Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors

Do you need a contractors license to start a window company in California?

Ok so, my family owns window companies in Illinois. Window replacement, siding, roofs, doors, etc. Basically they have relationships with factories that they buy their products from and have 2 teams of installers who actuallly install the products. I live in southern california and wanted to open a division of the family business here. I have been doing a little research and I am finding that most window company owners have contractors license. Is this required? Is there a way around it if my installers are licensed? Anyone with knowledge in this area would be appreciated thanks! Just to clarify my question: Does the retail portion of sales need a contractors license? OBVIOUSLY the actual installers doing the work would be licensed.

Public Comments

1. AS I understand it, in California, any work you contract for that is over $500 requires a license.
2. You might try to form a company about windows but I can tell you I would never use you or anyone one else who did not have a contractors' license. For many people who feel as I do, you would lose business if you didn't have a license.
3. Yes. You need to be licensed if the TOTAL JOB (cost of the window, plus the installation) is more than $500. If you sub the work out to installers who are licensed, that just makes you the prime contractor on the job because you are the one with the direct contractual relationship with the homeowner. You must be a licensed contractor for this (if over $500). As a licensed contractor, you can either have your own employees do the installation, or you can sub it out to another licensed contractor. But you must be licensed yourself in order to have a direct contractual relationship with the homeowner.