Company contractor licence

The issue catching building businesses off guard

Here's the scenario Dan sees regularly — and it affects businesses that have been operating for years.

A licensed builder sets up a company to run their building operations. Their individual contractor licence is current and valid. They're experienced, qualified, and doing good work. But the company itself — the entity entering contracts with clients, signing quotes, and advertising building services — doesn't hold its own contractor licence.

In NSW, this is a direct breach of the Home Building Act 1989. In Queensland, it's a breach of QBCC licensing requirements.

The rule is clear: Your company or partnership must hold a contractor licence before it can contract, sub-contract or advertise to do residential building work where the reasonable market cost of labour and materials is more than $5,000 (including GST).

The 7-day supervisor risk

Company licences require a nominated qualified supervisor. If that supervisor leaves your business, you have just 7 days to notify the regulator and nominate a replacement — or your company licence is at risk. Most business owners don't know this rule exists until it's too late. Dan makes sure you do.

What Dan does for you

• Confirms whether your company needs a licence (and in which states)
• Prepares all documentation and forms
• Lodges your application with the right regulator
• Follows up until your licence is issued
• Advises on supervisor nomination and ongoing compliance