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Licensing Programs

Compare All Programs All-Inclusive Program $1,195.00 Live Online Program $695.00 Crash Course Program $495.00 Home Study Program $295.00

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General Contractors

(A) General Engineering (B) General Building (B-2) Residential Remodeling

Popular Specialty (C)

C-10 Electrical C-36 Plumbing C-20 HVAC C-27 Landscaping
Browse All Classifications →

Additional Classes

Adding a Classification Test Taking Skills Construction Math Review Why Get Licensed?

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CSLB Quick Facts

License required for jobs over
$1,000
Minimum contractor bond
$25,000
Journey-level experience
4 years
Current exam passing scores
School-observed: 65% for Law & Business and 63% to 71% for trade exams; CSLB does not publish fixed passing scores

The CSLB oversees 46 contractor classifications in California.

Licensing Guides

Getting Your License License Requirements Why Get Licensed? License Classifications Bonds & Renewals Clases en Español

More Resources

Blog & Articles Test-Taking Skills Construction Math Review Find a School Success Stories Scholarship

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Free Practice Exam

Try a 40-question practice exam plus 14-day course access, no cost, no commitment.

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EPA certification training seminar View All Seminars

Environmental & Safety

EPA RRP Lead Certification

Required for pre-1978 renovation work

 Mold Remediation

Identification & safe removal

Technical Seminars

Blueprint Reading

Read plans, specs & details

 ICC Building Codes

Commercial code compliance

 Electrical Certification (ECE)

Crash course prep

 Home Inspection Course

Not sure which seminar?

Our advisors can help you pick the right certification for your career goals.

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Contractor business services All Business Services

Business Formation

Corporation & LLC

Form your contracting business entity

Bonds & Insurance

Contractor Bonds & Renewals

Surety bonds for CSLB licensing

 Construction Insurance

General liability, workers' comp & more

Need Help?

Start Your Contracting Business

From license to incorporation, we help you handle the paperwork so you can focus on the work.

800-809-6463

Business Setup

Corporation & LLC Setup for Contractors

Form your contractor business the right way. We handle the corporation and LLC paperwork so you can protect your assets, plan for taxes, and present a professional, licensed business to your clients.

Why Contractors Form a Corporation or LLC

Once you’re licensed, how you structure your business matters. Many California contractors move from operating as a sole owner to a corporation or LLC as their projects grow, and for good reason.

  • •Liability protection. A properly formed and maintained entity creates a legal separation between you and your business.
  • •Tax planning. A corporation or LLC can open up tax-planning options; talk with a tax professional about what fits your situation.
  • •Credibility & growth. An established entity helps with bonding, larger contracts, and presenting a professional business to clients.

Our team handles the formation paperwork from start to finish, the same kind of support we’ve given California contractors for 40+ Years.

This page is general information about business formation and is not legal or tax advice.

Choose Your Package

Basic vs. All-Inclusive Formation

Two ways to set up your contractor entity - pick the level of support that fits your business.

Basic

Call for a Quote

The essentials to get your contractor entity formed and filed.

  • Included: Register your name with the Secretary of State
  • Included: File your Articles of Incorporation
  • Included: Initial Statement of Information filing
  • Included: Secretary of State fees included
  • Not included: An official corporate seal plus Embossing seal
  • Not included: Customized stock certificates plus Stock Log Sheet
  • Not included: Federal Employer Identification Number filing with the IRS
  • Not included: Verification of business name and availability
  • Not included: Complete and customized corporation by-laws
  • Not included: Annual Minutes for first year
  • Not included: Custom Binder and Slipcase with Corp Name affixed to side
  • Not included: Unlimited telephone support for one year
Call to Get Started
Most Complete

All-Inclusive

Call for a Quote

Includes everything in Basic, plus eight additional services.

  • Included: Register your name with the Secretary of State
  • Included: File your Articles of Incorporation
  • Included: Initial Statement of Information filing
  • Included: Secretary of State fees included
  • Included: An official corporate seal plus Embossing seal
  • Included: Customized stock certificates plus Stock Log Sheet
  • Included: Federal Employer Identification Number filing with the IRS
  • Included: Verification of business name and availability
  • Included: Complete and customized corporation by-laws
  • Included: Annual Minutes for first year
  • Included: Custom Binder and Slipcase with Corp Name affixed to side
  • Included: Unlimited telephone support for one year
Call to Get Started

Package pricing and inclusions are subject to change. Call 800-809-6463 for current details.

Common Questions

Corporation & LLC Questions

No. You can hold a CSLB contractor license as a sole owner (sole proprietor). Many contractors choose to form a corporation or LLC later for liability protection, tax planning, and a more professional structure as their business grows. Our team can walk you through the options.
Both create a separate legal entity that can help protect your personal assets. A corporation has a more formal structure that some contractors prefer for ownership, payroll, or tax reasons, while an LLC is generally simpler to run. The right choice depends on your business goals, but we can help you compare them; consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
A CSLB license can never be directly transferred to another person or entity. But if you keep more than 50% ownership of the new corporation or LLC you form, your existing license number can often be reissued or reassigned to it (BPC §7075.1(c)(5)) rather than starting a brand-new application. We assist with the formation paperwork and help coordinate the license-entity steps; call us and we will walk you through exactly what your situation requires.
Timelines depend on California state processing and how quickly documents are gathered. Once your paperwork is submitted, the state handles the filing on its own schedule. Call us for the current turnaround and we will keep your formation moving as fast as the state allows.
A properly formed and maintained LLC or corporation creates a legal separation between you and the business, which can help shield personal assets from many business liabilities. Maintaining that protection requires keeping the entity in good standing and following corporate formalities. This is general information, not legal advice.
Yes. The point of our business services is to take the formation paperwork off your plate; we prepare and file the documents so you can focus on running your contracting business. Call us at 800-809-6463 to get started.

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Ready to Incorporate Your Contracting Business?

Let our team handle the paperwork so you can get back to work. We’ve supported California contractors for 40+ Years. Call to set up your corporation or LLC.

Set Up My Entity 800-809-6463

Select Your Trade Classification

Choose your CSLB classification to see exam prep programs

Not sure? Call 800-809-6463, we'll help you choose.