# List a Service - Complete Reference

> Free contractor verification and business management platform for the construction industry.

## Mission

List a Service exists to bring transparency to the construction industry. Homeowners deserve to know whether their contractor is properly licensed before hiring them. Contractors deserve free tools to run their businesses without paying for expensive software subscriptions.

## License Verification Database

List a Service maintains a database of 1,378,576 contractor license records sourced from official state licensing boards across the United States. This is one of the largest aggregated contractor license databases publicly available.

### What You Can Verify
- License status: Active, Expired, Revoked, Suspended, Inactive
- License type: Over 5,363 distinct license classifications
- Business information: Name, owner, city, county, state
- License details: Number, type, issue date, expiration date
- Coverage: 50+ US states and territories, 1,340+ counties

### How to Use
Visit https://listaservice.com/verify to search by contractor name, license number, or business name. Filter by state, county, license type, and status.

API access: GET https://listaservice.com/api/v1/verify?q={search_term}&state={two_letter_state_code}

### Data Sources
License data is sourced from official state contractor licensing boards including:
- California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
- Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
- Oregon Construction Contractors Board
- And 40+ additional state licensing authorities

## Contractor Directory

### Overview
3,400+ contractor profiles across 12 major construction trades. Contractors can create free profiles with their services, service areas, license information, and contact details.

### Trades
1. General Contracting - General contractors, builders, renovation specialists
2. Plumbing - Plumbers, pipe fitters, drain specialists
3. Electrical - Electricians, electrical contractors, wiring specialists
4. HVAC - Heating, ventilation, air conditioning technicians
5. Roofing - Roofers, roof repair, roof replacement contractors
6. Carpentry - Carpenters, woodworkers, framing contractors
7. Painting - Painters, interior/exterior painting contractors
8. Masonry and Concrete - Masons, concrete contractors, bricklayers
9. Landscaping - Landscapers, lawn care, hardscaping contractors
10. Flooring - Flooring installers, tile, hardwood, carpet contractors
11. Demolition - Demolition contractors, site clearing
12. Insulation and Drywall - Insulation installers, drywall contractors

### Browse by Location
- By state: https://listaservice.com/contractors/{state} (e.g., /contractors/texas)
- By state and trade: https://listaservice.com/contractors/{state}/{trade}

## Free Business Tools for Contractors

All tools are completely free with no paid tiers or premium features.

### Available Tools
- **Professional Profile**: Create a searchable profile with services, regions, photos, and verified license badge
- **Project Planner**: Schedule jobs, manage crews, track materials
- **Bid Management**: Create professional bids and track their status
- **Invoicing**: Generate and send professional invoices
- **Client Messaging**: Built-in messaging system for client communication
- **Analytics Dashboard**: Track profile views, message volume, and engagement
- **Professional Email**: Free @listaservice.com email address for business communication
- **Verified Badge**: Embeddable badge for contractor websites showing verified license status
- **Job Board**: Post and find construction job opportunities

## Cost Guides

Detailed construction cost guides by trade and state, helping homeowners understand typical project costs:
- https://listaservice.com/guides/cost

Topics covered include roof replacement costs, plumbing repair costs, electrical work costs, HVAC installation costs, and more, broken down by state and project type.

## Licensing Guides

State-by-state guides explaining contractor licensing requirements:
- https://listaservice.com/guides/licensing

## Blog

Construction industry insights, hiring guides, and cost analyses:
- https://listaservice.com/blog

42 articles covering topics like how to verify contractor licenses, construction cost breakdowns by state, and tips for hiring contractors.

## API Reference

### License Verification API
```
GET https://listaservice.com/api/v1/verify
```

Parameters:
- q (required): Search query - contractor name, business name, or license number
- state (optional): Two-letter state code (e.g., TX, CA, FL)
- status (optional): Filter by license status (active, expired, revoked)
- type (optional): Filter by license type
- limit (optional): Results per page (default: 20, max: 50)
- page (optional): Page number for pagination

Response includes: license_number, license_type, business_name, owner_name, business_city, business_county, business_state, status, expiration_date, verification_url

### Contractor Search API
```
GET https://listaservice.com/api/v1/contractors
```

Parameters:
- trade (optional): Filter by trade (e.g., plumbing, electrical)
- state (optional): Two-letter state code
- city (optional): City name
- limit (optional): Results per page (default: 20, max: 50)
- page (optional): Page number

### Verification Badge API
```
GET https://listaservice.com/api/badge/{provider_id}
```

Returns an SVG badge showing verified license status. Available in Standard, Light, Compact, and Minimal styles.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do I verify if a contractor is licensed?
Visit https://listaservice.com/verify, enter the contractor's name, business name, or license number, and select their state. The system searches 1,378,576 official license records to show you their current license status.

### Is List a Service really free?
Yes. List a Service is 100% free for both homeowners and contractors. There are no paid plans, no premium features, no commissions, and no hidden fees.

### How do I find a licensed contractor near me?
Visit https://listaservice.com/providers or https://listaservice.com/trades to browse contractors by trade and location. All listed contractors can be cross-referenced against the license verification database.

### How do contractors create a profile?
Visit https://listaservice.com/register to create a free account. After registration, contractors can set up their profile with services, service areas, photos, and license information through the dashboard.

### Where does the license data come from?
All license data is sourced from official state contractor licensing boards and regulatory agencies. The database is regularly updated to reflect current license statuses.

### How current is the license data?
License records are periodically updated from state licensing boards. Expiration dates and status changes are reflected as they are published by state authorities.

### Can I embed a verified badge on my website?
Yes. Visit https://listaservice.com/badge to generate an embeddable verification badge for your contractor website. The badge links back to your verified profile on List a Service.

## Contact

- Website: https://listaservice.com
- Email: info@listaservice.com
- Location: United States