License
Unfortunately, our industry doesn’t have a great reputation. Many times seeing “licensed and Insured” on a company’s website or paperwork will alleviate some of the customer’s concerns about their property and personal safety. At ShadowCat Services, we want to make sure you understand what Licensed and Insured means in our industry.
Many times potential customers will be getting multiple quotes for their project. Customers will vette contractors on their shortlist by checking their online reviews and many times checking their business on Sunbiz.org. Both of these checks are important. Sunbiz is a searchable database of Florida businesses that provides the legal standing of a business. Sunbiz will not show if a business is licensed. To be “licensed” means the contractor has a County Business License. The County license is issued in the county in which the business is based, not the State. For ShadowCat that is Volusia County and we pay Volusia County taxes as a result of this license. If a company does NOT have a business license, and be sure to ask about it, then they are not a legitimately operating licensed company!
Insurance
When customers ask the contractor if they are insured the answer will likely be yes. However, most customers do not know that there is a formal process in place to verify that a contractor has General Liability insurance. After selecting your preferred contractor, request a copy of their Certificate of Insurance. The COI will be sent by the insurance company and indicates the work the contractor is insured to provide.
While many companies have General Liability insurance, the key is they have the correct insurance rider in their policy. For instance, some of our competitors are landscape and irrigation companies. The Contractor may have General Liability insurance with riders for underground digging, but not land clearing! When they do something on your property regarding land clearing they are NOT insured even though they have a General Liability policy. ShadowCat Services carries General Liability insurance with the proper rider for land clearing services.
Land clearing is a big investment, and choosing the wrong company can cost you time, money, and frustration. By hiring ShadowCat Services, you’re partnering with a locally owned and highly rated land management company committed to your project’s success.