Contractor Standards
The provider standards and homeowner protection program operated by Authority Network America through its Trade Services division.
What Contractor Standards Is
Contractor Standards is the place where homeowners and contractors meet — clearly, directly, and without unnecessary intermediaries. It is the service connection arm of the ANA trade services network.
Most home service websites are built around collecting contact information and distributing it to multiple companies through automated systems or bidding models. Contractor Standards is structured differently. When a homeowner needs work done, they reach a local authority site in the ANA network. That contact is routed directly to an independent, licensed provider who handles that type of work in that area. No public auctions. No lead distribution. No accounts or portals. One homeowner, one provider, one direct conversation.
The network covers the full range of skilled trades across the United States: plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, pools, pest control, construction, landscaping, solar, carpentry, auto services, and restoration — organized from national down to state and local markets through the Trade Services Authority.
How It Works
- Find a local authority site — Homeowners typically find one of the network's local or service-specific sites when searching for help with a particular problem in their area.
- Contact is routed directly — The call or request goes to an independent provider that performs that type of work in that location. No bidding, no lead list, no middleman.
- Work directly with the provider — You speak with the company, discuss the situation, review pricing, and decide whether to proceed. All decisions happen between you and the provider.
Authority Network America does not perform services, manage jobs, set prices, or remain involved once contact is established. The role of the network is to make the connection — nothing more.
For Providers
Participation in the Contractor Standards program is not based on advertising, subscriptions, or buying visibility. Contractors do not manage accounts, dashboards, or campaigns, and do not compete in public marketplaces.
The program is structured around real customer contact events — moments when a homeowner actively attempts to reach a local company for a specific type of work in a specific location. Compensation is tied to actual contact, not traffic volume or impressions.
The network works best for service providers who prefer direct conversations with homeowners, want contact tied to services and locations they actually serve, and are prepared to respond to inbound inquiries as they occur.
Participation Tiers
Three tiers are available across all trade verticals:
| Tier | Monthly | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $45 | Single-trade operators in one service area |
| Professional | $85 | Multi-area providers or firms covering several trades |
| Enterprise | $155 | Full-service contractors with broad geographic coverage |
Learn about the provider program · Provider details · Full pricing details · Registration
Contractor Standards Reference
Beyond the provider program, Contractor Standards maintains a comprehensive reference covering the regulatory framework that governs contractor services in the United States. The standards below apply regardless of network participation — they are the rules of the industry.
Scope
Contractor standards are the codified minimum requirements governing qualifications, conduct, and performance across construction, renovation, and specialty trade work. They exist at three levels: federal (OSHA, Davis-Bacon), state (licensing boards, building codes), and local (permits, inspections, municipal codes). The scope extends across five domains:
- Licensing & credentialing — education, experience, and examination requirements by trade and jurisdiction
- Insurance & bonding — general liability, workers' compensation, and surety bond requirements
- Contractual conduct — scope of work, change orders, payment terms, and documentation
- Workmanship & performance — building codes, inspection milestones, completion standards
- Consumer protection — advertising, dispute resolution, non-discrimination, data privacy
How Standards Are Enforced
Before work begins, a licensed contractor must hold a valid state license, carry insurance meeting statutory minimums, and pull required permits. Permits trigger mandatory inspections at defined milestones — framing, rough-in, final occupancy. During execution, workmanship is enforced by reference to adopted model codes: the IBC, IRC, NEC (NFPA 70), and UPC, among others. States adopt and amend these on independent schedules.
Post-project, licensing boards retain jurisdiction over complaints — fraud, abandonment, substandard work — typically for 2 to 5 years depending on state statutes of limitation.
Key Distinctions
No national contractor license exists. Every license is jurisdiction-specific. A contractor licensed in Texas cannot automatically work in Louisiana. The closest federal analog is SAM.gov registration, which applies only to federal government contracts.
General vs. specialty licenses differ. A GC holds responsibility for overall project delivery and subcontractor oversight. Specialty subs must independently meet their own licensing and insurance thresholds.
License thresholds are monetary. In most states, work above a defined dollar amount (commonly $500 in California) requires a contractor's license. Below that threshold, unlicensed individuals may legally perform certain tasks.