Missouri Contractor License Search

Who Is a Contractor in Missouri?

Contractors are individuals or businesses that offer services based on a written or oral agreement. Missouri does not issue contractor licenses at the state level, except for electrician licenses, which the Missouri Division of Professional Registration regulates. To become a general contractor, plumber, or HVAC contractor, you must apply to the city where you intend to work. In Kansas City, contractor licenses are issued by the Kansas City City Planning and Development. In St. Louis, contractors are not required to have licenses but need permits, which they can obtain from the St. Louis Building Division Permits Section. In Missouri, contractors often fall into two categories:

• General Contractors: general contractors plan and oversee building and home or property renovation projects. These contractors coordinate the efforts of specialty contractors engaged in these projects and act as the project owner's main point of contact. General contractors working on home improvements are required to have a local license in Missouri. They must apply for a Residential Building Contractor license in Kansas City.
• Specialty Contractors: these experts are capable of performing a variety of specialty activities, including plumbing, electrical work, HVAC (heating, cooling, ventilation, and air conditioning), painting, masonry work, and roofing. A general contractor would typically select specialized contractors to carry out a specific task or provide a particular service related to the construction project. However, you can work directly with a skilled contractor on jobs involving a single project. Local Missouri laws govern specialty contractors.

How to Search for a Contractor's License in Missouri

The Uhire professional licensing search provides a detailed search option for all kinds of contractors, so you can check a potential Missouri contractor's profile to verify if they currently hold a license. Alternatively, you can use the Missouri Division of Professional Registration website to look up state-licensed contractors.

Penalty for Hiring a Contractor Without a License in Missouri.

The criminal penalty for breaking Missouri's license laws can be harsh; a perpetrator could be sentenced to up to $1,000 in fines. Although hiring an unlicensed contractor is not prohibited, doing so has a variety of drawbacks, including:

• Without a license, contractors cannot obtain the required approval from local building authorities. Without the proper approval, projects could be carried out with financial repercussions and a decline in your home's worth.
• It is likely that these contractors lack bonds and insurance. This means that any mishaps or property damage during the project are your responsibility.
• It increases the likelihood of receiving bad work.

How Much Does a Contractor Charge in Missouri?

The complexity and labor demands of the projects for which specialty contractors are hired often impact their final cost. The hourly rate for specialty contractors is between $20 and $100.

The following table lists the most well-known specialized contractors in Missouri along with their average hourly rates; however, actual costs may differ depending on your location and the standing of the contractor in your area:

Electricians

$59 - $72

Plumbers

$70 - $80

HVACR Technicians

$70 - $120

Carpenters

$40 - $70

Painters

$40 - $65

Roofers

$50 - $100

Flooring Contractors

$40 - $80

Masons

$55 - $110

Landscapers

$45 - $95

Architects

$75 - $200

Interior Designers

$40 - $165

Excavation Contractors

$110 - $230

Concrete Contractors

$60 - $120

Handymen

$50 - $65

Appliance Repair Technicians

$40 - $100

Exterminators

$45 - $95

Cleaning Services

$40 - $95

Movers

$45 - $140

For a residential or commercial project, more than one specialty contractor is frequently required. Hiring a general contractor to manage the entire project is a smart move to save time, money, and the hassle of managing numerous subcontractors. It's crucial to remember that the project's overall cost typically establishes the general contractor's rates. However, this sum, which represents 10% to 20% of the project's overall expenses, is frequently calculated utilizing one of the methods described below:

• Fixed Price Method: in this instance, the contractor agrees to finish the job in exchange for a certain payment. This approach performs well for tasks with a clear scope and end date.
• Cost Plus Fee Method: in this instance, the contractor adds a markup to all services rendered in addition to the actual work accomplished on the project. This strategy is preferred when handling major projects with hazy deadlines. It is sage to insist on a predetermined maximum price to prevent prices from drastically rising.

