1️⃣ Licensing & Entity Registration

Start here if you need a Tennessee contractor license, LLE/LLP, or to register your LLC/corporation.

• State Contractor Licensing (≥ $25,000):
  Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors  – commercial & residential contractors, limited licensed electricians (LLE), and limited licensed plumbers (LLP).
• License Applications & Forms:
  TN Contractors – Forms & Downloads  – application packets, exam info, and classification details.
• Business Entity Filing (LLC, Corp, etc.):
  Tennessee Secretary of State – Business Services  – form your entity and search existing businesses.

Trade Focus: Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Demolition, and General Contractors should confirm the right license type, monetary limits, and qualifying party before bidding.

2️⃣ OSHA & Safety — TOSHA

Tennessee operates its own OSHA-approved state plan (TOSHA). Use these links to build your safety program for field crews and shop operations.

• TOSHA Main Site:
  Tennessee OSHA (TOSHA)  – enforcement, consultation, training, and news.
• TN OSHA State Plan Overview:
  Federal OSHA – Tennessee State Plan  – how the TN plan works and what it covers.
• Standards & Rules:
  TOSHA Standards & Rules  – construction rules, most-cited standards, and field operations guidance.

How to Use: Build your Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, and GC safety plans (fall protection, trenching/excavation, lockout/tagout, confined spaces) from these TN-specific resources and reference them in bids and safety manuals.

3️⃣ Construction Law & Mechanics’ Liens (Tennessee)

Tennessee lien law is strict about notice, deadlines, and licensing. Use these links to understand your rights before you ever file a lien.

• Statute Text – Mechanics’ & Materialmen’s Liens:
  Tennessee Code Title 66, Chapter 11 – Mechanics’ & Materialmen’s Liens
• Plain-English Lien Overview & FAQs:
  Tennessee Mechanics Lien Guide & FAQs  – deadlines, notices, and who can file.
• Attorney Summary Article:
  Understanding Tennessee’s Construction Lien Laws

Reminder: Educational only — not legal advice. For Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, and GC work, you must be properly licensed to preserve lien rights, and you must calendar your notice and filing deadlines.

4️⃣ Minority, DBE & Small Business Certification (TN)

Set up your Go-DBE and DBE certifications so you can compete for state, DOT, and federally funded work in Tennessee.

• Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE):
  Go-DBE – Vendor Certification & Directory  – state certification portal and search for certified firms.
• TDOT Small Business / DBE Program:
  TDOT – Small Business Development & DBE  – DBE program for transportation projects.
• Statewide DBE Directory (TNUCP):
  TNUCP DBE Directory

Trade Angle: Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, and General contractors can all use MBE/WBE/SDVBE/DBE status to team with primes or act as primes on projects with diversity goals.

5️⃣ Bids, Vendor Registration & State Work

Once your entity, licensing, and certifications are in place, register in Edison and watch for bid opportunities.

• Supplier Information & Requirements:
  TN Central Procurement – Supplier Information  – overview of doing business with the state, UNSPSC codes, and updates.
• Edison Supplier Portal (Login):
  Edison Supplier Portal – Login
• Register as a New Supplier:
  Edison – Supplier Registration

Tip: Use this in your workshops to show students & clients how to move from “licensed and certified” to “registered and bidding” in Tennessee.

6️⃣ SFJ Study Hubs & Tennessee Strategy Sessions

Pair this Tennessee hub with my licensing classes, OSHA/safety training, and minority certification coaching so you can build a full “get in, stay in, and grow” plan for your company.

• TN Business & Law Exam Prep – contracts, liens, insurance, and project management.
• Trade-Specific Estimating (Electrical / HVAC / Plumbing / General) – using Tennessee projects and code requirements.
• Go-DBE / DBE Roadmap – what to apply for first and how to tie it into Edison and TDOT work.