Home > Frequently Asked Questions | Zitro Services LLC
Find helpful answers about our business services, licensing, courses, accounting, and other solutions designed to help entrepreneurs and contractors start, grow, and stay compliant.
You must meet the state’s eligibility requirements, pass the Maryland Home Improvement Commission exam and submit your application with the required documents. Zitro helps with every step: we prepare you for the exam through our MHIC training course, compile your documentation and file the application for you. Call +1 (301) 434-0314 for a free consultation and we will tell you exactly what you need.
The timeline depends on how quickly you complete the required steps and how fast the Commission processes your application. Most contractors receive their license within several weeks after passing the exam and submitting a complete application. Zitro speeds up the process by making sure your paperwork is prepared correctly the first time so nothing is sent back.
Maryland does not require a course, but proper training greatly improves your chances of passing. The exam covers home improvement law, contract regulations and construction business practices, and you need a score of 70% or higher. Our Maryland Home Improvement Training course covers everything on the exam and is taught in English or Spanish, online via Zoom or in person in Silver Spring.
We handle contractor licensing and registration in Maryland (MHIC and Home Builder Registration), Washington DC (General Contractor License), Virginia (Class A, B and C), New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. We also set up federal SAM, CAGE and UEI registration so you can bid on government contracts. Tell us your state and trade and we will tell you exactly what is required.
Yes. Our MHIC training, Virginia contractor course, plan reading, construction estimating and OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 classes are all available in English or Spanish, taught by qualified bilingual instructors. Our licensing and business registration team also works with you in Spanish throughout the entire process.
Yes. We help entrepreneurs and contractors register their business with the state and the IRS, choose the right structure (sole proprietorship, trade name, partnership, LLC or corporation), obtain the required documents and file amendments when your name or structure changes. We also handle foreign business registration if you operate in more than one state.
Yes. We assist with license renewals, document preparation and renewal guidance for every state we serve, so your business keeps operating without interruption. If you are not sure when your license expires or what the renewal requires, contact us and we will check it for you.
The first consultation is always free. We review your situation and tell you exactly what your business needs before you commit to anything. Pricing depends on the service, the state and the complexity of your case, and we quote it up front with no surprises. Call +1 (301) 434-0314 or fill out the contact form to get started.
The MHIC exam has 55 questions covering home improvement law, contract regulations, consumer protection and construction business practices. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass. You can test your readiness with our free 11-question MHIC practice exam before enrolling in the full course.
Both. Most courses are offered live online via Zoom and in person at our training center at 1738 Elton Rd Suite 222, Silver Spring, MD. OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 are taught in person, either at our center or at your jobsite. Check the Zitro Class Schedule for upcoming dates or contact us to arrange a private session for your team.
Each class sets the size of the projects you can take. Class C allows individual contracts up to $10,000 and up to $150,000 per year. Class B allows contracts up to $120,000 and up to $750,000 per year. Class A has no limits on contract value or annual volume. Each class has its own exam, financial and insurance requirements. Zitro helps you choose the right class and prepares your application.
OSHA 10 is a 10-hour course for workers in the construction field covering hazard recognition, fall protection, electrical safety and workers’ rights. OSHA 30 is a 30-hour course for supervisors, site managers, contractors and employers, going deeper into safety management and jobsite compliance. Most commercial and federal jobsites require the crew to hold OSHA 10 and supervisors to hold OSHA 30.
No. After completing the course you receive an official OSHA Training Institute (OTI) wallet card that does not expire. Some employers or jobsites may ask for a refresher after a number of years, but the card itself stays valid.
Yes. We bring our OSHA-authorized instructor to your location to certify your employees, in English or Spanish. Onsite training requires a minimum of 12 employees. Smaller groups can attend the course at our Silver Spring classroom. OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 sessions are scheduled by request, so contact us to set a date for your team.
The right structure depends on your liability exposure, tax situation and growth plans. A sole proprietorship or trade name is simplest but offers no personal liability protection. An LLC protects your personal assets and is the most common choice for contractors. A corporation suits businesses planning to bring in investors or partners. In a free consultation we review your situation and recommend the structure that fits.
