How We Verify Every Contractor
Every pro on FindALocalPro is checked against 4 public government databases before they appear in our directory. No paid placements. No sponsored listings. Just verified public records.
warningWhy Verification Matters
contractors operating without proper licensing in Illinois, according to IDFPR enforcement data
annual cost of unlicensed contracting to US homeowners (NASCLA estimate)
If an unlicensed contractor damages your home, you may have no legal recourse through state regulatory bodies
The 4-Database Verification Process
IDFPR — State License Verification
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
We check every contractor against IDFPR's public license database. For regulated trades — plumbing, electrical, roofing — Illinois law requires active state licensure.
What we verify:
- check License exists and is Active
- check License type matches claimed trade
- check No disciplinary actions on record
- check License expiration date is in the future
What it means for you:
An active IDFPR license confirms your contractor passed state licensing exams, meets education and experience requirements, and carries the insurance required by the state. It also means you can file a complaint with IDFPR if something goes wrong.
Disqualification: Expired, revoked, or suspended license. No exceptions.
IL Secretary of State — Business Registration
Cyber Drive Illinois Business Entity Search
A legitimate contractor operates as a registered business entity. We verify registration status and good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State.
What we verify:
- check Business entity is registered in Illinois
- check Status shows Active or In Good Standing
- check Business name matches the operating name
What it means for you:
A registered, active business entity means you're dealing with a real company — not a fly-by-night operator. If disputes arise, a registered business can be held legally accountable. Dissolved businesses cannot.
Disqualification: Dissolved, revoked, or "not in good standing" status.
Better Business Bureau — Rating & Complaints
BBB Chicago & Northern Illinois
The BBB tracks complaint patterns and how businesses handle disputes. We review ratings, complaint volume, and resolution history.
What we check:
- check BBB rating (A+ through F)
- check Complaint volume relative to business size
- check Complaint resolution patterns
What it means for you:
The BBB rating shows how a business handles problems — not just how they perform when things go right. A contractor with an A+ rating and resolved complaints demonstrates accountability. An F rating shows a pattern of unresolved disputes.
Disqualification: F rating.
BuildZoom — Permit History & Ranking
Building Permit Aggregation Platform
BuildZoom aggregates building permit data from municipalities. This shows what work a contractor has actually done — not just what they claim.
What we check:
- check Building permit history in the service area
- check BuildZoom contractor ranking score
- check Volume and recency of permitted work
What it means for you:
A strong permit history confirms the contractor actually pulls permits and does work through proper channels. Contractors with zero permit history either work outside the area or skip permits — both are concerning for homeowners.
The Trust Score
Every verified pro receives a Trust Score from 0-100 based on the weighted results of all four database checks plus customer reviews.
License (IDFPR)
Business Registration
BBB Rating
BuildZoom Score
Customer Reviews
Scoring Details
- License (40%): Active license = full points. Expired/revoked = disqualified (not listed).
- Business Registration (25%): Active/good standing = full points. Dissolved = disqualified.
- BBB (15%): A+ = 15 pts, A = 13, B = 10, C = 7, D = 4, F = disqualified.
- BuildZoom (10%): Normalized from BuildZoom's contractor ranking algorithm.
- Reviews (10%): 4.5+ stars = 10 pts, 4.0+ = 7, 3.5+ = 4, below 3.5 = 1. Zero reviews = no penalty (score scales without review weight). 1-2 reviews = half weight.
Ongoing Verification
autorenewMonthly Re-verification
Every provider in our directory is re-verified monthly against all 4 databases. If a license expires or a business is dissolved, the provider is flagged and removed from active listings.
flagCommunity Reporting
Homeowners can report concerns about any listed provider. Reports trigger an immediate re-verification outside the normal monthly cycle. Contact us at (630) 407-1727.
See Verification in Action
Browse our directory to see Trust Scores, verification details, and verified credentials for every listed pro.