Authority Industries Frequently Asked Questions

The Authority Industries platform connects homeowners across the United States with vetted, licensed contractors across dozens of trade categories. This page addresses the most common questions about how the directory works, what standards contractors must meet, how homeowners are matched with providers, and what protections apply when disputes arise. Understanding these fundamentals helps both contractors and homeowners navigate the system with clarity and confidence.

Definition and scope

What is Authority Industries, and what does it cover?

Authority Industries is a national home services directory and contractor verification network operating across the United States. Its scope spans residential and light-commercial service categories including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, general contracting, landscaping, pest control, and more than 40 additional trade categories documented in the Authority Industries Service Category Index.

What is the difference between a directory listing and a verified contractor profile?

A basic directory listing confirms a contractor's name, location, and trade category. A verified contractor profile goes further: it reflects completion of the network's vetting process, which includes license confirmation, insurance certificate review, background screening, and performance history evaluation. The criteria governing verified status are detailed in the Authority Industries Verified Contractor Criteria page. Unverified listings carry no quality endorsement and are visually distinguished from verified profiles throughout the platform.

Does the network operate in all 50 US states?

Geographic coverage is documented in detail at Authority Industries Geographic Service Reach. Coverage density varies by trade category and population center. Densely populated metro areas in California, Texas, Florida, and the Northeast corridor carry the highest contractor volume, while rural regions in 12 lower-density states have more limited representation in specialized trades.

How it works

How does the homeowner-to-contractor matching process function?

When a homeowner submits a service request, the platform evaluates 5 primary matching variables: trade category, geographic proximity, contractor availability windows, verified status, and historical performance scores. Requests are then distributed to qualifying contractors in rank order based on those scores. The full methodology is described in the Authority Industries Homeowner Matching Process.

What licensing standards must contractors meet to be listed?

Licensing requirements are trade-specific and jurisdiction-specific. An electrician operating in Texas must hold a state-issued electrical license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), while a plumber in California must hold a C-36 license issued by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The platform cross-references contractor-submitted license numbers against state licensing databases. Trade-by-trade licensing requirements are catalogued at Authority Industries Licensing Requirements by Trade.

What insurance documentation is required?

Contractors must maintain at minimum general liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and workers' compensation coverage where required by state law. Certificates of insurance are reviewed at onboarding and flagged for renewal on an annual cycle. The full insurance standards framework is published at Authority Industries Insurance Standards.

How are contractor performance scores calculated?

Performance scores incorporate 4 weighted data inputs: homeowner ratings submitted after completed jobs (40%), verified job completion rate (25%), response time to service requests (20%), and complaint resolution outcomes (15%). The scoring model is aligned with the quality benchmarks described at Authority Industries Quality Benchmarks.

Common scenarios

What happens if a homeowner and contractor have a billing dispute?

Billing disputes are handled through a structured escalation process. In the first stage, the homeowner and contractor are encouraged to resolve the matter directly within 7 calendar days of the dispute notice. The complete protocol is outlined at Authority Industries Dispute Resolution Process.

What if a contractor does not show up for a scheduled appointment?

No-show events are logged against the contractor's performance record and may trigger a performance review if 3 or more no-shows occur within a rolling 90-day window. Homeowners affected by a no-show receive priority re-matching within 4 hours of reporting the event.

How does the platform handle emergency service requests?

Emergency service requests — defined as situations involving active water intrusion, loss of heating in temperatures below 32°F, or electrical hazards — are routed through an expedited queue. The full framework is documented at Authority Industries Emergency Service Protocols.

Decision boundaries

What distinguishes a contractor eligible for network membership from one who is not?

Eligibility boundaries are structured around 3 hard disqualifying factors and 2 conditional factors.

Hard disqualifications:
1. Active license suspension or revocation in any state where the contractor operates
2. Felony conviction within the preceding 7 years for fraud, theft, or property crimes (per background check policy at Authority Industries Background Check Policy)
3. Insurance lapse with no reinstated coverage

Conditional factors requiring review:
1. Multiple unresolved homeowner complaints (threshold: 3 open complaints within 180 days)
2. Licensing gaps in secondary service areas where state law mandates separate licensure

What is the difference between suspension and permanent removal from the network?

Suspension is a temporary status applied during active investigations and is reversible upon resolution. Permanent removal is applied when a contractor meets a hard disqualification criterion, receives a sustained finding of fraudulent billing, or accumulates a performance score below 2.1 on a 5-point scale after two consecutive 90-day review periods. Consumer protections available to homeowners after a contractor is removed are described at Authority Industries Consumer Protection Framework.

References

• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
• California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
• U.S. Small Business Administration — Contractor Licensing Overview
• Federal Trade Commission — Home Improvement Fraud Guidance
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — Construction Standards
• National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA)