Step 4 · Start
From journeyman to shop owner.
The path from running a truck to running a business. Contractor licensing, insurance minimums, bonding requirements, and entity formation vary by state. Bookkeeping, estimating, and bidding are state-agnostic and covered in the general guide below.
Pick a state
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
State-agnostic guides
Bookkeeping, estimating, and bidding don't change meaningfully across state lines. These pages are published once and apply everywhere.