Contractor license check.

Before you hire a contractor, verify the license through the official state or local board, not just the contractor’s website.

Rule: do not treat a license number on an invoice as proof. Check it yourself.

What to check

License number, status, trade/classification, expiry date, and business name.
Whether the name on the license matches the quote, contract, invoice, and payment recipient.
Insurance, bonding, complaint history, disciplinary history, and permit responsibility.
Whether the contractor is allowed to do the exact work you are hiring them for.

Use the company legitimacy checker to score the broader payment risk before sending a deposit.