ETC - Licenses Etc Ezine

Your monthly ezine for the Florida construction industry with valuable information, resources, ideas and tips from the experts (Chrissi Jackson and Kristie Cook)
at Licenses, Etc, Inc.
Comments/Questions: 239.777.8321 or 239.777.1028
Don’t miss us! Be sure to add etc@licensesetc.com to your address book and/or safe sender’s list.

Qualified Business Renewals

It's renewal time again. If you have received a Qualified Business (QB) License Renewal Notice from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then YES!!!!! You must do this. We have already received many phone calls and emails from clients asking if this applies to them. Again - YES it does. This is different than the recent Annual Report filed with the Division of Corporations. The QB license is directly linked to your contractor's license. The only reason it wouldn't apply is if you no longer qualify that business and there is no reason to keep the QB license. In all other cases, please be sure to get this done before 8/31. Remember - QB licenses expire in odd years and contractor licenses expire in even years. As long as you're a contractor qualifying a business, you have a license to renew every summer. If the QB license is not renewed by 8/31, there will be a $50 penalty. If it is not renewed at all, your business will lose its license.

Fortunately, it's an easy process and it can be done online in a matter of minutes. NO CEs required. It's just a matter of updating any information and paying a $59 fee.

How to renew a license online

Go to the main DBPR website at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/index.html.

Find where it says “Verify a License” and click that link.

This will take you to https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp?mode=0&SID= (the licensee search page)

Find the list of User Services on the left side of the page. Click on “Renew a License”.

This will take you to https://www.myfloridalicense.com/logon.asp?Page=/LicenseSummary.asp, the logon page.
Enter your User ID and PIN Number to Login.

have an online services accot, you may log on to the system now and skip the step to activate your account.

If you need to activate your account, find where it says “Activate Your Online Services Account” and click that link.

ENTER INITIAL PIN

License/Board Division = Construction Industry Licensing Board
License Profession = Certified (whatever you have) Contractor
License Number = Your license number (be sure to use the three letters at the beginning)
Initial PIN = The last 4 digits of your SSN
Click Continue

ENTER NEW PIN NUMBER

Enter a NUMERIC PIN at least 4 digits long
Confirm the PIN number

ENTER A HINT QUESTION/ANSWER

Create a question that they can ask you in case you forget your pin
Enter the answer
Confirm the answer

Congratulations! You have activated your online account!

PRINT OUT THIS PAGE FOR YOUR FILES!!!!
Your User ID number is at the top of the page.

Click on the “Continue” button

This will open an account summary page.

If your email address is different than the one listed, please modify as appropriate and press the “Update” button.
Click on the “Maintain/Renew” button
A new window will open showing 3 steps to renew.

Step 1: Update Address

Please click this link to confirm that they have your appropriate mailing address.
To change the address, click on the “Main Address” link and make the necessary modifications.
If everything is OK go back to the previous page.

NOTE: the “Back” link on their webpage was broken. I had to use the back arrow on my browser.

Step 2: Pay Charges
Be sure that the renewal box is checked and then select the “Pay by Credit Card” option.

Enter the following:
- Card holder name
- Card type
- Card number
- Expiration date
Select “Pay”
Print out your receipt
Press “Continue”

This takes you back to the account summary page
Once again, press the “Maintain/Renew this license” link
You’ll get back to the page with three steps to renew.
There is no way to go backwards from here…so click on the “Renew a license” link under user services on the left side of the page.
You’ll ONCE AGAIN get back to the account summary page.
Once again, press the “Maintain/Renew this license” link
If you feel comfortable that you’ve paid the fees, go to Step 3:

Step 3: Submit application for processing

That’s it! Be sure to Log off of the system. Now go have fun!!

