Letting others use my license

[joeyww12000]

I have a state of Georgia restricted electrical license, which allows work on 200a and less. I got these license in hope to get into residential on my own, but work has dwindled here. I work a full time job with a commercial electrical company and planned on doing residential on the side, but I just dont have the time to put into looking for work in this slow market. I thought of leasing out my license just to see if I could make any money off of them, since Ive not made a dime off of them to date. I understand legally Im responsible for others work. Do you think this would be a bad move in the long run? Im just looking to use all my resources to make some money here.

 

[jrannis]

I don't think I would do it.
If the market is that slow, competition from established contractors with overhead will eat up whatever work there is.
People that could not or would not get a license will be who you are looking for, the very bottom of the food chain, not a good idea.
When residential work booms to the point of their being a shortage of contractors, the license you have will then be valuable and you could use it for yourself.
Maybe approach an established GC or HVAC contractor and ask them if they would be interested in some type of agreement to have an electrical license associated with their business. A couple of small jobs from them could make a difference for your bottom line.

 

[Buck Parrish]

I have a state of Georgia restricted electrical license, which allows work on 200a and less. I got these license in hope to get into residential on my own, but work has dwindled here. I work a full time job with a commercial electrical company and planned on doing residential on the side, but I just dont have the time to put into looking for work in this slow market. I thought of leasing out my license just to see if I could make any money off of them, since Ive not made a dime off of them to date. I understand legally Im responsible for others work. Do you think this would be a bad move in the long run? Im just looking to use all my resources to make some money here.

That is illegal most every where. The electrical examing board could take your license if you get caught. They should have explained all this to you when you applied and took the test.:wink:
Quite frankly why would a licensed electrician not know this.
You would have to over see the job. Checks made out to your bussiness, etc...

 

[growler]

I thought of leasing out my license just to see if I could make any money off of them, since Ive not made a dime off of them to date. I understand legally Im responsible for others work. Do you think this would be a bad move in the long run? Im just looking to use all my resources to make some money here.

You can't just lease out your license even if you wanted to, that's not how it works. If a job requires a permit they want more than a license number, they want the name of the electrical contractor and some counties will want a bond.

If someone wants to start an electrical contracting business you can sponsor them as a full time employee ( the qualifying master). You would need a letter to the Secretary of State for this, informing them that you sponsor said company.

There are jobs that require a masters license that you can apply for, some the county (school systems) and others private ( mostly hospitals & factories).

Other than that someone has to start a business for your license to be of any value. You can start your own side business and just do what job come your way. Even if you lose money it may help out on taxes.

A license is not supposed to make you money. It just gives you the right to apply for a business license to do electrical work or work for a company and supervise electrical work.

 

[petersonra]

Does your license require that you personally supervise the electrical work? Every jurisdiction is different. There are places where you could legally do what you want to do and no one would care. There are other places that are more restrictive.

If it is legal, and you think whatever risk there is can be covered by insurance and is worth the money you can make, I see nothing wrong with what you are thinking of doing.

I am not entirely sure just what you are proposing doing, but it does not completely pass the "smell test" to me.

 

[Loffgren]

That is illegal most every where. The electrical examing board could take your license if you get caught. They should have explained all this to you when you applied and took the test.:wink:
Quite frankly why would a licensed electrician not know this.
You would have to over see the job. Checks made out to your bussiness, etc...

I agree, illegal

 

[Kdog76]

Our AHJ will only allow a W-2 "employee" to work under someone else's Master's / contractor's license unless they also are a licensed state master AND have liability insurance also. So around here, if you 'sub-let' your license - whoever is working under that license would have to be an employee of yours OR be a licensed contractor themselves. My last employer did not even have his master's license - he had to use someone else's and our AHJ gave him a lot of static about it! As in, is he a full time employee? And, where's the W-2 form?

 

[benaround]

There is no need for that kind of comment.

 

[raider1]

There is no need for that kind of comment.

I agree. Lets keep this thread civil.

Chris

 

[satcom]

Electrical work is serious business, public safety is involved, it is not a hobby, or pastime activity, when you let someone else use your license, you may be putting someones life in danger, a criminal offense in most states, electrical licenses are issued to insure some level of knowladge has been shown and some level of experience exists, would you let your child be treated by a doctor that is using anothers license? it happens every day, because there are doctors that use the same excuse, they need the money, I quess it comes down to, how much you value your license, and how much self worth someone has.

 

[ceb58]

Electrical work is serious business, public safety is involved, it is not a hobby, or pastime activity, when you let someone else use your license, you may be putting someones life in danger, a criminal offense in most states, electrical licenses are issued to insure some level of knowladge has been shown and some level of experience exists, would you let your child be treated by a doctor that is using anothers license? it happens every day, because there are doctors that use the same excuse, they need the money, I quess it comes down to, how much you value your license, and how much self worth someone has.

That is exactly what my point was. If the OP doesn't have enough self esteem in what he has worked hard to accomplish, have enough pride in his profession and care about others safety and his liability for letting others do work under his license. Then he may as well put himself up for sale in the paper.

 

[c2500]

I think you would be foolish to let someone else use your license. As others have said, it is probably illegal. In fact, I can't think of a better way to lose your license. If someone does lousy work, it is your baby. When the lousy work, even though it passed an inspection, causes a house to burn, guess who is responsible?

I carry multiple licenses, (Residential builder, electrician and plumber), and I definitely would not want that type of liability floating around out there.

c2500

 

[Greg Swartz]

I have a state of Georgia restricted electrical license, which allows work on 200a and less. I got these license in hope to get into residential on my own, but work has dwindled here. I work a full time job with a commercial electrical company and planned on doing residential on the side, but I just dont have the time to put into looking for work in this slow market. I thought of leasing out my license just to see if I could make any money off of them, since Ive not made a dime off of them to date. I understand legally Im responsible for others work. Do you think this would be a bad move in the long run? Im just looking to use all my resources to make some money here.

Joey,
I don't understand a few things...
You got an electrical license... that is good. Keep it!
How would you "lease it out?" As others have said, is that not illegal? Would the other people be under your license, under your insurance, under your employment? Would that be your job? Would you warranty it? The reason I ask, is that your license would be the one on the permit. If anything goes wrong, and the person bails... you are responsible.
Another question: Are you working overtime? The reason I ask is that you state you do not have the time to put into finding work. What about the time to find guys who are willing to do the work illegally? Because, they found the time to find the work... and have found the time to actually perform the work as well.
Look, we all had a license before we went out on our own. I think it's a requirement! Use this time to learn how to become an electrical contractor... you are being paid for it. And soon, your boss will become your competitor.

I had an apprentice in Colorado Springs, who met some wierd criteria, who went straight for his master's license. Passed it. He immediately filed with the state, and became a sole propietor EC. He was hungry, and he picked up a lot of work! Then he moved to Georgia... yep... he's a competitor with you now. Took all the testing and got the unlimited / unrestricted whatever they call it... he is young and hungry. He wants to run a business... For whatever reason, I get an e-mail from him, and now he is back in Colorado, working up in Denver, for a large EC... I guess that he is not so hungry...
My point is that you can become an EC anywhere you want! And if you really want it... you can find work, and succeed anywhere you go!

Don't look for the easy way out... that's what the guys you would lease your license to are doing... and you would be enabling them. Which makes you no better than the Journeyman performing illegal work.

Have a great day, and go make a difference in our world!