This is my license.  If you hire an unlicensed builder, you may end up paying workers' compensation for any injuries that may happen. Also, you have no recourse in court.

One Million Dollars worth of insurance, can you believe it? Crazy, I know. Its totally unnecessary if you ask me, but its required for your protection.

Many people ask about bonding. The appropriate question would be "Are you bondable?" A bond is a promise of performance used frequently in commercial or municipal projects, but is unnecessary in residential construction. I am bondable, which means that if someone wanted to take out a bond of performance on me, they could do it. However, it adds no benefit to either of us to add another layer of paperwork to a deck project when you consider that the value of the materials in your possession is more than the downpayment. At all times you have more value than the total of your payments--until the end when we are even.

Update: I have changed from a sole proprietor to an L.L.C. "Tim Copeland Companies"