Licensed general contractors that do not have worker's comp?

[Tommy2000GT]

He might very well have a partner, but the contract you sign has to be with the guy who's name is on the license. There are three possible methods of being a contractor in California. The first, and what you will probably end up dealing with, is a sole proprietor. That's one guy who owns the company and his name is on the license. The second is two or more people that have formed a corporation, one of those people will be an RMO or Responsible Managing Officer. He's the guy providing the licence for the partnership. The third is a company that has an RME or Responsible Managing Employee, it's much like an RMO, but he's a hired hand. The reason for this is that no matter who you do business with, there is one guy who's responsible and is qualified to oversee the work.
They also are supposed to have very specific language in their contract about your rights and how payments are made, about your three right of rescission, and a bunch of other stuff. I can send you a sample contract if you'd like to see one.
Some contractors use an AIA contract, which doesn't meet the requirements imposed by the state, I don't know how that works out if everything goes to hell.

CSLB site shows he is a sole proprietor but he said has a partner. I looked up other contractors that have worker's comp and some do have RME or RMO listed under personnel list.

Does it sound like something sketchy may be going on? If a contractor is a sole proprietor how does the partnership with someone else work? He also mentioned he would do some other repair work not related to the remodel at no additional charge but he can't put it on the contract because he doesn't want his partner to see.

 

[Greenman]

He can call the other fellow whatever he wants, the bottom line is your deal has to be with the guy that has the licence. That he's already trying to cut his partners throat by leaving things out of the contract is a red flag.

The contractors with an RME or an RMO will almost always cost more than sole proprietor, often a lot more. They tend to have a more overhead, and have to charge accordingly. You're also going to pay more by virtue of being in SF, it costs more to operate in the city than in the burbs.
Always call the last three customers the contractor has done business with, and along with all the normal questions, ask them how the finial price compared to the original estimate, not counting changes the owner asked for. Some guys bid low and call every minor detail an "extra", and you end up going over budget. I've seen contractors flat out rape a homeowner on minor changes. It pisses me off.

 

[Hugo Drax]

I wont contract any firm that does not have workers comp.

Unless you want guys just picked up from Home Depot working on your home.

 

[Tommy2000GT]

He can call the other fellow whatever he wants, the bottom line is your deal has to be with the guy that has the licence. That he's already trying to cut his partners throat by leaving things out of the contract is a red flag.

The contractors with an RME or an RMO will almost always cost more than sole proprietor, often a lot more. They tend to have a more overhead, and have to charge accordingly. You're also going to pay more by virtue of being in SF, it costs more to operate in the city than in the burbs.
Always call the last three customers the contractor has done business with, and along with all the normal questions, ask them how the finial price compared to the original estimate, not counting changes the owner asked for. Some guys bid low and call every minor detail an "extra", and you end up going over budget. I've seen contractors flat out rape a homeowner on minor changes. It pisses me off.

So far I narrowed it down to 3 contractors and I have appointments to check out their current and finished jobsites.

One of the finalist show he doesn't have worker's comp on the CSLB. But he buys general liability insurance for each job he works on. He showed me copy of the insurance policy for a job he is currently working on. It has the homeowner's name and address on it. So he said if I hire him he would do the same. Do you think this is ok?