		Your monthly ezine for the Florida construction industry with valuable information, resources, ideas and tips from the experts (Chrissi Jackson and Kristie Cook) at Licenses, Etc, Inc. Comments/Questions: 239.777.8321 or 239.777.1028 Don’t miss us! Be sure to add etc@licensesetc.com to your address book and/or safe sender’s list.
		Table of Contents - May 2009 Message from Kristie & Chrissi Qualified Business Renewals Update On Services Important Dates Beating the Marketing Drum Classifieds
		Message from the Gals Time to barbecue and party with the family and friends! It's Memorial Day Weekend! Like you, we'll be enjoying time with our fams and friends and hopefully get some time on the beach...or at least out by the pool. So, we will be closed Monday, 5/25. Please don't forget to honor and remember our soldiers and veterans on Monday! Notices for renewing Qualified Business licenses are starting to arrive in your mailboxes. YES - you need to do this if you have a Florida contractor's license that qualifies a business. It's very simple to do. The steps are outlined below. Many of our clients are expanding into new areas - either geographically into other states or by obtaining new licenses and certifications. So we can grow with you, we're looking into adding new services. A summary of what we're doing is provided below. We'll definitely keep you updated as we expand with you. Thank you for reading! Have a great, long Memorial Day Weekend! We hope your June is Jumpin'! Best regards, Kristie & Chrissi

		Qualified Business Renewals It's renewal time again. If you have received a Qualified Business (QB) License Renewal Notice from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then YES!!!!! You must do this. We have already received many phone calls and emails from clients asking if this applies to them. Again - YES it does. This is different than the recent Annual Report filed with the Division of Corporations. The QB license is directly linked to your contractor's license. The only reason it wouldn't apply is if you no longer qualify that business and there is no reason to keep the QB license. In all other cases, please be sure to get this done before 8/31. Remember - QB licenses expire in odd years and contractor licenses expire in even years. As long as you're a contractor qualifying a business, you have a license to renew every summer. If the QB license is not renewed by 8/31, there will be a $50 penalty. If it is not renewed at all, your business will lose its license. Fortunately, it's an easy process and it can be done online in a matter of minutes. NO CEs required. It's just a matter of updating any information and paying a $59 fee. How to renew a license online Go to the main DBPR website at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/index.html. Find where it says “Verify a License” and click that link. This will take you to https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp?mode=0&SID= (the licensee search page) Find the list of User Services on the left side of the page. Click on “Renew a License”. This will take you to https://www.myfloridalicense.com/logon.asp?Page=/LicenseSummary.asp, the logon page. Enter your User ID and PIN Number to Login. have an online services accot, you may log on to the system now and skip the step to activate your account. If you need to activate your account, find where it says “Activate Your Online Services Account” and click that link. ENTER INITIAL PIN License/Board Division = Construction Industry Licensing Board License Profession = Certified (whatever you have) Contractor License Number = Your license number (be sure to use the three letters at the beginning) Initial PIN = The last 4 digits of your SSN Click Continue ENTER NEW PIN NUMBER Enter a NUMERIC PIN at least 4 digits long Confirm the PIN number ENTER A HINT QUESTION/ANSWER Create a question that they can ask you in case you forget your pin Enter the answer Confirm the answer Congratulations! You have activated your online account! PRINT OUT THIS PAGE FOR YOUR FILES!!!! Your User ID number is at the top of the page. Click on the “Continue” button This will open an account summary page. If your email address is different than the one listed, please modify as appropriate and press the “Update” button. Click on the “Maintain/Renew” button A new window will open showing 3 steps to renew. Step 1: Update Address Please click this link to confirm that they have your appropriate mailing address. To change the address, click on the “Main Address” link and make the necessary modifications. If everything is OK go back to the previous page. NOTE: the “Back” link on their webpage was broken. I had to use the back arrow on my browser. Step 2: Pay Charges Be sure that the renewal box is checked and then select the “Pay by Credit Card” option. Enter the following: Card holder name Card type Card number Expiration date Select “Pay” Print out your receipt Press “Continue” This takes you back to the account summary page Once again, press the “Maintain/Renew this license” link You’ll get back to the page with three steps to renew. There is no way to go backwards from here…so click on the “Renew a license” link under user services on the left side of the page. You’ll ONCE AGAIN get back to the account summary page. Once again, press the “Maintain/Renew this license” link If you feel comfortable that you’ve paid the fees, go to Step 3: Step 3: Submit application for processing That’s it! Be sure to Log off of the system. Now go have fun!!
		* Highly Recommended * Reducing Costs We're all looking for cost-cutting ideas to allow us to survive the economy. You may want to explore how you can cut workers' comp costs through Employee Leasing. If you have any field employees, Employee Leasing may provide a nice solution to high premiums. Contact Chrissi Jackson (239.777.1028) at Licenses, Etc. for more information.
		Update on New Services In today's economy, businesses are finding new ways to bring in new streams of income. Many of our clients are looking to work in other states and to gain new certifications - such as LEED and Women or Minority Owned Business. As a result, we've received requests for help in new areas we've never done before. We're excited for these opportunities and wanted to share what we are exploring right now. Our expertise with Florida contractor's licenses comes from many years of trial and error - learning what the DBPR and the Board are looking for and keeping up to date with their changes. Of course, we do not have this experience with these new areas. It will take time to become proficient in them. We are still in the process of learning the requirements and processing our first applications - so, we're not quite ready to offer these to everyone. But we will let you know how it goes and if these will be permanent additions to our service offerings. Please let us know if there is anything not listed below that you are interested in and believe you could use our help...and would want to be our guinea pigs. We will look into it and see if it's something we'd be interested in learning with you. Actual projects we're working on now: Georgia contractor's license Virginia contractor's license Florida asbestos license Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification for the State of Florida Areas we're exploring: Alabama contractor's license Louisiana contractor's license Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification for the State of Florida Florida home inspector and mold inspector licenses LEED certification We're excited about these new opportunities and appreciate those clients who are willing to take their chances with us.

