Image Gallery

The illustrations from our guides, in one place. Each picture has a short caption and a link to the guide it belongs to. They were made for Contractors Guidebook with AI image tools and don’t show a real business, jobsite, document or person.

The bed of a white work truck loaded with ladders, lumber and a red tool bag on a quiet street at dawn — Loading up for the first jobs. Start with our checklist. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: How to Start a Contractor Business: A U.S. Checklist

Hands sort blank permit-style paperwork into red and blue folders on a desk — Licenses and permits each have their own forms. Check your state and city. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: Contractor License Requirements by State: How to Check

A wood-framed house under construction with sawhorses, stacked lumber and a red extension cord under a clear blue sky — California contractors get their license from the CSLB. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: California Contractor License (CSLB): Steps and Fees

Shop keys on a blue folder next to a red holder of blank business cards — Choosing a business structure comes before the business cards. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: LLC vs. Sole Proprietor for Contractors

A hand holds a phone showing a simple blank online form above a desk with a red coffee cup and work gloves — Getting an EIN online from the IRS is free. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: How to Get an EIN for Free From the IRS

A white hard hat, work gloves, safety glasses and a red first-aid case on a tailgate at a busy jobsite — Safety gear on site; workers’ comp rules vary by state. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: Workers’ Comp for Contractors: How to Find Your State’s Rules

Two workers in hard hats, seen from behind, carry a long board across a jobsite in afternoon light — A first hire means payroll, withholding and new-hire reporting. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: Hiring Your First Employee: Payroll Taxes and Registrations

Two hands rest on two toolboxes, one red and one worn blue, on a workshop bench in front of a pegboard of tools — Employee or independent contractor: the IRS, the DOL and your state each have tests. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: Employee vs. Independent Contractor: IRS, DOL and State Tests

A kraft envelope of blank receipts beside a tape measure, a pencil and a red notebook on a tool bench — Keep receipts. Self-employment tax is figured on net earnings. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: Self-Employment Tax for Contractors, in Plain English

A red document folder and a white hard hat on a kitchen countertop during a remodel, with drop cloths and a step ladder behind — Common contractor policies include general liability, workers’ comp and commercial auto. Illustrative image, not a photo of a real business, jobsite or person. From the guide: Contractor Business Insurance Basics (Education Only)

Education only: general information, not tax, legal, insurance or other professional advice for your situation. Rules, fees and deadlines change and vary by state, county and city, so check the official agency we link or ask a licensed professional before you act. We may earn money from ads and, in the future, paid links; our advice isn’t for sale.