Short answer: Start by looking up the contractor's license at roc.az.gov: it shows whether the license is active, what work it covers and any complaints. Then ask who pulls the permits, what insurance they carry, who will be on site every day, how payments are scheduled, what the written contract includes, and what happens when something changes. A good contractor answers all of it without hesitating.
Most people pick a contractor on price and a good feeling. Both matter, but neither tells you what happens when the job hits a problem, and every job hits at least one. These are the questions that do. They apply to a bathroom remodel and to a restaurant buildout alike, with a few Arizona-specific points that out-of-state checklists miss.
Before you ask anything: check the license yourself
In Arizona, contractors are licensed by the Registrar of Contractors (ROC). Go to roc.az.gov, search the business name or license number, and look at three things: whether the license is active, what classification it covers, and whether there are complaints. It takes two minutes and it answers more than any interview.
Classification matters. Arizona licenses residential and commercial work separately, and a license for one kind of work doesn't automatically cover the other. If you're building out a store, the license should cover commercial work. We explain the details in what the AZROC license means.
The 10 questions
1. What's your ROC license number, and does it cover this type of work?
They should say it without looking it up, and it should match what you found online. Hesitation here is the fastest way to end a conversation.
2. Who pulls the permits?
The answer you want: "We do." Be careful if a contractor suggests you pull the permit yourself as the owner. That can make you legally responsible for the work and is sometimes a sign the contractor isn't licensed for the job.
3. What insurance do you carry? Can I get the certificate?
Ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability, and workers' compensation if they have employees. The certificate comes from their insurance agent, not from the contractor's own paperwork.
4. Who will actually be on site every day?
The person who sells you the job is often not the person who runs it. Find out who your daily contact is, whether the owner visits, and which trades are subcontracted.
5. What does the written estimate include and exclude?
Two estimates with the same total can cover very different work. Look for permits, demolition and disposal, cleanup, and who buys fixtures and finishes. Allowances (a set amount for tile or cabinets you haven't picked yet) are fine, as long as you know the amount.
6. How are payments scheduled?
Payments should follow progress: a deposit, then payments tied to finished stages of work. A contractor who wants most of the money before work starts is putting all the risk on you.
7. How do you handle changes?
Changes happen on every job. The answer you want is a written change order with the price and the schedule impact, signed before the work is done. "We'll figure it out at the end" is how budgets break.
8. What's the schedule, and what could delay it?
A contractor who has done this before can tell you which parts depend on permits, inspections, material lead times or weather. In Flagstaff, winter affects anything exterior.
9. Can I talk to recent clients or see recent work?
Recent is the key word. Ask for projects similar to yours from the last year or two, and read their Google reviews for how they handle problems, not just the finished photos.
10. What warranty do you give, and how do I reach you after the job?
Get the warranty in writing. Ask how warranty calls are handled and how fast someone comes out.
Red flags
- No license number on the bid, or a license that doesn't match the business name.
- Asking you to pull the permit as an owner-builder.
- Cash only, or a large payment before any work starts.
- No written contract, or a one-line estimate with no scope.
- Pressure to sign today to "lock the price".
- An offer to split a larger job into small ones to stay under $1,000. Arizona's handyman exemption is narrow: it applies to work under $1,000 in labor and materials combined that doesn't require a permit and is casual or minor in nature. Splitting a job doesn't qualify.
Why the license matters more in Arizona than you think
Hiring an unlicensed contractor in Arizona costs you protection you may not know you have. If a licensed contractor does poor work on your home, you can file a complaint with the ROC, and homeowners who live in the property can apply to the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund for up to $30,000. None of that applies to unlicensed work. For commercial projects the Recovery Fund doesn't apply at all, so the license check and a solid written contract are your main protection.
Ask us all ten. Multiple Builders holds AZROC licenses #288594 and #291477 and has worked in Flagstaff since 2005. Call (928) 707-1651 and Sergio will answer them himself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Search the business name or license number on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website, roc.az.gov. It shows whether the license is active, its classification and any complaint history.
Only jobs under $1,000 in combined labor and materials that don't need a permit and are casual or minor in nature fall under the handyman exemption. Anything larger, or anything that needs a permit, requires a licensed contractor.
No license number, a license that doesn't match the business, asking you to pull permits yourself, cash-only or large upfront payments, no written contract, and pressure to sign the same day.
The licensed contractor should pull it. Pulling it yourself as an owner-builder can make you legally responsible for the work.
You can file a complaint with the Arizona ROC. Homeowners who occupy the property may also be eligible for the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund, up to $30,000 per award. Unlicensed work isn't covered.
Sources
About the Author
Sergio owns Multiple Builders Inc., a general contractor based in Flagstaff since 2005 and licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZROC #288594 and #291477). His crews handle commercial buildouts and residential remodels across Northern Arizona.