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May 10, 2021

Money Transmitter License Requirements: Everything You Need to Know

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your money transmitter bond needs. Below, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about money transmitter license requirements. Who Needs a Money Transmitter License? In general, money transmitting involves sending money within the United States or to another country on behalf of someone else for a fee. It is classified as a type of money service business (MSB). The specific definition of a money transmitter varies by state, as do the licensing requirements. Every state requires licensing of money transmitters except for Montana, which requires that they go through the state’s business registration process. Money transmitters that operate in multiple states will need to be licensed in each of them. How Do I Get a Money Transmitter License? Although the specific licensing requirements and steps differ from one state to another, they typically involve the following: Registering the business with state tax authorities Completing a license application Documenting a certain net worth Passing a criminal background check Paying application and licensing fees Purchasing a...

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May 10, 2021

How to Get a Washington State Collection Agency License

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Washington collection agency license bond needs. Learn how to get a Washington state collection agency license, below. What Collection Agency Licenses Are Issued in Washington State? Washington requires all individuals and business entities operating as debt collectors anywhere in the state to obtain a collection agency license. You’ll need a license even if you’re a creditor collecting your own debt using a fictitious name to do so. Regardless of the state in which your business is domiciled, you must be licensed as a Washington debt collection agency if any of your clients (debt owners) or the debtors you’re seeking to collect from are located in Washington. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? Applications for a Washington State collection agency license are submitted (preferably online) and processed by the Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Services. It’s a two-part process. The first step is to obtain a business license, and the second is to add a collection agency endorsement. A Business Licensing...

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May 10, 2021

How to Get a Collection Agency License in Texas

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Texas collection agency license bond needs. Learn how to get a Texas collection agency license, below. What Collection Agency Licenses Are Issued in Texas? Texas does not issue licenses to collection agencies, but that doesn’t mean that debt collection in Texas is unregulated. Chapter 392 of the Texas Finance Code prohibits unlawful and unethical debt collection practices by third-party debt collectors, which may be cause for civil litigation and possible criminal penalties. A third-party debt collector is any individual or entity that collects or attempts to collect debts on behalf of the original creditor. What Are the Requirements to Work as a Debt Collector in Texas? Texas debt collectors don’t need to obtain a license or register with the state. However, the Texas Secretary of State requires debt collectors to purchase a collection agency surety bond, more accurately referred to as a Third Party Debt Collector bond, in the amount of $10,000. Operating as a debt collector in Texas without being bonded is...

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May 10, 2021

How to Get a Florida Collection Agency License

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Florida collection agency license bond needs. Learn how to get a Florida collection agency license, below. What Collection Agency Licenses Are Issued in Florida? The Florida Office of Financial Regulation (FLOFR), specifically the Division of Consumer Finance, licenses collection agencies to operate within the state. There are two types of collection agency licenses, one for consumer collection agencies and one for commercial collection agencies. While consumer collection agencies are licensed to collect only consumer debt and a certain amount of third-party consumer debt, collecting commercial claims requires a commercial collection agency license. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? Prior to applying for licensure as either a consumer or commercial collection agency, you’ll need to register your business properly with the state. The applications and licensing requirements for a consumer collection agency differ in some respects from those for a commercial collection agency. The primary differences include the license fees (currently $200 for consumer and $500 for commercial) and the $50,000 license...

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May 10, 2021

How to Get a Contractor’s License in Indiana

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Indiana contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Indiana, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Indiana? The only contractors licensed at the state level in Indiana are plumbing contractors. All other contractors, both general and specialty, are licensed by the municipalities in which they operate. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? The local licensing process varies by jurisdiction, but they all involve providing proof of general liability insurance. If the contractor has employees, they also must provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance. They also typically involve providing letters of reference and agreeing to a criminal background check. Some municipalities require applicants for a general contractor or specialty contractor license to pass a written exam while others don’t. Some require a contractor license bond and others don’t. When a contractor license bond is required, it’s typically in the amount of $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000. Why Is a Contractor License Bond Required? An Indiana contractor license bond...

