California Center for Sustainable Energy

Workshop on licensing & contractor best practices

Enhancing consumer confidence in solar and home performance contractors is vital to growing the markets for solar power and energy efficiency. CCSE is helping to build that confidence by ensuring that contractors have access to the information and resources to better their businesses. In September, CCSE joined with the California Contractors State License Board and the Better Business Bureau in presenting the workshop "Building Up Your Contracting Business."

The California Contractors State License Board ( CSLB) is designed to qualify contractors and educate them on construction laws as well as to assist consumers in making decisions about contractors. Similarly, the San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB) provides resources for contractors as well as information for consumers to avoid fraud and deception.

Contractors State License Board

Even with more than 310,000 licensed contractors in the state, the CSLB is continually finding individuals who are performing work without a license. If you’re not sure if the work you are doing requires a license, then you had better find out, according to Kim Clanton, a San Diego CSLB investigator who spoke at the workshop. She discussed the requirements, expectations and internal processes of the CSLB. Generally, any contracting work that is $500 or more in labor and materials requires a license.

"If a complaint is made and evidence is provided in support of that complaint, the CSLB takes that information very seriously,” Clanton said. “We are only trying to get the good guys licensed and to ensure everything is fair, equal and safe."

The CSLB will conduct undercover sting operations to get an accurate evaluation of the company that is reported as doing business without a license. If the company is providing good service to the consumer, the investigators will cite the individual, apply any penalties and advise them on steps to become a properly licensed contractor.

In addition to consumer protection information, the CSLB website provides a wide range of resources for contractors, including study guides to licensing exams.

San Diego Better Business Bureau

If you are conducting business in the region, chances are you are reviewed on the BBB website, even if you are not an accredited member. According to Sheryl Bilbrey, president and CEO of the San Diego BBB, the website rates for more than 45,000 local businesses and receives more than 550,000 views per month.

"It is so popular that the website will often appear before a company’s official website in online search engine results," she said.

Depending on a business’s rating, appearing on the BBB website can be either free advertising or the kiss of death for contracting companies. Each review assigns an A through F rating to businesses based on consumer complaints and the business’s ability to respond to and resolve problems. Unlike other consumer review websites, however, an unsatisfactory rating may be improved if the company takes appropriate steps to solve an issue or dispute.

Not all input the BBB receives is complaints. Bilbrey explained that the BBB also hosts a popular “Guest Blog,” which is written by businesses in the community to other businesses or consumers. If you are in good standing with the San Diego BBB and have tips about a certain trade, such as energy efficiency or solar energy, you may submit your article to be posted on their website.

Continue reading October's newsletter.