.
Hows business in CA Now?
May have to weight that option also.
For the school, bond and License your looking at $2500.00
give or take a few hundred.
If you choose to get your license, it is a bold and big step
that takes lots of responsibility. Good luck
tried the sample.
I'm from California. Construction is really bad here, I've been working for a drywall company for awhile, but it's slow. Growing up, my dad was also a GC, and I gained a lot of experience though him. To the guy who asked if I was 13, that was a compliment. I act like I'm 8, but I'm almost 30. He's probably the boss making money off of his workers. Right now in San Diego, it seems that banks have just got to start lending. I know two contractor buddies who have the permits and land. They are just waiting for the bank to approve the loan. As far as studying at home, I think I can do it. I tried the icontractorschool demo and it was quite cool. I won't have to attend anyclasses after work, it reads to me and it's cheaper. I'm really thinking about it. Does anyone know someone who has bought it? Please let me know. Thanks.
I'm from California. Construction is really bad here, I've been working for a drywall company for awhile, but it's slow. Growing up, my dad was also a GC, and I gained a lot of experience though him. To the guy who asked if I was 13, that was a compliment. I act like I'm 8, but I'm almost 30. He's probably the boss making money off of his workers. Right now in San Diego, it seems that banks have just got to start lending. I know two contractor buddies who have the permits and land. They are just waiting for the bank to approve the loan. As far as studying at home, I think I can do it. I tried the icontractorschool demo and it was quite cool. I won't have to attend anyclasses after work, it reads to me and it's cheaper. I'm really thinking about it. Does anyone know someone who has bought it? Please let me know. Thanks.
yeah go out on your own and find out what youve been missing out on! :laughing: like i tell my guys you get to go home at night,my day never ends! i get to find the jobs,bid on them ,get materials to big projects,keep trucks stocked,keep trucks fixed,pay the help and tie their shoes,fix everybodys screw ups,deal with inspectors,deal with non paying customers,deal with supply house bills,run service calls........ and then i have to listen to wife scream because stuff aint done at home,then get up in the morning and do it all over again! 
did i mention ive had 1 vacation since 1996? :laughing: my 17 year old daughter cant wait to be on her own either! :w00t:
did i mention ive had 1 vacation since 1996? :laughing: my 17 year old daughter cant wait to be on her own either! :w00t:
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4,220 Posts
wow, sounds like the company is workin youyeah go out on your own and find out what youve been missing out on! :laughing: like i tell my guys you get to go home at night,my day never ends! i get to find the jobs,bid on them ,get materials to big projects,keep trucks stocked,keep trucks fixed,pay the help and tie their shoes,fix everybodys screw ups,deal with inspectors,deal with non paying customers,deal with supply house bills,run service calls........ and then i have to listen to wife scream because stuff aint done at home,then get up in the morning and do it all over again!
You are picking a Great Time to become a contractor.
I am sure the banks will come running to you to loan you money so you can become a contractor during a recession.
With your attitude you won't last long as a contractor, you should use all of your money and buy lottery tickets since yoiu don't like your boss making cash off of you.
are you looking to be a gc or a drywall contractor
I took a gc course in FL and passed the FL contractors exam but that is where the paperwork just started
just getting a contractors license is not a license to print money
I took a course that took a week 8am to 5pm and all the book and studying, the in person course is worth it
in FL, 70% of all general contractors didnt renew their license this year, it is that bad
I took a gc course in FL and passed the FL contractors exam but that is where the paperwork just started
just getting a contractors license is not a license to print money
I took a course that took a week 8am to 5pm and all the book and studying, the in person course is worth it
in FL, 70% of all general contractors didnt renew their license this year, it is that bad
Where did you come up with this statistic?
Here's the school I used: http://www.cslb.com/
Didn't need to go to the school, but they have some good pointed information that you will find on the test. I also found the general test to be easy, just like Zinsco said.
5 years is not that long. I hope you have enough building experience to pass the test.
If you want some more info on the school, PM me and I'll tell you all about it.
Didn't need to go to the school, but they have some good pointed information that you will find on the test. I also found the general test to be easy, just like Zinsco said.
5 years is not that long. I hope you have enough building experience to pass the test.
If you want some more info on the school, PM me and I'll tell you all about it.
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226 Posts
You've been in construction for 5 years and you referred to your 'Bosses' (plural) your daddy started you off and you're almost 30, now you're asking about the quickest/cheapest way for some online school, and you don't have any money...
Sounds like you're off to a great start!
Kid, it takes at least 6 months to get a test appointment with the state of California, if you are serious i suggest applying first, get your test date so you have a fire under your arse. then make sure you have at least 3k in the bank when you test.
I think that's the state minimum financial requirement for contractors.
Get ready to have EVERYONE go through your pockets before you even make a dime on that license.
Good Luck.
I got mine when I was 28, 10 years after I started, that was my personal goal, 10 years of saving money and learning all that I could before I went on my own.
So what is paying your dues? 20 years? Looks like you have a construction playbook. Why don’t you cut and paste it on the forum. At least I came to my senses and won’t sitting around with my thumb up my butt for next 20 years thinking I should of done this earlier.
Hmmm I wonder how many contractors have went under due to the economy? Probably quite a few. OK, if I start now the process now it might take about a year or less. Do you think more contractors are going to go under within a year? I think YES. So with all these contractors going under I am betting when the construction starts picking up there are not going to be many contractors left. Here is what you are thinking right now “but construction might take years to recover” , and I say hey I can sit on this lic. till it does come back and I’ll be ready.
