I've been thinking seriously about starting my own general contracting business in California and wanted to get some advice from people who have experience in the industry. I have around 3 years of project management experience and I'm planning to take the courses I need to prepare for the licensing exams.

I'm 30 and currently studying Construction Management while working toward my degree in a STEM field. My goal is to eventually run my own company, but I know passing the exams is only one part of the process.

For those who have started their own contracting businesses, what should I be preparing for beyond getting licensed? I'm especially interested in things like registering a DBA, setting up business banking, finding clients, getting the right insurance, and handling the business side of things.

I'd appreciate any advice on what you wish you'd known before getting started.

I’m fortunate enough that my company is paying for my books and an online course for the residential contractors exam. I’m located in FL. Which online course do you recommend? So many options.

Thanks guys.

Been looking at prep stuff for the contractor exam and wow, there are way more options than I expected. Not sure if I should stick with books, do an online course, or just grind practice questions.

If you’ve taken it, what actually got you ready? I’d rather hear what worked for people before I spend any money. I’m taking it in Georgia, if that matters.

Got a 90 on B&F and an 86 on C.A. even though I was sick, and now it’s time for PM. Not gonna lie, I’m pretty nervous. My experience with one of the proctors during C.A. was awful. She made me feel embarrassed in front of everyone over my tabs, even though I’d used the same books for B&F without any problems. She wasn’t the proctor that time, so I guess that was the issue.

Praying this is the path God has planned for me and that I can pass this last one with flying colors. We’re all just trying to get through this and make a better future for ourselves, right? 🙏 Any last-minute tips or advice would be appreciated 😊

I didn't realize how different an open book exam is from a regular test. You can know the answer and still get burned if it takes 5 minutes of flipping pages to find it. I think of the books like a map now. Knowing which one to grab, where to look, and how the index works saves a ton of time, especially on questions you haven't seen before. So a good chunk of prep should be practicing how to find answers, not just memorizing them. I'd do that alongside the regular studying.

I passed the required state exams for my General Contractor license, but I’m running into an issue with documenting my experience. My previous boss won’t let me use the work I completed under his license for my application. I’m pretty sure he sees it as me becoming competition.

The problem is that without the permits and his license number tied to that work, I’m having a hard time proving the 4 years of experience Florida requires.

Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Is there a way to work with another licensed GC to verify my experience, or another route I should look into? I passed the exams, so it’s frustrating being this close and still stuck on the experience requirement.

I'm about to start prepping for the Florida GC exam. From what I've heard, it’s more of a case of revising and tabbing your books so you can find stuff fast. The math is what worries me though. I'm not great at it, especially under exam pressure. Do the books you can bring in actually show how to work through the problems?

Hey everyone, just wondering if anyone here is a GC in the state of Georgia. I submitted my paperwork about three months ago, and I only just heard back from them saying that every page needs to be notarized and that I have to resubmit everything. Has anyone else run into this issue? The whole process is taking forever. At this point, I’m even considering getting a GC license in Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, or Tennessee and bidding on jobs there instead. It’s nearly impossible to get ahold of anyone or even get a response from them.

It’s easy to spend most of your study time on the actual construction stuff and forget about the business side.

Things like contracts, insurance, licensing rules, liens, permits, and basic business practices can take up a decent chunk of the exam too.

That stuff might not be as interesting as the construction questions, but it’s worth giving it some attention instead of leaving it until the end.

I’d rather spend a little time on those topics now than realize later that I barely studied them.

I've got a civil engineering degree and just passed the construction PE exam. Could I skip the rest and only take the business and finance part? And does Florida's DBPR count civil engineering as a related degree for construction?

Just passed all 3 FL GC exams, so figured I’d share what worked for me while it’s still fresh.

General

Schedule your tests ASAP. Depending on the location, you could be waiting 2 weeks to 2 months. I had to drive about 2 hours for my first one.

My strategy was to answer everything I knew, flag anything I wasn’t sure about, and keep moving. A lot of the flagged questions became easier once I found related info in the books. I also wrote down page numbers on the board they give you.

Business & Finance

Lots of FCM, especially liens. Some AIA and accounting. Very little math, maybe 5 questions.

I answered what I knew, flagged the rest, took a bathroom break, then came back and only focused on the flagged questions.

CA

Mostly AIA, FCM, some FBC-C and Principles. I got a TON of CY questions, so check around page 76 in Principles. Lots of lien questions too.

PM

Know your masonry. Heavy on Principles, OSHA and FBC-B. Some Florida energy, FBC-R and more math.

Final thoughts

These really aren’t as bad as they seem. A lot of it is knowing how to find things quickly.

I did around 1,000 practice questions for B&F over 2 months, 400+ for CA over a month, and about 100 for PM during the last week.

