Frustrated with North Jersey Handyman Licensing - $500 in Fees for What?
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NailGunNinja7
·1mo·83 replies·82 participants
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NailGunNinja7⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo
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I'm in north jersey, been doing handyman work for 8 years fixing doors, patching drywall, and installing shelves with my DeWalt cordless kit. Just got hit with a $500 renewal fee for my contractor's license and now they want me to shell out another $300 for some certification class on lead paint safety because the state changed the rules last year. It's BS, I mean, I saw this facebook group called Handyman Nation where a bunch of guys were ranting about the same crap, and one mentioned watching Tommy Mello's video on scaling without all this red tape. But here, every job over $500 needs a permit and inspection, even simple stuff like mounting a TV bracket. I'm seriously thinking of just sticking to under-the-table gigs at this point. Anyone else dealing with this headache?
north jersey's got more red tape than my grandpa's toolbox, man. i renewed mine last month and felt like i was bribing the inspector for a handshake. now im dodging jobs over $499 like they're lava, calling em 'install a shelf and maybe a bracket if you're nice'. if tommy mello's got a video on going rogue, hook us up...
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TenYearVet22⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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you know any handymen around north jersey that just ignore the rules and do whatever? hows that work out for em?
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FrameFreak7⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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nj's renewal is $110, not 500... check your paperwork cuz that sounds like they're bundling in some bogus add-on. for the lead cert, just do the online epa rrp course through hudson valley safety, it's 8 hours and only $25 instead of whatever scam class they're pushing. saves you time and cash without the hassle.
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PipeLord42015⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, nj's got us by the balls with all these fees, i was pissed when i got hit with that renewal crap last year. same shit here, feels like they're just squeezing every dime outta us.
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FrameFreak8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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get that lead certification online through the epa site for like $100 instead of the states class, its the same material and you just upload your cert when renewing.
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LevelLou🔧 Apprentice1mo
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yeah the renewal's only $110 if you hit it by march 31st, saves you a bunch over that $500 they're quoting. skip the lead class if your jobs stay under $500, no permit needed for small fixes like brackets.
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LatexLegend⭐ Expert1mo
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Skip the class and find a free online equivalent from EPA, saved me $200 last renewal.
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NotAnElectrician25⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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new jersey's regs are a total racket, $500 just to keep the state off your back while they do jack shit for us. screw the division of consumer affairs, they're bleeding us dry.
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SlateSlinger2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Jersey inspectors are the worst, always adding BS requirements mid-job.
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DoorJamDud⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Government squeezing us dry while homeowners DIY with youtube.
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PitchPerfectPro⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Same here, feels like they're trying to push us out of business.
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TermiteTerror⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Exactly, it's all about control not safety.
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SawdustSavant13⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah, nj's home improvement contractor registration is just a $110 fee through the division of consumer affairs, but that $500 you're seeing might be the bond or total startup costs bundled by some service. register online at njconsumeraffairs.gov and you'll be set for jobs under 500 bucks without the full contractor hassle. skip the middlemen pushing packages, do it direct and save the cash.
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GarageGuru7⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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nj fees got me registering my toolbox last week, now its a certified handyman too 😂
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EaveExpert2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah, it's all BS up in north jersey, shelling out $500 just to keep the bureaucrats fat and happy. been there, makes you wanna quit the game sometimes.
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BugBusterBill⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah man, those nj bureaucrats got me shellin out 500 bucks last year too, total BS that makes you wanna chuck the tools and walk away.
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SparkPlugIdiot⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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those north jersey bureaucrats are straight up stranglin small guys like us with all these BS fees just to line their pockets, its a damn racket.
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DirtBagLandscaper4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Relate hard, man. That $500 stung when i coulda bought a new miter saw.
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DirtBagLandscaper4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Wait, no, i meant it hit different after a slow month.
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DirtBagLandscaper4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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FML.
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SparkPlugJoe⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah, north jersey fees are a total ripoff, man. i shelled out over 500 bucks last year just to renew my registration and barely got a damn sticker for it. feels like they're just lining pockets with no real benefit to us. been there, it's frustrating as hell.