Keep asking questions and listen to the ones you just do not want to read, Good (Luck
Eddie, do not take all your reading so personal. One of the guys replying has nothing to gain by giving you the real world. I have been in the trade for over 30 years have bought and sold homes all over in every county, and state there is. Forget about having $2500-$3000 you better have about $25,000 to start, carry payroll so you do not get killed, pay fines, and you will have some, insurance, and so much more. You can make up to $500 a day with smart bidding and doing the job yourself, take a one day project and charge 75% of contractor price; you will stay real busy without all the licenses. Are you after the pride of saying "I'm a General", or are you after paying the bills. Good luck and whatever you decide stick with it do not let go because of some bottle necks. You have a dream, make it happen!
Good Luck,
Harry L (MBA)
Eddie, do not take all your reading so personal. One of the guys replying has nothing to gain by giving you the real world. I have been in the trade for over 30 years have bought and sold homes all over in every county, and state there is. Forget about having $2500-$3000 you better have about $25,000 to start, carry payroll so you do not get killed, pay fines, and you will have some, insurance, and so much more. You can make up to $500 a day with smart bidding and doing the job yourself, take a one day project and charge 75% of contractor price; you will stay real busy without all the licenses. Are you after the pride of saying "I'm a General", or are you after paying the bills. Good luck and whatever you decide stick with it do not let go because of some bottle necks. You have a dream, make it happen!
Good Luck,
Harry L (MBA)
1. Welcome to Contractortalk!!! Post an intro and tell us about yourself
2. This post is old from a possible 'troll' who never came back and is probably still sitting on a bucket at break mad at the world cause his "bosses" are still making so much off of him and the internet school talked to him to fast and he couldn't keep up.
3. Is a 30 year trade 'vet' promoting and encouraging someone to forego licensing and proper insurance and to undercut legitimate companies by 25%???
............ you'll fit in just fine.
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7,340 Posts
Workmans Comp, Taxes, SS witholding, Calif Regulations
Thank you, nothing in the world beats building something with your two hands that you can be proud of. My brother’s license is still held up on the Bonaventure hotel in downtown LA. They offered him 1.2 million to use his license, he finished all the court stuff about two years and 2 million later. With all the Calif. regulations and the GC bidding jobs and hiring whoever they please, they are bidding jobs at $20 and hour, no one can compete with that and you know they are not honest people. So there is a game here, and in the Masters program they show you how to play ball, study the laws in the industry you are interested in, learn business math first, get some schooling and practical application, look at the industry and find your niche, what do like to do? If you love your work, you’re not working. I learn something new every day. I have one young man 26 that has some remarkable qualities; he looks, devises a plan, and executes it while considering cost. He amazes me with talent, and I do let my ego or experience get in the way. There will be a new list of over 650,000 new fixers in the next year that is enough work for a whole lot of people. If you have a Calif GC license some states will not let you work there so you are now limiting yourself to one state, not the global positioning you need. Great to be a part of this discussion.
Harry L
Thank you, nothing in the world beats building something with your two hands that you can be proud of. My brother’s license is still held up on the Bonaventure hotel in downtown LA. They offered him 1.2 million to use his license, he finished all the court stuff about two years and 2 million later. With all the Calif. regulations and the GC bidding jobs and hiring whoever they please, they are bidding jobs at $20 and hour, no one can compete with that and you know they are not honest people. So there is a game here, and in the Masters program they show you how to play ball, study the laws in the industry you are interested in, learn business math first, get some schooling and practical application, look at the industry and find your niche, what do like to do? If you love your work, you’re not working. I learn something new every day. I have one young man 26 that has some remarkable qualities; he looks, devises a plan, and executes it while considering cost. He amazes me with talent, and I do let my ego or experience get in the way. There will be a new list of over 650,000 new fixers in the next year that is enough work for a whole lot of people. If you have a Calif GC license some states will not let you work there so you are now limiting yourself to one state, not the global positioning you need. Great to be a part of this discussion.
Harry L
jobs
What in the world are you thinking? Do you think your boss should lose money on you ? Or do you think he should just break even and exchange $$$$ just for the pleasure of your company ?
Let me tell you how it works,with five years experience,the first three you were paid more than you were worth,the fourth he may have been lucky and broke even. Now the fifth,you think you are making him rich. That mindset seems very unrealistic,but hey that is just my ideas. Jump out there and experience the big world of contracting on your own.
What in the world are you thinking? Do you think your boss should lose money on you ? Or do you think he should just break even and exchange $$$$ just for the pleasure of your company ?
Let me tell you how it works,with five years experience,the first three you were paid more than you were worth,the fourth he may have been lucky and broke even. Now the fifth,you think you are making him rich. That mindset seems very unrealistic,but hey that is just my ideas. Jump out there and experience the big world of contracting on your own.
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6,211 Posts
How many of you guys would have been talked out of going out on your own by someone typing a bunch of stuff on the internet? I know I wouldn't have.
I'm always amazed at how many guys respond to a post like this with nothing but discouragement.
Even if he does struggle, its his struggle to take on as well as anyone willing to hire him. Let him have the info he came here for an let the kid fly under his own power. Us old guys were able to to it without the internet community. At least he has a group of guys that can answer some of the hard questions as they come up.
We need young guys to replace us vintage boys. They are in short supply.
I'm always amazed at how many guys respond to a post like this with nothing but discouragement.
Even if he does struggle, its his struggle to take on as well as anyone willing to hire him. Let him have the info he came here for an let the kid fly under his own power. Us old guys were able to to it without the internet community. At least he has a group of guys that can answer some of the hard questions as they come up.
We need young guys to replace us vintage boys. They are in short supply.
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