Florida homeowner guide
How to check a Florida contractor before hiring
By My Contractor Report · Reviewed
A license number is a useful starting point. Before signing a contract, check that the license, business name, work scope, and current documents line up with the company on your quote.
1. Verify the license with Florida DBPR
Ask for the contractor's license number. Use the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation license search to check its status, classification, and the person or business it belongs to. Save the source link and the date you checked it.
For construction businesses, review the individual qualifier and associated company together. DBPR's business-information guide explains this relationship. Confirm that the company on your contract is the business you are researching; a license number by itself does not answer that question.
2. Match the legal business name
Compare the quote with the Sunbiz business search. Check the legal name, document number, and address. Similar names can identify separate entities. Ask for the legal company behind any trading name, and investigate that relationship rather than assuming a match.
An active filing does not establish a contractor license. Read Sunbiz vs. DBPR for the distinction. If the paperwork and records differ, use our guide to quote and license name differences to prepare follow-up questions.
Have a quote already? Check My Quote compares the company name and license number with a selected filing and available DBPR records. It is free, with no signup. The DBPR comparison uses stored records with an unverified import date; confirm current standing with DBPR.
3. Ask for current insurance documents
Request current general liability and workers' compensation information as applicable to the work. These are different coverage questions. Confirm the insured business, dates, and project-specific questions with the insurer or agent. A saved document can be incomplete or out of date.
The Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate's resources include official workers' compensation proof-of-coverage and insurance-professional search links. A business filing or identity match does not establish current insurance.
4. Check permits and project fit
Give your city or county building department the project address and a clear description of the planned work. Ask about permits, local requirements, and who should obtain the permit. Ask DBPR or the appropriate licensing authority about the license classification for the work.
Permit records are local and may not show a complete work history. A missing MCR search result is also not proof that a business is unlicensed. Use the relevant official source to resolve an open question.
5. Compare written estimates and references
Compare estimates against the same work description. Note materials, exclusions, start and completion expectations, total price, payment milestones, and how changes will be documented. A lower total is hard to interpret when the included work differs.
Read public feedback with dates and context, and ask references about comparable projects. Keep these observations separate from official license findings. Check My Quote compares identity; it does not judge price fairness, workmanship, or contract terms.
Before you sign: your research checklist
- Identify the legal company that will sign the contract.
- Save the exact Sunbiz filing and applicable license record.
- Resolve name differences and confirm the business association.
- Confirm current license standing, classification, and project fit.
- Ask the insurance professional about current coverage.
- Clarify permits, written scope, schedule, price, and changes.
- Keep dated records and the contractor's written answers with your quote.
A screenshot records what you saw at a particular time. Recheck time-sensitive details if the project is delayed or the paperwork changes. Unresolved questions deserve clarification before you rely on an assumption.
Need the records together? My Contractor Report organizes available source information to support your research. Read how we compare records, label dates, and handle uncertainty. MCR is independent of the state agencies linked here.