What are the steps to start a landcape maintenance company in Connecticut?

[LandFakers]

Originally Posted by THEGOLDPRO

I do not approve, Sorry Slimreynolds, Check back next year and i might accept your application.

THE GODS HAVE SPOKEN

NO LAWNS FOR YOU!!!

[Slimreynolds]

Originally Posted by LandFakers

THE GODS HAVE SPOKEN

NO LAWNS FOR YOU!!!

who's this goldpro guy?

[Slimreynolds]

Originally Posted by Kelly's Landscaping

Yes you need the home improvement contractor license. A single fall clean up will normally but you over the 200 dollar job number. It's not a big deal unless you have a felony in the past 12 months but even then they will do a hearing for you.

You will want business insurance to protect you from liability. 1 mill per 2 mill cap is a good standard policy. You can opt not to have insurance on your equipment but if it gets stolen or you have a fire you will find your self instantly out of business.

We have combination plates in the state as well as commercial and you can have either on a pick up. But the commercial has negatives you can't drive on the park way and it expires every April where the combinations go 2 years no matter what month you first registered them. Also it cost like twice as much now on the trailer you want commercial it took us 8 years but one day I found a cop with no life or anything to do and man did that day suck along with the dmv trip that came of it.

As for vehicle insurance business is better and your find it cheaper in most cases too. I pay about a 1000 a year per truck with little difference in cost between the old 89 3500 and 99 3500 too the 2011 and 2012 4500s that cost 60-65k each. We do full coverage with 500k on the vehicles.

Tax purposes you can do the local town thingy for the sole proprietor or you can go the state rout and incorporate.

Workman's comp is the one we went with out the first 2 years the quotes we got were ridiculous and they wanted the money up front. Year 3 we were finally able to get it through our payroll company that uses the Hartford. The nice thing is no up front costs at all we pay a % of what the guys make and that is taken out as we go each week. The cost on that is nice now only 4.5% we have it on all employees but we do not keep it on our selves. As an owner you are not required too but you may run into a commercial account that requires you to have it if you want the job.

I wouldn't bother registering the truck in the business name but all trucks you buy for it from this point on you will want to do that.

But before you get to do any of that you need your name and either the state or town has to sign off on it depending on how your set up. You can't really do advertizing with out a name you can't open a business checking account with out the name. And you can not get your sales and use permit with out the name. So that is step number one and get on that now we got held up nearly 2 months our first season because of some mix up in the paperwork. And that was the good old days under Bush in Boom times today that delay in spring would be fatal.

Thanks for the helpful info.

[Darryl G]

It is my understanding that a home improvement contractor's license is not required for maintenance work.

[Slimreynolds]

Originally Posted by darryl gesner

It is my understanding that a home improvement contractor's license is not required for maintenance work.

That was my understanding too...As long as you don't permanently change the property in any way (planting shrubs, walkways, etc.) and charge more than $200 for a job at one time.

Pruning, cutting grass, mulching, hedge trimming are all ok to do without a license because it is classified as general maintenance. As long as any one job doesn't go over the $200 limit.

Am I right?

[krzys555]

the license is required if you do over 1200 a year in sales.
and it is also required to get insurance.
it only costs 220 a year from November to November

[Darryl G]

Maintenance is not considered improvements.

From the definitions section:

(4) "Home improvement" includes, but is not limited to, the repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization, improvement, rehabilitation or sandblasting of, or addition to any land or building or that portion thereof which is used or designed to be used as a private residence, dwelling place or residential rental property, or the construction, replacement, installation or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, roofs, siding, insulation, sunrooms, flooring, patios, landscaping, fences, doors and windows and waterproofing in connection with such land or building or that portion thereof which is used or designed to be used as a private residence, dwelling place or residential rental property or the removal or replacement of a residential underground heating oil storage tank system, in which the total cash price for all work agreed upon between the contractor and owner exceeds two hundred dollars. "Home improvement" does not include: (A) The construction of a new home; (B) the sale of goods by a seller who neither arranges to perform nor performs, directly or indirectly, any work or labor in connection with the installation or application of the goods or materials; (C) the sale of goods or services furnished for commercial or business use or for resale, provided commercial or business use does not include use as residential rental property; (D) the sale of appliances, such as stoves, refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners and others which are designed for and are easily removable from the premises without material alteration thereof; and (E) any work performed without compensation by the owner on his own private residence or residential rental property.

The Home Improvment Act in CT largely in response to unscrupulous replacement window and siding contrators etc. taking advantage of homeowners, largely senior citizens.

[Slimreynolds]

Originally Posted by krzys555

the license is required if you do over 1200 a year in sales.
and it is also required to get insurance.
it only costs 220 a year from November to November

^He's right...In CT if you do more than $1200 in sales for a 12-month period you need a license. Not a big deal except the $220 per year for the license. They just want your money pretty much.

[Darryl G]

Originally Posted by Slimreynolds

That was my understanding too...As long as you don't permanently change the property in any way (planting shrubs, walkways, etc.) and charge more than $200 for a job at one time.

Pruning, cutting grass, mulching, hedge trimming are all ok to do without a license because it is classified as general maintenance. As long as any one job doesn't go over the $200 limit.

Am I right?

If it's maintenance it's exempt regarless of the price. Mowing, mulching, pruning, trimming is not covered. If you're planting, altering, installing over $200 for an contract or over $1,000 total per year then you need the license. There are very specific requirements for contracts, including a 72 hour cancellation clause and specific language in your contract. You even need to provide a cancellation form.

[Slimreynolds]

Originally Posted by Slimreynolds

^He's right...In CT if you do more than $1200 in sales for a 12-month period you need a license. Not a big deal except the $220 per year for the license. They just want your money pretty much.

You also need a sales and use permit