Certificates, audits and the paperwork in between
Plain-English guides for general contractors and office managers who track subcontractor insurance, W-9s and agreements.
A subcontractor's certificate of insurance expired: what to do next
What an expired certificate of insurance may mean for a general contractor, steps many GCs take when a sub's COI expires mid-project, and how to catch the next one sooner.
Hiring a subcontractor without workers' comp: what could happen and what to ask
What may happen if a subcontractor has no workers' comp, how it could affect your audit, why the answer varies by state, and questions many GCs ask before the first payment.
Subcontractor onboarding checklist: what GCs often collect before the first payment
A practical subcontractor onboarding checklist covering the certificate of insurance, W-9, workers' comp or exemption, license and agreement, plus how to keep it from becoming a chore.
W-9s for subcontractors: when to ask, why it matters and how to store them
What a W-9 is, when many general contractors collect one from subcontractors, what can happen without one, how long the IRS suggests keeping it, and how to handle it safely.
Subcontractor certificates of insurance: what GCs often require and check
A practical guide to subcontractor certificates of insurance for general contractors — what a COI is, what GCs commonly ask subs for, how to get one, what to check when it arrives, and ways to keep them current.
Workers' comp audit: what happens and how to prepare
What may happen at a workers comp audit — why it happens, the types of audits, what auditors often ask a general contractor for, how subcontractors can affect the result, and ways to prepare.
1099s for subcontractors: what changed for 2026 and how to get ready for January
A general overview of 1099s for subcontractors, the IRS's new $2,000 Form 1099-NEC threshold for 2026, the January 31 deadline, and how collecting W-9s early may help.
Additional insured on a certificate of insurance: what GCs often ask for
A plain-English look at additional insured status on a subcontractor's certificate of insurance, why the certificate alone may not be the whole story, and what general contractors often request.
COI tracking for contractors: a simple system (and when software might help)
A simple certificate of insurance tracking approach for general contractors, what to collect and watch, and when a COI tracking spreadsheet may stop being enough.
Florida workers' comp exemption: a plain-English guide for construction
How the Florida workers comp exemption (Certificate of Election to be Exempt) works in construction — who the state says can apply, how long it lasts, what it covers and doesn't, and what general contractors may want to keep on file.
How to read an ACORD 25 certificate of insurance, section by section
A section-by-section look at the standard ACORD 25 certificate of insurance, and a few things general contractors often check when one comes in.
Workers' comp audits and subcontractors: why payments without a certificate could be added to your bill
How a workers comp audit may treat subcontractors, why a payment made outside a sub's certificate dates could end up on your bill, and habits that may help.