- No registration needed for a job under $500 total. Part time operators with under $5,000 in gross contracting revenue a year are also exempt. Some work is excluded, such as landscaping, interior painting and wall covering, finished floor covering, fencing, and driveways.
- Every two years, with a $100 renewal fee. Start 30 to 60 days before it expires. If it lapses, you reapply and pay the $150 fee and the guaranty fund payment again.
Do you need a state license in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
No registration needed for a job under $500 total. Part time operators with under $5,000 in gross contracting revenue a year are also exempt. Some work is excluded, such as landscaping, interior painting and wall covering, finished floor covering, fencing, and driveways.
An expired HIC registration can affect your ability to pull municipal permits.
Massachusetts license types for handyman work
Massachusetts splits the work into 2 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Home Improvement Contractor registration | Contracting work on existing owner occupied homes with one to four units |
| Construction Supervisor License | Needed for larger projects such as building a deck or an addition |
Steps to get licensed in Massachusetts
- Check whether your jobs are on existing owner occupied 1 to 4 unit homes and $500 or more.
- Check whether your work type is excluded, such as interior painting or flooring.
- Register as a Home Improvement Contractor on the MA Contractor Hub and pay the $150 fee plus the guaranty fund payment.
- For bigger structural jobs, get a CSL or subcontract to someone who has both a CSL and HIC registration.
- Use a written contract for any job of $1,000 or more.
- Renew every two years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration.
Massachusetts handyman exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Massachusetts
The board lists 4 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| HIC registration | $150 |
| Guaranty fund payment, 0 to 3 employees | $100 |
| HIC renewal | $100 |
| Supplemental employee card | $10 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years, with a $100 renewal fee. Start 30 to 60 days before it expires. If it lapses, you reapply and pay the $150 fee and the guaranty fund payment again.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Massachusetts
- Splitting one job into contracts under $500 to dodge the law is not allowed.
- HIC registration alone covers ordinary repairs like exterior painting, wallpapering and fixing existing decking. Bigger jobs like a new deck or an addition need a CSL.
- Plumbing, wiring and central heating work must be done by state licensed trades.
- Jobs estimated at $1,000 or more need a written contract with the homeowner.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Home Improvement Contractor Program and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.