Understanding your data
Data sources and quality standards
A useful record tells you what it supports, where its limits are, and what to check next. Use this guide when evaluating a list or checking a contractor.
Where the information comes from
Depending on the product and location, our records draw on licensing authorities, government registries, public records and business information sources. Contact information and business reviews, where available, are separate from credential evidence.
Coverage varies by industry, trade and jurisdiction. Check the specific product or lookup result for its scope and source context; inclusion in one dataset does not mean inclusion in every ContractorRoster product.
Read the credential, not just the category
- License record
- A record from a licensing authority. Read the credential type, jurisdiction and recorded status; it is not a guarantee of current eligibility for your job.
- Contractor registration
- A contractor-registration record. Registration requirements differ by jurisdiction and are not interchangeable with a trade license.
- Business registration
- A business-registry record. Legal standing alone does not establish trade credentials, current operations or quality of work.
- Directory or category information
- Business information used to describe a company or its services. A category may be inferred; it does not establish a license or certification.
Where a page uses “verified,” read it as a claim about the specific fact checked and the stated date. A phone number, email address or Google rating does not verify licensing, insurance, workmanship or availability.
Snapshots have limits
Records reflect the information available when collected or updated. Source records and contact information can have different dates. An import or refresh date is not proof that every fact was independently rechecked that day.
A recorded status may have changed. A published contact may no longer work or reach the right person. Blank fields mean the information is unavailable in that record; they do not mean zero, closed or disqualified.
Record counts are not necessarily counts of unique businesses. One business can have multiple credentials or locations. Covered records do not represent every business operating in a market, and a missing lookup result does not establish that someone is unlicensed.
Before you rely on a record
- Hiring: match the business and credential number with the issuing authority. Confirm current status, scope and any local requirements for the work. A listing is not an endorsement.
- Buying a list: review the selected geography, industry, contact requirements and available fields. Do not assume that coverage, freshness or contact availability is identical across products.
- Using contacts: an included email address or phone number is not evidence of consent to receive marketing.
Found something that needs correcting?
Send the page or record reference, the field in question, and a supporting public source if available. Please avoid sending sensitive personal information.
Contact us about a correction →For removal requests, use our opt-out page.