Changing Your Business Entity: Sole Owner to LLC or Corporation
Updated October 30, 2026
A California contractor license is issued to a specific entity. Change the entity, and the old license does not come with you.
What needs a new license
- Sole owner to corporation, LLC, or partnership, and similar entity changes
- A new Secretary of State registration number for your corporation
- A new owner of a sole owner license: the license number is not transferable and cannot be sold with the business
- Adding general partners, or changing the general partners of a partnership
You may not need the exam again
If the qualifier served on a license in good standing in the same classification during the last five years, the exam may be waived on a new application (BPC 7065.1). See Can you skip the CSLB exam?
Avoid a gap
The new entity cannot contract until it has its own license, and CSLB warns that processing delays can cause a lapse. Apply well before you need the new entity to start work.
What does not need a new license
Corporate officers can change on a corporate license, and removing a non-qualifying officer does not affect the license. A corporate name change goes through the Secretary of State first, then CSLB. See Which filing do I need?
Sources
- CSLB: General Renewal Information
- CSLB: Change in Personnel
- CSLB: Application for Original Contractor License, Examination Waiver (7065), form 13A-1a
This guide is general information, not legal advice. CSLB rules and fees change; always confirm on cslb.ca.gov.