Start with the business and its insurance
Use the license lookup to check the business name before discussing the bid. CSLB recommends checking insurance with the carrier.
| Ask the contractor | What to check |
|---|---|
| 1. What is your CSLB license number? | Check the live CSLB record. Match the business name to the bid. |
| 2. Who will sign the contract? | Confirm the person represents the licensed business. Ask a salesperson for their CSLB registration. |
| 3. Can I verify your insurance with the carrier? | Request the certificate and carrier contact. Check workers’ comp and general liability separately. |
| 4. Which recent customers can I call? | Ask about a project like yours and whether the final scope matched the bid. |
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1. What is your CSLB license number?
- What to check
- Check the live CSLB record. Match the business name to the bid.
-
2. Who will sign the contract?
- What to check
- Confirm the person represents the licensed business. Ask a salesperson for their CSLB registration.
-
3. Can I verify your insurance with the carrier?
- What to check
- Request the certificate and carrier contact. Check workers’ comp and general liability separately.
-
4. Which recent customers can I call?
- What to check
- Ask about a project like yours and whether the final scope matched the bid.
Source: CSLB: finding the right licensed contractor, checked Oct 19, 2026
Check a Bay Area license
Name or license number. Each result links to the live CSLB record.
Searches active and lapsed Bay Area B and B-2 licenses. Other classes: search on CSLB.
Ready for bids?
Describe the job once and get bids from licensed contractors. Free, about 2 minutes.
Make the bids cover the same work
Write down these choices before comparing prices. CSLB recommends at least three written bids based on the same scope.
| Ask the contractor | What to put in writing |
|---|---|
| 5. What is excluded from this price? | List demolition, debris removal and repairs outside the quoted area. |
| 6. Which materials and allowances are included? | Record cabinet models, quantities and allowance amounts. Decide who pays any difference. |
| 7. Who obtains permits and arranges inspections? | Name the responsible party in the contract. |
| 8. When does work start and finish? | Record dates and the agreed reasons for a delay. |
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5. What is excluded from this price?
- What to put in writing
- List demolition, debris removal and repairs outside the quoted area.
-
6. Which materials and allowances are included?
- What to put in writing
- Record cabinet models, quantities and allowance amounts. Decide who pays any difference.
-
7. Who obtains permits and arranges inspections?
- What to put in writing
- Name the responsible party in the contract.
-
8. When does work start and finish?
- What to put in writing
- Record dates and the agreed reasons for a delay.
Source: CSLB: contracts and binding agreements, checked Oct 19, 2026
Agree on payments and changes
| Ask the contractor | What to check before signing |
|---|---|
| 9. What deposit are you asking for? | For California home improvement work, the usual cap is $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less. |
| 10. What work triggers each later payment? | Link the schedule to completed work. Do not pay ahead of work or delivered materials. |
| 11. How will we approve changes? | Use written change orders that show the price and schedule changes. |
| 12. What remains before the final payment? | List final inspections, cleanup and unresolved work. Keep a copy of the signed contract. |
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9. What deposit are you asking for?
- What to check before signing
- For California home improvement work, the usual cap is $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less.
-
10. What work triggers each later payment?
- What to check before signing
- Link the schedule to completed work. Do not pay ahead of work or delivered materials.
-
11. How will we approve changes?
- What to check before signing
- Use written change orders that show the price and schedule changes.
-
12. What remains before the final payment?
- What to check before signing
- List final inspections, cleanup and unresolved work. Keep a copy of the signed contract.
CSLB describes an exception to the deposit cap for a Blanket Performance and Payment Bond on file. Verify the record before accepting that explanation.
Sources: CSLB: contracts and binding agreements, checked Oct 19, 2026; CSLB: homeowner checklists, checked Oct 19, 2026
Questions
Should I choose the lowest contractor bid?
Compare exclusions and materials first. A low price can leave out work that another bid includes. Ask for revised bids with the same scope.
What if the contractor only gives verbal answers?
Ask for the scope, payment schedule and permit responsibilities in the written contract. Put changes in a signed change order.
Next steps on this site
Sources
- CSLB: finding the right licensed contractor, checked Oct 19, 2026
- CSLB: contracts and binding agreements, checked Oct 19, 2026
- CSLB: homeowner checklists, checked Oct 19, 2026
This guide explains public rules in plain words. It isn't legal advice. CSLB and the code sections above are the authority, and rules change.