		Important Dates Next CILB meeting is June 10-12 in St. Augustine. Next exam dates are June 16-17. July CILB meeting is July 8-10 in Orlando. August exam dates are August 18-19. Deadline to register is July 17. Qualified Business (QB) License renewals are due by August 31.
		Beating the Marketing Drum There are ample opportunities for marketing within your industry, through your local builders association. For example, if you are a member of CBIA (Collier Building Industry Association), they are taking last-minute ads for the upcoming directory and sponsorship of the Sand Dollar Awards Banquet. (If you're interested in the prestigious opportunity to sponsor the Sand Dollar Awards, please contact Chrissi or Kristie - we'll get you set up.) Other associations have similar programs right now. Of course, there are also the networking opportunities. This is a good time to meet people in the industry and strengthen relationships. When business picks up, they'll be referring to people they know and like. Don't sit around and wait for the phone to ring! Get out there and make your name known!
		What Our Clients Have to Say “You ladies rock! The process was great and we appreciated the attention to detail and making sure we had items needed. Always prompt return of emails. Very good at setting realistic expectations. Thanks ladies!" Troy & Candi Hilton, New Leaf Construction, Naples, FL
		Classifieds Do you have books to sell? We sometimes get questions from callers about where they can find used books for their exams. We'd like to start a list so we can refer them to our clients who who'd like to recoup a portion of their costs. Please contact Kristie (239.777.8321) or Chrissi (239.777.1028) to get your name and number on the list. Have something you want to sell? A position to fill? A need for a subcontractor? Contact Chrissi (239.777.1028, Chrissi.Jackson@LicensesEtc.com) or Kristie (239.777.8321, Kristie.Cook@LicensesEtc.com) for information about advertising in our Classifieds section in ETC. Our current subscriber list consists of over 1,000 people in construction and related industries throughout the state of Florida and beyond. Your Classified ad will also be posted on our website, visited by hundreds every week.
		Fine Print Licenses, Etc., Inc. Copyright Licenses, Etc, Inc., 2008, 2009 Have a question for the experts at Licenses, Etc.? Call Kristie at 239.777.8321 or Chrissi at 239.777.1028 or visit www.LicensesEtc.com ALL CONTENTS OF THIS E-MAIL ARE COPYRIGHT 2008, 2009 BY LICENSES, ETC., INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may reproduce any article with the inclusion of the following footer: “Copyright 2008, 2009 by Licenses, Etc. Written by Kristie Cook and Chrissi Jackson. Visit www.LicensesEtc.com for more information.” Protected by U.S. Copyright Law {Title 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., Title 18 U.S.C. Section 2319}: Infringements can be punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Are you having trouble receiving ETC and Licenses, Etc.’s messages? Ensure that ETC gets delivered to your email box. Add etc@licensesetc.com to your address book and/or safe sender’s list. NOTE: If URLs do not appear as live links in your e-mail program, please cut and paste the full URL into the location or address field of your browser. Disclaimer: The inclusion of an ad in ETC does not constitute an explicit endorsement. It does mean that as far as we know, the product is not a rip-off. When we really like a product and want you to buy it, we'll tell you explicitly. Otherwise, view these ads the way you would commercials on TV or display ads in the back of your favorite magazine. Check them out. Make a decision. If you don't like, ask for a refund.