A comprehensive, guide to Fla. Stat. §§ 455.225 and 455.2255 (and how Chapter 120 fits in) This post is for general information, not legal advice. Every board (CILB, ECLB, FREC, etc.) layers its own rules and penalty guidelines on top of these baseline statutes, so the details can shift depending on the profession and the … Read more
Protect your company before the project starts—by tightening the contract that governs the deal. If you run a construction company, trade subcontracting business, property management company, or any other service-based business, your contracts are either protecting you—or quietly exposing you. Many disputes begin the same way: someone relied on a “standard form,” a template from … Read more
When a licensed contractor “qualifies” a construction business they don’t own, the first concern is usually financial — not technical: “If the company mismanages money, am I on the hook?” Florida’s contractor licensing framework includes a role designed to address that concern: the Financially Responsible Officer (FRO). This post explains what an FRO is in plain English … Read more
Why this matters for Florida roofers? Florida law now requires specific “consumer notice” language in residential roof repair and roof replacement contracts—and the required language is not optional. Missing it can create contract risk (owner cancellation/voiding rights) and can also trigger DBPR/CILB discipline. Below are the three compliance items I’m seeing most often in DBPR/CILB enforcement conversations: ✅ (1) State-of-emergency cancellation notice (Fla. … Read more
Most business contract disputes don’t start with a dramatic “breach.” They start with an unclear scope, a rushed email chain, a missed condition (like notice-and-cure), or a mismatch between what one side thought the deal was and what the documents actually say. One of the most useful ways to understand Florida breach of contract law is to … Read more
Speed Limits, Sidewalk Rules, Age Requirements (Including Weston, Florida Restrictions) Electric bikes and electric scooters are now common across Florida neighborhoods, sidewalks, and parks. But Florida law draws clear legal boundaries based on speed capability, device classification, and location—and local governments, including the City of Weston, can impose additional restrictions. This guide explains the rules in plain English, with a special … Read more
One of the most common—and costly—mistakes landlords make in Florida eviction cases is miscalculating the 3-Day Notice deadline. Even a one-day error can invalidate the notice, forcing the eviction process to start over and delaying possession of the property. To help landlords avoid that mistake, our firm has created a Florida 3-Day Notice Deadline Calculator, configured using Broward … Read more
Business owners often describe the problem the same way: “Someone owes us money.” But legally and strategically, not every unpaid balance is the same. Some matters are true collections—where the amount due is largely fixed and the defense options are limited. Others are payment disputes—where the defendant doesn’t just deny owing money, but claims there’s a reason … Read more
If you hold (or are considering holding) a Florida contractor license as a qualifying agent for someone else’s company, you are stepping into a role with real exposure. On paper, the business may be the “contractor,” but when problems arise, the State of Florida and third parties often look to the qualifier—especially where supervision, permitting, contracting activity, … Read more
Tenant improvement projects—restaurant build-outs, office renovations, retail upfits, medical suites, and similar work—create a familiar risk: you’re improving valuable real estate, but your contract (and your customer) is the tenant. If the tenant stops paying, a lien that only attaches to the tenant’s leasehold can be a weak remedy. Florida’s Construction Lien Law specifically addresses this scenario in Fla. Stat. … Read more
Getting served with a lawsuit is disruptive—but the first 10 days often decide whether the case becomes manageable or spirals into unnecessary risk and cost. The biggest early danger isn’t “losing at trial.” It’s missing deadlines, making avoidable admissions, and failing to preserve the evidence and coverage that could reduce exposure. This is a practical triage … Read more
When a business owes you $50,000, $100,000, or more, “collections” isn’t just about being right. It’s about being strategic—because the fastest way to lose money is to spend months litigating and then discover the debtor is judgment-proof. This guide walks Florida businesses through a practical playbook to collect a six-figure invoice (or defend against one), from the demand … Read more
If your customer is an LLC or corporation, collecting a large unpaid balance can turn into a “paper victory” problem: you may prove the debt, win the case, and still struggle to collect. One clause often changes that outcome—a personal guaranty. A personal guaranty is a separate promise by an individual (often an owner) to pay … Read more
Florida contractors often outgrow a single license category. A general contracting firm may want to add roofing capability, an electrical contractor may add another qualifier to expand capacity, or a company may bring on a new qualifier during a transition period. These are all legitimate business moves—but they create a compliance issue that can become … Read more
In Florida, construction lien rights are powerful — but easy to lose if you miss a deadline or make a technical mistake. Many contractors and subcontractors assume that just doing the work is enough to secure their right to get paid. Unfortunately, that’s not how Florida’s lien law works. Florida Statutes Chapter 713 sets out … Read more