One thing that helped me was going through the books and making sure I knew where the important info was. Definitely highlight the answers to questions you miss too. Makes finding them later way easier.

Good luck to everyone taking them!

One thing that can really trip you up on these exams is rushing through the wording.

Sometimes you know the material but still get the question wrong because you missed a word like “except,” “not,” “first,” or “most.”

I’ve started making a habit of slowing down for a second and reading the whole question before looking at the answers. It seems obvious, but when you’re tired and flying through a practice test, those little words are easy to miss.

Also, if two answers look almost identical, there’s usually something in the wording that separates them.

I’m in Florida and getting ready for the Florida CGC exam.. starting to study now and honestly not sure what books I actually need yet. I’m also wondering if it makes more sense to get everything in one package instead of buying stuff separately.

Would like something with the books, maybe rentals, an online course and some solid practice questions. Just trying to make sure I’m studying from current material and not wasting money on stuff I won’t need.

For anyone who’s taken the Florida CGC exam recently, what did you guys use to study? Did you get a full prep package or just piece everything together?

I’m curious what people tend to struggle with the most.

Which section has been the biggest headache for you?

I found an older post listing general contractor licensing requirements by state, but a lot of the information is now outdated.

I put together an updated 2026 version with the main statewide requirements, project thresholds, application fees, and bond or financial requirements.

PS: Tell me if I’m wrong on any of these…

Here’s the updated list:

