Licenses & registrations
We identify the proper credential, create a requirement list, organize the documents, and prepare the filing for the applicable agency.
Start an assessment →Services● (212) 729-8595
Contractor Licensing & Registration
Get licensed.Get to work.
STS helps contractors navigate state, county, and city licensing and registration requirements—from identifying the right credential to preparing documents, coordinating insurance and bonds, and following the filing through review.
★★★★★4.9· 100+ Google ReviewsBilingual service available in English and Spanish.7,500+Contractors helped since 2017
23 YearsContractor-insurance experience
CRISConstruction risk specialists
One TeamLicensing, insurance, bonds, and permits
More than paperwork
Licensing support built around your business
Requirements vary by jurisdiction, scope of work, entity structure, ownership, and project type. We organize the moving parts so you can pursue the right credential with fewer preventable delays.
Renewals & corrections
Get help with renewals, ownership changes, entity corrections, agency deficiencies, missing documents, and applications already in progress.
Request a review →Insurance & bonds
When licensing requires General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Disability, a surety bond, or other proof, STS can help coordinate it.
Explore STS services →Where we help
Local requirements. One contractor-focused team.
Choose your service area to review the licensing and registration support available for your business.
New York City
Home Improvement Contractor licensing and General Contractor registration.
Long Island
Nassau, Suffolk, Long Beach, the Hamptons, and Shelter Island.
Westchester & Yonkers
County and city contractor licensing support.
Rockland County
Home improvement contractor licensing preparation and follow-up.
New Jersey
NJ HIC, New Home Builder, Newark, and Jersey City requirements.
Connecticut
Home Improvement Contractor and Major Contractor registration.
Pennsylvania
State HIC registration and Philadelphia contractor licensing.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us where you work and what your company does. We’ll help identify the likely path.
A clearer path to compliance
How the licensing process works
Tell us about your business
We review your work, entity, ownership, service area, experience, and any application history.
We identify the requirements
We outline the likely license or registration, documents, insurance, bonds, exams, and disclosures.
We prepare the filing
Our team organizes the materials, prepares the application, and helps resolve avoidable gaps.
We help keep it moving
We track the filing, communicate next steps, and help respond to agency requests through review.
Built for
contractors.
contractors.
Why Special Trade Services
Licensing connects to the rest of your business.
STS combines contractor licensing experience with insurance, bonds, permits, entity services, and ongoing compliance support. That means fewer handoffs and a team that understands why every document matters.
- Contractor-focused expertiseOur founders grew up in construction families, and STS has helped more than 7,500 contractors since 2017.
- One coordinated teamLicensing requirements can be coordinated with insurance, bonds, entity records, and permit needs.
- Clear communicationYou receive an organized requirement list, realistic expectations, and a knowledgeable point of contact.
Common questions
Contractor licensing FAQs
Which contractor license does my business need?+
That depends on where you work, the type of property, your role on the project, and the work your company performs. Some contractors need more than one state, county, or municipal credential. STS can review your scope and service area before recommending a path.
Can STS help with a new application or a renewal?+
Yes. We assist with initial applications, renewals, corrections, ownership or entity changes, deficiency responses, and filings that were started elsewhere.
Can I qualify if I have a criminal history?+
Possibly. Requirements and review standards vary by agency. A conviction does not always result in automatic disqualification, but honest disclosure and supporting documents may be required. STS can organize the licensing documentation; we do not provide legal advice or guarantee agency approval.
Can past-due child support affect licensing?+
It can in some jurisdictions. Applicants must answer child-support certifications honestly, and unresolved enforcement matters may affect certain licenses or registrations. STS can help identify application requirements but cannot resolve child-support matters or provide legal advice.
Can STS help with insurance and bonds?+
Yes. STS can help coordinate General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Disability, commercial insurance, and surety bond requirements connected to a contractor application. Insurance and bonds are subject to underwriting, eligibility, carrier terms, and separate premiums.
How much does licensing assistance cost?+
STS professional fees depend on the jurisdiction, credential, number of owners, condition of the business records, and complexity of the filing. Government charges, insurance premiums, bond premiums, fingerprints, exams, certificates, shipping, and other third-party expenses are separate. After an assessment, STS will provide a written proposal separating our professional fee from anticipated outside costs.
How long will approval take?+
Timing varies significantly by agency and application. A complete submission generally moves faster than one with missing documents, unresolved insurance, disclosure issues, or agency deficiencies. Your proposal and local service page will provide the most relevant estimate available.
Do you guarantee government approval?+
No private company can guarantee approval. STS prepares, organizes, submits, and tracks applications while helping clients respond to agency requests. Final decisions remain with the applicable government agency.
Start with the right requirements
Tell us where you work and what your company does.
We’ll review your licensing needs and help identify the next step.