What is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a document issued by an insurance company that verifies a vendor or subcontractor has active insurance coverage. General contractors and property managers require COIs to confirm vendors carry adequate general liability, workers compensation, and other required policies before allowing them on a job site.

How does VendorShield automate COI tracking?

VendorShield uses AI to analyze uploaded COI PDFs instantly. It extracts policy details including coverage types, limits, effective dates, and insurer information. The system automatically scores each COI for risk, flags coverage gaps against your requirements, and sends alerts before policies expire.

Can vendors upload their own COIs?

Yes. VendorShield provides each vendor with a self-serve portal link. Vendors can upload their COIs directly without needing an account. This eliminates the back-and-forth email chains that typically slow down compliance.

How much does VendorShield cost?

VendorShield starts at $499/month for the Starter plan (up to 25 vendors). The Pro plan is $799/month with unlimited vendors and custom compliance rules. Enterprise pricing is custom with multi-organization support, SSO, and dedicated support. All plans include a 14-day free trial.

What types of businesses use VendorShield?

VendorShield is built for general contractors, construction firms, property management companies, and any business that needs to track vendor insurance compliance. If you manage subcontractors or third-party vendors who must carry insurance, VendorShield automates the entire process.

All states

GAStatewide GC license required

Georgia Contractor License & Insurance Requirements

Georgia licenses residential (RBQA) and general (GCQA) contractors statewide for projects over $2,500. Three classifications: Residential-Basic, Residential-Light Commercial, and General Contractor (unlimited). Trade subs (electrical, HVAC, plumbing, low-voltage) license separately under PSCB.

License threshold

$2,500 (combined labor + materials, single project) per OCGA §43-41

WC trigger

3+ employees (OCGA §34-9-2)

Bond

Not statutorily required for licensure. Public-works bid bonds are project-specific.

Authority

Verify license

License authority: Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors — license verification portal.

Workers' comp posture

Georgia OCGA §34-9-2 requires WC for employers with three or more regular employees. Construction industry follows the same threshold. Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members may exclude themselves but must have an Employer Status Notice on file with the SBWC.

Common public-bid insurance minimums

These are limits commonly required on GA public-works prequalification. They are NOT a state-mandated minimum — verify against your specific procurement spec or contract.

General Liability

$1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate (typical GDOT + GSFIC + university-system spec)

Workers' Comp

Statutory + $1M Employer's Liability

Auto Liability

$1M combined single limit

Georgia state-specific quirks

Residential-Basic license covers homes up to 4 stories / under 5 units. Residential-Light Commercial extends to non-residential buildings under three stories / 5,000 sf.
General Contractor license has no project size cap.
Trade licenses (electrical, HVAC, plumbing, low-voltage) are issued by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) — separate verification.
Subdivision development under OCGA §43-41-17(b) can be a triggering event for licensure — exemption pathways for owner-developers are narrow.

3 pitfalls every GA GC misses

Wrong residential class

A Residential-Basic license cannot work on light-commercial projects. Cross-check the project type against the license class — the verify.sos.ga.gov page shows the exact class.

$2,500 threshold confusion

The threshold is per project, combined labor + materials. Multiple small jobs at one site that sum >$2,500 still trigger licensure. Don't accept 'we do small jobs' as an excuse.

WC < 3 employees

GA's three-employee threshold means a 1- or 2-person sub legitimately has no WC. Require a sole-prop affidavit and either occupational-accident coverage or accept the gap explicitly in the contract.

Automate Georgia sub vetting

VendorShield checks every COI for Georgia compliance — license currency against Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, WC posture, public-bid limit minimums, and 3 state-specific pitfalls flagged at intake. No more manual statute lookups.

Start free 14-day trial

Frequently asked questions

What's the project value threshold for needing a Georgia GC license?

$2,500 per OCGA §43-41-17. Below that, a state license isn't required. Trade-specific work (electrical, HVAC, plumbing) follows separate trade-license rules with no dollar threshold.

How many employees trigger workers' comp in Georgia?

Three or more regular employees per OCGA §34-9-2. Construction follows the same threshold. Below three, WC is optional but most reputable GCs require it by contract.

How do I verify a Georgia contractor license?

Use the Georgia Secretary of State Licensee Search at verify.sos.ga.gov. Confirm class (RB, RLC, GC), status (Active, Lapsed, Revoked), and qualifying-agent name. Cross-check against the COI Named Insured.

Do I need to verify trade licenses separately in Georgia?

Yes. Electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and low-voltage are licensed by the CILB independently of the residential/general license. Pull both the GCQA/RBQA record and the trade-license record on intake.

Are owner-developers exempt from Georgia GC licensing?

Limited. OCGA §43-41-17(b) provides narrow exceptions for personal-residence owners and certain developer-controlled subdivisions, but the rules are tight — most operate under a license.

Other states

CACalifornia TXTexas FLFlorida NYNew York ILIllinois AZArizona

Reference data current as of 2026-06-04. This page is informational and is not legal advice. Always verify with the linked state authority before relying on a number for procurement, prequalification, or legal use.