You should budget between $77.86 and $119.24 per square foot for building and home remodeling projects in Missouri. The following factors could affect ultimate costs:

• Labor, authorization, and other extra costs
• Cost of using contractors to carry out essential services
• Conditions where you are staying at the project site
• The price and accessibility of the necessary supplies
• The nature and scope of the project
• Position and qualifications of hired contractors

Tips for Hiring a Contractor in Missouri

Given the amount of money that is typically involved in the design, remodeling, installation, maintenance, and repair of a home and its fixtures, it is imperative that the contractors you choose are qualified for the job. The first step is to understand the project scope and determine the types of contractors needed. As a result, before employing any contractors in Missouri, consider the following:

• A state-licensed contractor should be utilized in all circumstances, barring those without state licenses. Your contractor's license status is available online.
• For your jobs, get and compare up to three contractor bids.
• Request and verify each bidder's references.
• Insist on a formal contract outlining all project requirements and roles before any work is done. Make sure you have read the agreement and understand it before committing.
• Refuse to make payments using cash.
• Keep copies of any project-related paperwork, such as contracts, warranties, and invoices.
• Verify the contractor's insurance and bonding (as well as that of any applicable subcontractors).
• Never pay for a project in full advance. For home remodeling projects, never pay more than $1,000 (or 10% of the entire project cost) in advance.
• Verify that the work has been completed satisfactorily before making the final payment.

Is Your Contractor Insured and Bonded as Required by Missouri Statutes?

Depending on the Missouri city you apply for a contractor license, you may or may not be required to have liability insurance as a contractor in that city. For instance, general liability insurance in Kansas City is $1,000,000.00 per incident. Additionally, Missouri law mandates that contractors with staff have workers' compensation insurance. Remember that a contractor bond is usually required in Missouri counties as well.

You should find out if your contractors are suitably insured and bonded to protect yourself financially and legally in the event of unforeseen events like bodily harm, unexpected property damage, and contractor errors that may arise during your project. Never forget the different protections that bonds and insurance offer. The project owner and the contractor are often covered by insurance, protecting the former from having to cover accident and injury-related out-of-pocket expenses. In contrast, the primary purpose of bonds is to protect project owners from liability for any harm caused by the contractor's failure to perform the work as agreed.

Before employing a contractor, always ask for documentation of their bonding and insurance coverage. Make sure their general liability insurance covers the scope of your project. You can check this by requesting a copy of the company's insurance (and bond) certificate and speaking with the issuer. For more information about insurance for contractors, call the Missouri Department of Insurance at (800) 726-7390.

Top Contractor Scams in Missouri

Scams involving contractors are not unheard of in Missouri. Homeowners in Missouri experience one of the country's biggest losses to contractor scams, a median loss of $2150. It is crucial to take precautions to avoid falling for any contractor scams. One of the best ways to avoid these dishonest contractors is to be aware of how they operate.

Shady contractors frequently use the following techniques to defraud Missouri homeowners:

• A door-to-door campaign with a discount for additional work.
• Providing free house inspections and "discovering" problems that need to be fixed right away
• Reducing the importance of official contracts
• Delivering contracts with ambiguous language or blanks.
• The project's requirements and costs are growing.
• Requiring full or significant advance payments when money is tight, pressuring homeowners to sign up for services or spend excessive amounts on them without research.

Before engaging the services of any contractor, take the following precautions to avoid these frauds:

• Always do a full background check on potential contractors. Ask for the correct contracts, carefully review them before signing them, and get referrals to check on their legal insurance and bonding status. Additionally, you could research their license online.
• Work only with certified contractors.
• Do not accept unsolicited remodeling quotes or hire contractors you did not request.
• Avert using cash as payment.
• As a down payment, do not pay over $1,000 (or 10% of the total project cost).
• Never sign anything that you do not completely understand.
• For your project, request and compare pricing quotes from various contractors.
• You should request the release of any liens from your general contractor and related subcontractors.