You expose yourself to fines, stop-work orders and civil or criminal penalties. Courts will not enforce your contracts, so clients can refuse to pay and you have no recourse. Most appraisers reject home improvements done by unlicensed contractors, which hurts your clients’ property value and your reputation. Commercial clients and government bids also require proof of licensing.
Contractors working in the District of Columbia must hold a valid DC General Contractor License, which requires proof of insurance, bonding and passing the DC licensing exam. Zitro handles it in three steps: DC corporate filing, licensing department filing and license approval. We also provide resident agent services. Upon approval, both you and your company receive the licenses needed to operate legally in DC.
To bid on federal government contracts your business needs an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), a CAGE code and a Unique Entity ID (UEI), which replaced the DUNS number in 2022. Without them you are invisible to federal procurement officers. Zitro sets up and manages these registrations so you can pursue government work.
We provide business and personal tax preparation, payroll, bookkeeping, workers’ compensation audit reports and periodic financial statements (balance sheets and income statements). Our services are tailored to contractors and small business owners so your records stay clean, your taxes are filed on time and you always know where your business stands.
Check the Zitro Class Schedule for upcoming dates, then fill out the registration form on the course page or call +1 (301) 434-0314 to save your spot. Seats are limited. If you do not see a date that works, contact us and we can schedule a private session for your team.
Zitro Services is Maryland’s most experienced contractor licensing and business consulting firm. Since 2014 we have helped more than 22,000 contractors and entrepreneurs get licensed, registered and compliant, and we hold over 850 five-star Google reviews. We handle MHIC, DC, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania licensing under one roof, in English and Spanish, from our office in Silver Spring, MD.
Zitro Services offers MHIC exam prep classes at 1738 Elton Rd Suite 222, Silver Spring, MD 20903, minutes from Washington DC, Takoma Park, Hyattsville, College Park and Wheaton. If you cannot travel, the same course is taught live online via Zoom. Classes run on weekends and weekdays in English or Spanish. Check the Zitro Class Schedule for the next available date.
You can retake the exam, and most people pass on the second attempt with the right preparation. Start with our free MHIC practice exam to see which topics cost you points, then join our Maryland Home Improvement Training course. It covers every area of the 58-question exam, includes practice tests and is taught by instructors with a 97% student pass rate. Call us and we will help you schedule the retake.
Yes. Applications are usually returned for missing documents, incorrect forms, insurance or bonding gaps or an incomplete business registration. Bring us the rejection notice and we will identify exactly what was wrong, correct the paperwork and refile it. We handle MHIC, DC, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania applications every week, so we know what each agency expects.
No. Maryland, Virginia and DC each issue their own contractor licenses, and each one requires its own application, exam and insurance requirements. An MHIC license only covers home improvement work in Maryland. If you take jobs across the region you need a Virginia contractor license (Class A, B or C) and a DC General Contractor License. Zitro handles all three so you can work anywhere in the DMV area legally.
No. Working on an expired license is the same as working without one: you face fines, stop-work orders and unenforceable contracts. Stop taking new jobs and contact us right away. In most states an expired license can be renewed or reinstated within a grace period; after that you may have to reapply. We check your status, prepare the renewal or reinstatement and file it so you get back to work as fast as possible.
Yes. Zitro teaches the MHIC, Virginia, OSHA, plan reading and estimating courses in Spanish with bilingual instructors, and our licensing and registration team guides you in Spanish through every form and requirement. Contact us and we will confirm which exams are available in Spanish in your state and prepare you accordingly.
Yes. Maryland requires an MHIC license for any home improvement work on a residential property, with no minimum dollar amount. Painting, drywall, flooring, decks, kitchens, bathrooms and repairs all count. Working without it, even on small jobs, exposes you to fines and unenforceable contracts. Zitro can get you licensed quickly so every job you take is legal.
Register your business first. Most contractor licenses are issued to a registered business entity and require proof of registration, insurance in the business name and sometimes a trade name. Registering first also lets you open a business bank account and advertise legally. Zitro handles both together: we register your LLC or corporation, then prepare and file your license application in the same process.
Yes. We clean up and reconstruct your bookkeeping, file past-due business and personal tax returns and get you current with the IRS and the state. Then we set up monthly bookkeeping, payroll and financial statements so it does not happen again. Start with a free consultation and bring whatever records you have; we handle the rest.
