Tools · Check before you hire

How to check a general contractor before you hire

4 registers we include cover general contractors here, with 25,107 public entries between them. Check the register first, then the business itself on the public evidence.

The registers to check

Then check the business itself

Check the business by name on reviews, credentials and company status together, see where their rating really sits, or browse contractors with public evidence.

Common questions

Which register should a general contractor be on?

In this market the registers we track that actually cover general contractors are: RBQ, HomeStars Verified Pro, HCRA, City of Hamilton ON - Licensed Trade Contractors and Masters. Which one applies can depend on where the work is and what exactly it involves, so check the register that covers your area and ask the contractor which registration they hold.

Does being listed mean they are good?

No. A register tells you someone is listed for the work, not how they treat customers. After the register check, look at the public evidence: reviews across sources and their dates, company status, and how their rating sits against the market's real distribution.

What do the entry counts mean?

The number is the public register entries we have found for this trade, as of 2026-07-14. It is not the register's own live total, and the official body's site is always the final word.

The entry counts show public register entries we have found by the date shown, not the register's own live total. An entry not shown here is not proof someone is unregistered: the official body's site is always the final word.

More ways to check who to trust

Free, independent checks. No ads, no paid placement.

  • Cowboy Checker

    Spot the warning signs of a dishonest business before you hire.

  • Compare Quotes

    Enter the names from your quotes and line them up on the public evidence.

  • Company Health Check

    Check whether the company behind a business is active, dissolved, or in liquidation.

  • Certifications

    The certifications, licences and registrations we have found in public sources, and what each one means.

  • Contractor Rules by Province

    Deposit rules, licence requirements and cancellation rights in your province, cited to the law.

  • Quote Check

    Describe the quote you were given and see which features are officially listed warning signs.

  • Rating Reality Check

    Where a rating and review count really sit against the market's full distribution.

  • Licence Check

    A licence number from a van or quote, checked against every public register included here in one search.

  • Emergency: Who to Call

    Gas smell, power cut, burst pipe: the official number to call first, from the official pages.

Or browse contractors by trade