A plumber in Sacramento sits down with a spreadsheet before applying. She wants one number: what will this license cost her? The state fees turn out to be the easy part. They are fixed and published. The harder part is everything CSLB does not set: the bond premium, insurance, and the exam fees paid to the testing company.
Here is the plain answer. The fees you pay CSLB for a new sole-owner license are a $450 application fee and a $200 initial license fee. A non-sole owner, such as a corporation, LLC or partnership, pays $350 for the initial license instead. On top of that you pay fingerprinting fees, a separate exam fee to PSI for each exam, and the premium on a $25,000 contractor bond. Insurance depends on whether you have employees and how your business is set up.
This post walks through each cost, what CSLB publishes, and what you will need to get quotes for.
The costs at a glance
- Application fee (CSLB): $450.
- Fingerprinting: $32 DOJ processing, $17 FBI processing, plus the Live Scan site’s own rolling fee.
- Exam fees (PSI): a separate fee for each exam, paid to PSI when you schedule.
- Initial license fee (CSLB): $200 sole owner, $350 non-sole owner.
- Contractor bond: $25,000 bond. You pay a premium to a surety company, or post a $25,000 cashier’s check.
- Bond of qualifying individual: $25,000, only if it applies to your setup.
- Workers’ compensation: required if you have employees. Quotes vary.
- LLC extras: an employee/worker bond and liability insurance, if you are licensing an LLC.
The CSLB amounts come from its list of all CSLB fees, read today.
A worked example
Take a sole owner applying for one classification, with no employees, in a trade that can file the workers’ comp exemption.
- Paid to CSLB: $450 to apply plus $200 for the license, so $650.
- Paid at Live Scan: $49 in DOJ and FBI processing, plus the site’s rolling fee.
- Paid to PSI: one exam fee for the trade exam and one for Law and Business.
- Paid to a surety: the premium on the $25,000 bond.
The first two lines are fixed. The last two are where your quotes and your exam results move the total.
Fees you pay CSLB
Application fee: $450
This covers the original application for one classification, whether you are taking the exam or applying with a waiver. It goes in with your application. If your application expires, you start over with new fees.
Initial license fee: $200 or $350
You pay this after you pass your exams, when CSLB sends your bond and fee letter. CSLB’s page on issuing your license says it covers the license for two years. It is $200 for a sole owner and $350 for every other business type.
Adding a classification later
Once you hold a license, adding a classification costs $230. Replacing the qualifier on an existing license is also $230.
Fingerprinting
CSLB lists two processing fees paid at the Live Scan site: $32 for the Department of Justice and $17 for the FBI. Each Live Scan site also sets its own rolling fee. CSLB does not set that price, so call ahead.
Exam fees
Exam fees are not part of the CSLB application fee. CSLB’s Examination FAQ says you pay them directly to PSI when you schedule, and each exam is a separate fee. Your Notice to Schedule for Examination has the current details.
Three rules protect that fee:
- Cancel in time. You keep your fee if PSI receives your cancellation 48 hours before the appointment.
- Show up on time with valid ID. Missing the appointment, arriving late or lacking ID forfeits the fee.
- A retake costs a re-examination fee. After a fail, you can retake after 21 calendar days, inside your 18-month window.
If your 18 months run out before you pass, the application is void. You reapply and pay the application fee again. Our post on CSLB retake rules covers the timing in detail.
The contractor bond
Every license needs a $25,000 contractor bond, or a $25,000 cashier’s check instead. Most contractors buy a bond. You pay the surety company a premium, not the full $25,000.
The premium is set by the surety, not by CSLB. It usually depends on your credit and business history. Get two or three quotes before you pass, so the bond is ready when your letter arrives.
Bond of qualifying individual
Some licenses also need a $25,000 bond of qualifying individual. Whether it applies depends on how the license is set up and who qualifies it. Your bond and fee letter will say if you need one.
Workers’ compensation and insurance
Workers’ compensation
To get your license you file one of three things: a certificate of workers’ comp insurance, a certificate of self-insurance, or an exemption if you have no employees.
Some classifications cannot file the exemption at all. CSLB names C-8 Concrete, C-20 HVAC, C-22 Asbestos Abatement, C-39 Roofing and C-61/D-49 Tree Service. If you hold one of those, budget for a policy even if you work alone.
Premiums depend on your trade, payroll and claims history. Get quotes from an agent who writes contractor policies.
Liability insurance
CSLB lists liability insurance as an issuance item for LLCs. For other business types it is not on the issuance list. Many clients, general contractors and property managers will still ask for proof of coverage before they hire you. Price it while you plan.
Keeping the license: renewal fees
A license is issued for two years. Active licenses renew for two years at a time. Inactive licenses renew for four. CSLB’s fee list shows:
- Active, on time, sole owner: $450 ($470 for C-10).
- Active, on time, non-sole owner: $700 ($720 for C-10).
- Active, late, sole owner: $675 ($695 for C-10).
- Active, late, non-sole owner: $1,050 ($1,070 for C-10).
- Inactive, on time: $300 sole owner, $500 non-sole owner.
Renewing late costs real money. Put the expiration date in your calendar the day the license is issued.
Costs people forget
- A failed exam. A re-examination fee and at least three weeks.
- A missed appointment. The fee is gone.
- A voided application. A new $450 fee if the 18 months run out.
- Late renewal. The delinquent fee is higher than the timely one.
- Business setup. Registering a corporation or LLC with the state has its own fees, separate from CSLB.
How to keep the total down
- Apply in the right classification. A returned application costs time. A second application costs money.
- Prepare for both exams before you schedule. Each retake is another fee and another wait.
- Shop the bond and insurance early. You will not be rushed into the first quote.
- Renew on time. The difference between timely and late renewal is set by CSLB and it is not small.
For the full process from application to license, see our guide on how to get a contractor license in California.
Questions applicants ask
Is the application fee refundable?
Treat it as non-refundable. Get the application right the first time. Our step-by-step application guide covers what goes in.
Can I avoid the bond by paying cash?
CSLB accepts a $25,000 cashier’s check in place of the contractor bond. That ties up the full amount, which is why most people buy a bond.
Does a sole owner pay less than a company?
Yes, for the CSLB fees. The initial license fee and the renewal fees are lower for a sole owner than for a non-sole owner.
Next step
The cheapest license is the one you get. Our California contractor exam prep has a course for each classification and the Law and Business exam, so you can walk into PSI ready.