Legal Question in Legal Ethics in California

To whom it may concern,

I want to start up an air conditioning business and I am gong to set a date to get my contractors license soon. For now I do not have a license but I know how to repair and install air conditioners and have been in the busness for about 8 years.I have EPA and ARI certifications to handle and purchase refrigerant. What can I work on legally and is there a cap on how much I can make per job? Can I advertise in the newspaper under unlicensed? Can I make business cards with the services I provide even if I have no license? I live in California and here is my cell phone number. (661)376-6499


Asked on 8/02/10, 6:55 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

It's risky to do work that requires a contractor's license without one. Aside from the possible civil and criminal penalties, the customer doesn't have to pay you, and if they do, they can sue you to get it back.

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Answered on 8/07/10, 8:16 pm
Anthony Roach Law Office of Anthony A. Roach

This is not an appropriate question for the Legal Ethics & Professional Responsiblity category, which involves ethics involving lawyers. I suggest you repost in Business Law category, or any other appropriate category.

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Answered on 8/08/10, 12:26 pm

Construction would be the correct category. As for what you can and can't do, that is way to complicated to explain here, in any detail, but Mr. Stone is correct that if you did do work that requires a license no one you worked for would have to pay you and they could sue you to get their money back, no matter how perfect your work was. The simple answer is you can't do anything that requires a license. In addition, you can kiss your chance to ever get a license goodbye if someone reported you to the CSLB.

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Answered on 8/09/10, 11:36 pm


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