A Practical Checklist for Business Owners and Contractors Late payments are frustrating. Unpaid invoices? Even worse. But how do you know when it’s time to stop chasing and start enforcing? If your internal efforts aren’t working, there comes a point where hiring a Florida business attorney for collections is simply the smart business move. Here are five signs … Read more
When the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) or a professional licensing board issues a Final Order against a licensed contractor, real estate agent, or other professional, the consequences can be severe—suspension, revocation, or monetary penalties. Fortunately, Florida law provides a formal process to challenge these actions through judicial review. At Douglas Firm, we … Read more
When a deal falls through or a business partner doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain, the damage can go beyond immediate costs. Often, the real harm is in the profits your business expected to earn — and didn’t. That’s where lost profits come in. In Florida, you can sue for lost profits in a business dispute, but … Read more
Business owners often focus on the “big picture” terms in a contract — price, deliverables, timelines — while skimming over the so-called boilerplate language at the end. But when a deal goes sideways and ends up in court, it’s often that fine print that determines the outcome. In Florida contract litigation, clauses buried in the last few pages of … Read more
The First Step Toward Recovering Unpaid Invoices—Without Filing a Lawsuit When a client or customer won’t pay, your first instinct may be frustration—or writing it off as a loss. But often, a properly crafted demand letter from a Florida business attorney can resolve the issue quickly, professionally, and without the cost of going to court. Whether you’re … Read more
Protecting Your License, Reputation, and Future as a Florida Contractor Serving as a qualifying agent in Florida means more than allowing someone else to use your license—it means assuming legal responsibility for a construction business’s operations. And with that responsibility comes risk. Too many licensed contractors get involved in qualifier relationships without a solid, attorney-drafted agreement in … Read more
Practical Legal Steps to Recover What You’re Owed Late or unpaid invoices are more than just a nuisance—they’re a threat to your cash flow, your ability to operate, and your bottom line. Whether you’re in construction, professional services, distribution, or another industry, Florida businesses have legal tools to collect unpaid balances—but you have to use them … Read more
Essential Clauses Every Florida Business Should Use to Get Paid Whether you’re in construction, distribution, manufacturing, or professional services, getting paid on time is critical to your business. But too often, Florida businesses extend credit or perform work without the right contract terms in place—and are left chasing unpaid invoices with little legal leverage. As a Florida … Read more
Protecting your contractor’s license is protecting your business and future. In Florida, even a single DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) complaint can result in investigations, fines, license suspension, or worse. Many of these complaints arise from avoidable mistakes. Knowing the most common pitfalls can help you stay ahead of the game and safeguard … Read more
Tenant maintenance and repair requests are an inevitable part of managing rental properties in Florida.However, how a landlord responds to these requests — especially when they involve serious repairs — can determine whether the situation resolves smoothly or escalates into habitability claims, withheld rent, or lawsuits. At Douglas Firm, we help Florida landlords manage these situations proactively and legally.Here’s … Read more
When a contract goes sideways, a vendor refuses to pay, or a business deal turns into a legal dispute, many business owners are left wondering:What does litigation actually look like — and how long will it take? Understanding the business litigation process in Florida can help you make informed decisions, manage expectations, and protect your company’s time, … Read more
A Strategic First Step to Recover Unpaid Invoices Before you file a lawsuit, go to collections, or give up on ever getting paid, there’s one move that often works: a strong, attorney-drafted demand letter. For Florida business owners—especially those in construction, professional services, or supply industries—a demand letter is often the most effective way to collect … Read more
When You Must Comply—and When You Don’t If you’re involved in a construction defect dispute in Florida—whether you’re a property owner, contractor, subcontractor, or design professional—Florida Statutes Chapter 558 may apply. This law requires certain parties to send a pre-suit notice of construction defects and give the contractor or responsible party an opportunity to inspect and repair before … Read more
What Florida Contractors and Business Owners Need to Protect Their Interests In Florida’s construction industry, it’s common for a licensed contractor to qualify a company they don’t own. But too often, these arrangements are based on trust, a few emails, or a handshake—without a written agreement. That’s risky for both sides. A Qualifier Agreement isn’t just a … Read more
Evictions in Florida aren’t always as simple as serving a notice and filing paperwork. In many cases, tenants actively participate in the process and raise legal defenses that can delay or even prevent a landlord from obtaining possession of the property. Whether you’re evicting for non-payment of rent, lease violations, or a holdover tenancy, it’s … Read more