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Guide · 6 min read

How to vet a contractor in Tennessee before you pay

Middle Tennessee's building boom has brought plenty of good contractors, and some who take deposits and vanish. Ten minutes of checking can save you thousands.

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  • Written byOur Nashville detectives
  • UpdatedOctober 25, 2026
  • Reading time6 minutes
  • Related serviceContractor fraud
The short version
  • Tennessee requires a contractor’s license for projects of $25,000 or more, and a home improvement license in certain counties for smaller residential jobs.
  • Verify licenses at verify.tn.gov, and check court records for prior lawsuits.
  • Never pay a large deposit in cash, and get everything in writing.

Check the license

Tennessee contractor licensing

The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors requires a license for contractors on projects of $25,000 or more. In certain counties, including Davidson, residential remodeling projects between $3,000 and $24,999 require a home improvement license. You can verify licenses at verify.tn.gov.

Red flags

  • A large up-front deposit, especially in cash
  • Pressure to sign today, or a deal that is only good now
  • No written contract, or a vague one
  • A business that is new or has changed names several times
  • Asking you to pull the permits yourself
  • Reviews that are all recent and all glowing

Other checks

  1. Search the business name with the Tennessee Secretary of State.
  2. Search county court records for lawsuits and judgments against the company and its owner.
  3. Ask for and call recent references, and look at a finished job.
  4. Confirm insurance with the carrier, not just a certificate.

If the contractor took the money and disappeared

Document everything: the contract, payments, messages and the state of the work. File a complaint with the Board for Licensing Contractors and the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and talk to an attorney about a civil claim. A detective can find the contractor, related businesses and assets that could satisfy a judgment. See contractor fraud investigations.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every situation is different; talk to a Tennessee attorney about your case. Last reviewed October 25, 2026.

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Quick answers

Common questions

All guides →

How do I check a contractor’s license in Tennessee?

Use verify.tn.gov to search the Board for Licensing Contractors’ records.

What can I do if a contractor took my deposit?

Document everything, file complaints with the licensing board and consumer affairs, and talk to an attorney. A detective can locate the contractor and their assets.

Talk it through with a detective.

Confidential, no-pressure. We’ll tell you honestly whether a detective is worth it for your situation.

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