Watch a license while your project is open

Most homeowners check a license once, before signing, and never again. But projects run for weeks, licenses expire on fixed schedules (plumbing licenses expire December 31, electrical licenses on a rolling cycle), and enforcement actions land mid-year. If you're paying in stages, the license lapsing mid-project is exactly the thing you want to hear about early.

Don't know the license number? It should be printed on the bid or contract; Minnesota requires licensed contractors to display it. You can also find it in the license checker by searching the company name.