I hold my contractor’s license in one name, but do business in a different name. Can I advertise, bid or contract in a different name other than what’s on my license?

All bids, contracts, and advertisements must be in your properly licensed name. If you use a DBA, you must contract in your properly licensed name but you may add the name of your DBA behind the licensed name.

Example 1: If John Doe Smith holds a license in his individual name, he can bid, contract and perform work using a DBA as follows: John Doe Smith DBA Smith Contractors.

Example 2: If John Doe Smith holds a license in his individual name, the license in his individual name is not valid for his company John Smith LLC. John Smith LLC will need a license in its own name.

Example 3: If John Smith LLC holds a license in the company’s name but wants to operate using a DBA. The company can bid, contract and perform work using a DBA as follows: John Smith LLC DBA Smith Contractors.