Business Verification Process

Step 1: License Verification

We verify contractor license status through the official state licensing board for the trade type and state in question. For general contractors and specialty trades, this varies by state:

• Alabama: Alabama State Licensing Board for General Contractors (ASLBGC) at genconbd.alabama.gov
• North Carolina: NC Licensing Board for General Contractors at nclbgc.org
• California: Contractors State License Board at cslb.ca.gov
• Texas: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation at tdlr.texas.gov
• Florida: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at myfloridalicense.com

We confirm: the license is active (not expired or suspended), it covers the correct trade category, and the license holder name matches the business we are evaluating. We document the license number and verification date for each contractor.

Step 2: Insurance Verification

We verify that contractors carry general liability insurance and, where required by the trade, workers compensation insurance. We do this through:

• Requesting a certificate of insurance (COI) directly from the contractor
• Cross-referencing BBB accreditation, which requires insurance documentation
• Checking state records where workers comp coverage is publicly verifiable

Contractors that cannot provide evidence of insurance are excluded from rankings. We note when insurance was verified and by which method.

Step 3: Business Status Verification

We verify that the business is actively operating in the market. We confirm:

• Business is listed in Google Maps with an active, non-permanently-closed status
• Phone number connects to a live answer or business voicemail during business hours
• Website is active and not redirecting to an unrelated business
• BBB listing (if present) shows active business status
• Reviews are recent (within the past 12 months) indicating active operations

Step 4: Review Analysis

We analyze the contractor's Google review history using the following process:

• Count total reviews and calculate 12-month review volume
• Calculate recency-weighted average rating
• Read the 20 most recent reviews for recurring themes
• Identify and document any patterns: pricing surprises, no-shows, warranty refusal, etc.
• Note whether the contractor responds to reviews, especially negative ones

Contractors with fewer than 15 total Google reviews are excluded — insufficient data for reliable assessment. Contractors with average ratings below 3.5 stars over the trailing 12 months are excluded regardless of total review count.

Step 5: Specialty Certification Verification

For trades with manufacturer certification programs, we verify claimed certifications directly:

• Roofing: GAF Master Elite status via GAF's online contractor finder; Owens Corning Preferred via OC's contractor locator
• HVAC: Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, Trane Comfort Specialist, and similar via manufacturer portals
• Siding: James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor via Hardie's online locator
• Windows: Andersen Certified Contractor, Pella Certified Contractor

Step 6: Adverse Record Check

We check publicly available records for adverse history:

• BBB complaint history — we read the full complaint record, not just the rating
• State licensing board disciplinary actions
• State attorney general consumer complaint databases (where publicly searchable)
• OSHA violation records for safety-sensitive trades

Verification Refresh Schedule

Initial verification is completed before a contractor is included in rankings. Ongoing verification is completed on the following schedule:

• License and insurance: Every 6 months
• Review data: Quarterly
• Business status: Annually
• After major weather events: Within 2 weeks for affected markets

If a contractor's license lapses, insurance expires, or adverse records emerge between scheduled verifications, we update or remove their listing as soon as we are notified or discover the change.

Report a Problem

If you believe a contractor listed on Versiii does not meet our verification standards, please contact editorial@example.com with the contractor name, market, and the nature of the concern. All reports are reviewed within 10 business days.