Guides for California contractors
Plain-English guides on the parts of running a contracting business that nobody teaches you: getting paid, winning public work, and getting found online. No fluff, no gated downloads. The deeper version of all of it is in the book.
California Mechanic's Lien Guide
The 20-day preliminary notice, how to file a lien, the deadlines, the 90-day foreclosure clock, stop notices on public works, and small claims. What to send, when, and what to do when the check still does not come.
Read the guide →
Winning public workHow to Bid Government Contracts
Why the bids are so hard to find, the licensing and DIR compliance you need, reading a solicitation, bonds, prevailing wage, and the realistic path to your first win.
Read the guide →
Getting licensedCalifornia Contractor License Guide
Who needs a CSLB license, picking your classification, the experience and exam requirements, the bond and fees, and how long the whole thing really takes.
Read the guide →
Public-works payPrevailing Wage, Explained
What prevailing wage is, when it applies, DIR registration, certified payroll, apprenticeship, and the penalties that turn a won job into a loss if you get it wrong.
Read the guide →
The main portalPlanetBids Guide
Register as a vendor, set commodity codes so you get the right notifications, and get a clean bid in before the deadline.
Read the guide →
Getting foundGoogle Business Profile for Contractors
Create and verify a service-area profile, pick the right categories, get reviews, post updates, and rank in the local map pack when customers search for your trade.
Read the guide →
Getting more leadsContractor Marketing in San Diego
The handful of things that actually get a San Diego or Riverside contractor more local customers online, and the money-burning tactics worth skipping.
Read the guide →
Everything, in one field manual.
These guides are the highlights. From Zero to Booked is the whole thing: forming the business, pricing with a floor, getting your first ten customers, the public-contract play, and a full section on getting paid with working legal templates.