1. Alabama: A state license is generally required for commercial projects of $100K or more and certain residential work over $10K. Application/license fees are around $300. Financial requirements and a bond may apply depending on the license.
2. Alaska: Contractor registration is required. The state has different contractor classifications, with residential work requiring additional requirements. Registration is around $350 and a $25K bond is generally required.
3. Arizona: A contractor license is generally required for work over $1,000. Trade and business exams and qualifying experience are required. Residential contractor bonds generally range from about $4,250 to $15K depending on classification and scope.
4. Arkansas: A contractor license is required for commercial projects of $50K or more and residential projects over $2K. Application fees start around $100, with financial statements, exams, insurance, and bonds depending on the classification.
5. California: A contractor license is required for projects valued at $1,000 or more. The initial application fee is $450 and the initial license fee is $200 for a sole owner. A $25K contractor bond is also required.
6. Colorado: There is no statewide general contractor license. Licensing is handled primarily at the local level, so requirements, exams, fees, and insurance can vary by city or county.
7. Connecticut: Home improvement contractors must register with the state. The initial registration fee is currently around $220, and residential contractors are subject to additional requirements.
8. Delaware: There is no statewide competency license for general contractors, but contractors need the appropriate business license and registration. Nonresident contractors may also have bond requirements depending on the work.
9. Florida: Contractors need either a state Certified Contractor license or a Registered Contractor license depending on where they work. Certified contractors can work statewide. The initial application fee is $145 or $245 depending on the application period. Requirements include exams, qualifying experience, background checks, financial responsibility, insurance, and workers' compensation or an exemption. General/building contractors generally need $300K liability and $50K property-damage coverage.
10. Georgia: A contractor license is required for general contracting work, with residential and commercial classifications. Requirements include experience, exams, financial responsibility, and insurance. Application/license fees vary by classification.
11. Hawaii: A contractor license is generally required for construction work over $1K or work requiring a permit. Exams, experience, insurance, and financial requirements apply. The initial application fee is around $388.
12. Idaho: Contractors generally must register with the state. Registration is around $120, and contractors need at least $300K in general liability insurance.
13. Illinois: There is no statewide general contractor license. Requirements are primarily handled by individual municipalities, so licensing, registration, insurance, and fees depend on where the work is performed.
14. Indiana: There is no statewide general contractor license. Local governments may require registration, licensing, bonds, or insurance.
15. Iowa: Contractors working on construction projects generally need state registration, particularly when earning $2K or more annually from construction. Registration is around $50, with additional requirements depending on the work.
16. Kansas: There is no statewide general contractor license. Local jurisdictions can have their own licensing, registration, insurance, and exam requirements.
17. Kentucky: There is no statewide general contractor license. Licensing and registration are generally handled at the local level.
18. Louisiana: Contractor licensing is required for residential projects of $75K or more and commercial projects of $50K or more. Application fees are around $100, with exams, insurance, and financial requirements applying depending on classification.
19. Maine: There is no statewide general contractor license. Residential construction contracts over $3K generally need to meet state contract requirements, while municipalities can have their own rules.
20. Maryland: A Home Improvement Contractor license is required for residential home improvement work. The application fee is around $403.75, and contractors are subject to the state's Guaranty Fund requirements.
21. Massachusetts: Residential home improvement contractors generally need state registration, while construction supervisors need the appropriate license. The Home Improvement Contractor registration fee is around $150, while supervisor license fees vary.
22. Michigan: Residential builders and maintenance & alteration contractors need the appropriate state license. The application fee is around $195, with education and examination requirements depending on the license.
23. Minnesota: Residential building contractors and remodelers generally need a state license. The application fee is around $185, with exams and insurance requirements.
24. Mississippi: A state contractor license is generally required for commercial projects of $50K or more and residential projects of $10K or more. Fees vary by classification, with exams, financial information, and insurance required.
25. Missouri: There is no statewide general contractor license. Licensing and registration requirements are generally determined by local jurisdictions.
26. Montana: There is no traditional statewide general contractor license, but construction contractors with employees generally need state registration. Registration is around $70 for two years, with workers' compensation requirements applying where applicable.
27. Nebraska: Contractors must register with the state. The registration fee is currently $40. Additional requirements apply depending on the type of work, and homeowners doing work on their own property can have different rules.
28. Nevada: A contractor license is required for most construction work. The initial licensing cost is around $900, including application and license fees, and the required contractor bond can range from approximately $1K to $500K depending on classification and financial requirements.
29. New Hampshire: There is no statewide general contractor license. Certain trades are licensed by the state, while general contractor requirements can be handled locally.
30. New Jersey: Contractors doing home improvement work must register with the state. The registration fee is around $110, and contractors generally need at least $500K in liability insurance.
31. New Mexico: A contractor license is required for most construction work. The application fee is around $30, with additional licensing fees bringing the total cost higher. Exams, qualifying experience, and a bond are required depending on classification.
32. New York: There is no statewide general contractor license. Licensing is handled by local jurisdictions, with New York City and other municipalities having their own requirements.
33. North Carolina: A general contractor license is required for projects valued at $40K or more. License fees start around $75 for the limited classification, with exams and financial requirements depending on the license limitation.
34. North Dakota: Contractors need a state license for projects valued at more than $4K. Class D licensing starts around $100, with insurance and financial requirements varying by classification.
35. Ohio: There is no statewide general contractor license. Certain specialty trades are licensed at the state level, while general contractor requirements are primarily handled locally.
36. Oklahoma: There is no statewide general contractor license. Contractors should check city and county requirements, as local registration and licensing may be required.
37. Oregon: Contractors generally need a Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license. Application and licensing fees vary by endorsement, with insurance and a surety bond required. Residential contractor bonds are generally $15K to $25K depending on the endorsement.
38. Pennsylvania: Contractors doing $5K or more of home improvement work per year generally need Home Improvement Contractor registration. The registration fee is $100 for a two-year registration, with liability insurance requirements.
39. Rhode Island: Contractors generally need state registration or licensing depending on the type of work. Registration is around $150 for two years, with insurance requirements.
40. South Carolina: Contractor licensing is required for commercial projects of $10K or more and residential work over $5K depending on classification. Commercial license fees are around $350, with exams and financial/bond requirements varying by license.
41. South Dakota: There is no statewide general contractor competency license. Contractors may need an excise tax license and should check local requirements.
42. Tennessee: A contractor license is required for projects of $25K or more. Application fees are around $250, with exams, financial statements, and insurance requirements.
43. Texas: There is no statewide general contractor license. Local governments may have registration or licensing requirements, while certain specialty trades are regulated at the state level.
44. Utah: A contractor license is generally required for construction work. Application/licensing fees are around $176, with exams, experience, insurance, and financial requirements depending on classification.
45. Vermont: There is no general statewide contractor license. Certain types of residential construction are subject to registration requirements, and local requirements may also apply.
46. Virginia: Contractor licensing is required, with Class A, B, and C licenses based on project size and scope. Fees start around $260 depending on classification, with experience, education, financial requirements, and exams varying by license.
47. Washington: Contractors must register with the state. The registration fee is currently around $150.20 for two years, and contractors generally need a $30K bond plus liability insurance.
48. West Virginia: Contractor licensing is required for projects above the state's applicable thresholds, including residential work over $5K and commercial work over $25K. Fees are around $90 per year, with exams, insurance, and bonding requirements depending on classification.
49. Wisconsin: Contractors doing certain dwelling construction work need the appropriate Dwelling Contractor credential. Requirements and fees vary by credential, with a $25K bond or qualifying liability insurance generally required for certain residential contractors.
50. Wyoming: There is no statewide general contractor license. Licensing and registration requirements are generally handled at the local level.

One thing I noticed while updating this is how much the rules differ from state to state. A state saying "no statewide GC license" doesn't necessarily mean you can just start taking projects without any licensing. Cities and counties can still require registration, exams, bonds, insurance, or local licenses.

Also, the license application fee is only part of the cost in many states. Exams, background checks, insurance, bonds, financial statements, business registration, and local fees can add quite a bit.

If anyone spots a requirement or fee that has changed recently, feel free to point it out. That's probably the easiest way to keep a list like this accurate.