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DoorOpenerDave⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Hang in there, it's temporary.
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SpringSlinger⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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those NJ bureaucrats are screwing every small handyman with their BS fees just to line their pockets while we bust our asses for scraps.
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SweepStakeSue⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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nj fees are like payin for a ferrari to fix your kid's bike - total ripoff while you're out there dodgin squirrels and bad coffee. shoulda just called it the 'handyman tax' and be done with it.
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ShockJockElec⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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screw that noise, nj's handyman rules are a joke since you can do jobs up to 10k without even bothering with the license, so why the hell pay $500 for paperwork that dont do shit?
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BeamBender⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah man, those NJ fees are straight up robbery, $500 for a damn piece of paper while we're out here grinding for peanuts. been paying that crap for years and it never gets any easier.
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JoistJockey3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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it's BS how they hike those fees every year without adding shit to the service, like what do we even get for $500 besides a headache? i've been shelling out that crap since i started and it just eats into the profit on every job. north jersey regulators are killing us small guys, man.
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JoistJockey7⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah man, those north jersey fees are straight up robbery, shell out $500 a year for basically nothing but more red tape thats gonna bury us all.
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TintTitan⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah man, those nj fees are a total ripoff, feel like they just wanna bleed us dry before we even turn a wrench.
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SlateSlinger5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah, north jersey's got us by the balls with those fees, man. shoulda just stayed unlicensed and took the risk, but now we're all in the same boat.
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LeakHunter2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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SharkBite my ass, just get the cert and charge it back to clients in your rates.
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RootRotRider⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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I charge an extra 10% for permit jobs now, covers the nonsense.
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ChillChampion⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Smart move, wish i thought of that sooner.
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BoxHauler3⭐ Expert1mo
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Haha, remember when licensing was just a handshake? Now it's a money grab.
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BenderBuddy⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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it's all a damn racket in north jersey, $500 just to jump through hoops while they ignore the real hacks. i've been paying this BS for years and it never gets better.
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TimberTitan⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah the NJ HIC registration is what youre stuck with, just do it online through the division of consumer affairs portal and save yourself the headache of mailing everything.
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BlowerBandit⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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those damn fees are just the start, then they hit you with the $500k GL insurance BS that costs a fortune here in NJ. state bends you over every year and you cant even fight it.
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SparkPlugJunkie⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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shop around for that gl insurance, i switched to the hartford last year and saved 20% on my $500k policy without skimping on coverage. makes the nj fees sting a bit less when you're not bleeding cash on premiums.
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MoveMaster3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah man, that $500 fee feels like a total ripoff when all it gets you is a piece of paper and headaches. been dealing with the same BS in north jersey for years, makes you wanna stick to cash jobs under the radar.
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ComboKey⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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those north jersey bureaucrats are just squeezing every last dime out of us hardworking guys while doing jack shit to actually help the trade, it's total BS.
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ScrewLooseSue⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Use QuickBooks to track these fees as business expenses, deduct em at tax time.
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WrenchWizard3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Yeah, my books were a mess til i started categorizing licenses separately.
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WireWhisperer6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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The whole system's rigged against small guys like us.
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ChillMaster5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Fight me if you want, but ignoring certs is how you get sued.
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ChillMaster7⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Nah, in jersey it's worth the hassle to stay legit.
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LeakLocator3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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My apprentice quit over this crap, said it's not worth the stress.
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SawdustSavant⭐ Expert1mo
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Heard that story a dozen times.
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FloorKing99⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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jersey's licensing BS is straight up robbery, $500 for a damn stamp and now your apprentice bails... screw the state for killing small guys like us.
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BoltBoss2⭐ Expert1mo
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We should all band together and lobby against these fees.
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ShingleShark11⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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these north jersey fees are straight up BS, $500 for a piece of paper that dont even cover the bullshit paperwork they make you file every year. we need to band together and tell these state hacks to shove it before they price every small guy out.
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert1mo
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those state hacks in jersey are bleeding us dry with these fees just to line their pockets, we gotta push back before every small outfit's forced to shut down.
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MoldMilitant⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Online petition in the handyman groups, let's do it.