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May 10, 2021

How to Get a Contractor’s License in Alabama

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Alabama contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Alabama, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Alabama? Alabama contractors and subcontractors are required to be licensed by the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors if they work on commercial jobs valued at $50,000 or more or residential jobs of $10,000 or more, including the cost of labor and material. You may be able to continue working under a license from another state—specifically Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Tennessee—if you were licensed in that state for three consecutive years. A licensed subcontractor can bid on a job as a general contractor but must obtain a general contractor’s license before beginning to work on the job. Alabama also issues licenses in several construction specialties. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? Before you apply for an Alabama contractor’s license, you need to have registered your business with the Alabama Secretary of State if you will be operating as anything other...

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May 10, 2021

How to Get a Contractor’s License in Tennessee

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Tennessee contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Tennessee, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Tennessee? The Tennessee Code Annotated establishes the definitions for the various types of contractor licenses issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Tennessee contractor licenses are broadly categorized in terms of the size/value of projects the contractor is allowed to work on: Projects Under $25,000 Projects Over $25,000 Home Improvement Contractor license Prime/General Contractor license Limited Licensed Electrical Subcontractor license Limited Licensed Plumber Construction Management license Be aware that certain municipalities require contractors working in the jurisdiction to obtain a local license or permit in addition to a license issued by the state. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? In general, obtaining a state-level contractor’s license in Tennessee involves: Passing the Tennessee Business and Law exam Providing proof of workers’ compensation and general liability insurance Submitting an audited or reviewed financial statement to document net worth and operating capital...

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May 10, 2021

How to Get a Contractor’s License in Oregon

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Oregon contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Oregon, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Oregon? The Oregon Construction Contractors Board issues both residential and commercial contractor licenses with certain endorsements specifying the particular kind of work that can be performed in each case. There are seven endorsements for residential general contractor licenses and three for commercial. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? Here is an overview of key steps in the licensing process: Determine what type of license and endorsement you will need. Complete the pre-license training and pass the required examination. Register your business with the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division, and the Oregon Department of Revenue. Purchase an Oregon contractor license bond in the amount required for your particular endorsement type. If you have both residential and commercial licenses, you must obtain two separate bonds. Obtain proof of proper workers’ compensation and general liability insurance. Download and complete the applicable application:...

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May 10, 2021

How to Get a Contractor’s License in North Carolina

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your North Carolina contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in North Carolina, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in North Carolina? While North Carolina issues licenses to electrical, landscape, and HVAC licenses, the focus here is on the licensing of general contractors. The North Carolina Board of General Contractors issues licenses in five different classifications: Building contractor Residential contractor Highway contractor Public utilities contractor Specialty contractor Licenses in each of these categories are further classified as limited, intermediate, and unlimited classes based on the maximum allowable value of a single project. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? Before applying for a general contractor’s license of any type, you’ll need to register your business with the Office of the Secretary of State and meet certain eligibility requirements, including a passing grade on the applicable examination. You’ll also need to demonstrate the required level of working capital or purchase a North Carolina contractor’s license bond, as illustrated below. License...

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May 10, 2021

How to Get a Contractor’s License in Georgia

Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all of your Georgia contractor license bond needs. Learn how to get a contractor’s license in Georgia, below. What Contractor Licenses Are Issued in Georgia? The Georgia Board for Residential and General Contractors issues four different types of contractor licenses: Residential-Basic Contractor License. Work is limited to detached one-and two-family homes and single-family townhouses of three stories or less. Residential-Light Commercial Contractor License. This includes all work allowed under a residential-basic contractor license, plus work on multi-family homes and multi-use light commercial buildings. General Contractor Licenses involve unlimited contractor services. General Contractor-Limited Licenses include everything permitted under a general contractor license but with a contract limit of $500,000. Education, experience, financial, and insurance requirements differ by license type. What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process? In general, getting licensed as a contractor in Georgia involves the following steps, though the details vary depending on the specific type of license you’re seeking: Determine which type of license you need and ensure that you meet the basic...

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