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TenYearVet2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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This is why i went solo, no employees means less paperwork hell.
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SawdustSavant16⭐ Expert1mo
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Damn straight, scaling up just means more licenses per state.
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DovetailDave⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Proud i kept it small, hit 80k last year without the BS.
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BumpKeyBandit2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Check out the free resources on the state's site first, might skip the class.
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FramingFanatic⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah man, north jersey's fees are a total ripoff, feel your pain on that $500 BS just to get licensed.
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BugBusterJoe2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Insurance companies love when you're certified, lowers premiums a bit.
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WeedWhackerWiz⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Screw the state, i just pay the fee and move on.
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TarpTitan⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Us indies are getting crushed by these regulations.
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PackRatMover⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Feels good to vent, but yeah, same boat here.
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SpotlessSteve10⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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screw those licensing fees, north jersey's just lining pockets with our hard-earned cash. i'd rather work under the table than feed that BS system.
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KeyMasterKev⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah man, north jersey's fees are straight robbery, been dodging that crap for years and it aint worth the headache.
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CircuitSnafu⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah, north jersey's got me payin $500 just to register as a home improvement contractor and it feels like a total scam every time.
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CastIronCrusher2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Another year, another fee hike. SMH.
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PipeLord42027⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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the registration's only 90 bucks but if youre financing projects add the 300 for licensing, saves you headaches down the line.
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BrushStrokePro12⭐ Expert1mo
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The pe firms buying up legit outfits don't deal with this solo.
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BrushStrokePro5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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dont bother with that north jersey registration unless youre doing jobs over $500, its just a money grab and the state's inspections are a joke. skip it as a solo guy and youll save the headache, but get caught and theyll fine you double.
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LiftLord⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Man, i feel your pain after that last renewal.
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WattTheHeck20⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Jersey's always been tough on handymen.
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NailBiter2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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We all in this together, brother.
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SparkPlugPro⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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north jersey's licensing BS is straight up robbery, $500 for a piece of paper that doesn't do jack. these bureaucrats sit in their offices while we're busting our asses on roofs in the rain, and they want their cut without lifting a finger. it's the same crap everywhere in this state, squeezing every last dime from us small guys just to stay legal. if they spent half that effort on actual enforcement, maybe we'd have fewer hack jobs out there.
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DoorDud⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah man, $500 for a fancy sticker that keeps the suits happy while we dodge leaks and lowball bids. been paying that crap for years and it still feels like they're pickin our pockets every renewal.
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RidgeRunner⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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same here in PA, shellin out for that BS renewal every year just to keep the inspectors off my back while jobs pay peanuts.
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DrainDragon4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah those nj home improvement registrations are only about $100 a pop and renew every march 31st, way less BS than pa's yearly crap. just hit up the division of consumer affairs site to get it done quick.
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LiftLegend2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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hey, does that nj registration cover general handyman stuff or just specific home improvement jobs?
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TarHeelRoofer🔧 Apprentice1mo
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man, that $500 is straight robbery for a piece of paper that dont even help with the shitty pay anymore. im down here in NC shelling out similar BS just to stay legal and its killin my margins. fuck these state fees, they treat us like were printin money when half my jobs barely cover gas.
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DucttapeKing⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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those jersey bureaucrats are straight up robbing us blind with that $500 BS just to renew a license that does jack shit for the actual work we do.
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MulchMogul2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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don't skip the licensing paperwork just to save a few bucks, i knew a guy who got slapped with $5k in fines and lost his truck over a hack job complaint.
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BugHunterX⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Just got certified myself, worth it for peace of mind.
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DustDevil2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah man, that $500 fee stung when i got certified last year, but at least it keeps the sketchy backyard guys out for a bit.
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DirtDiggerDan3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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it's actually $110 for the home improvement contractor registration in nj, not $500, and that covers the basic stuff to keep you legit. renew every two years for $110 more to stay out of hot water with the division of consumer affairs.
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PipeDreamer17⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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those jersey inspectors are straight up highway robbery, $500 for a piece of paper that dont mean shit while they let unlicensed hacks run wild.
