About Expert Helper

Expert Helper lists licensed home-service businesses from public license and permit records, starting with New York City. For each one we show the license, what the records say and where they work, so you can check a pro before you hire.

Where does the data come from?

• Plumbers and electricians (NYC): NYC Department of Buildings permits filed in DOB NOW over the last two years, grouped by the licensed master plumber or electrician who filed them.
• Home improvement contractors, appliance repair and towing (NYC): active licenses from the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
• Exterminators (NYC): the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation list of currently registered pesticide businesses.
• Neighborhood data: NYC HPD housing violations, NYC Health Department rat inspections and NYC PLUTO building records.
• State and national figures: US Census Bureau County Business Patterns and American Community Survey; state licensing agencies, linked on each state page.

We only list businesses, never individual license holders' personal details, and we don't publish street addresses. Records are refreshed regularly but can be out of date, so always check a license yourself before you hire.

How do we make money?

Expert Helper is a free matching service. We are not a contractor and don't perform any work. Listings come from public license and permit records and may be out of date; check a license yourself before you hire. Listed businesses are not endorsed unless marked as a vetted partner, and partners pay us a referral fee.

How do we vet partners?

Before a company can receive our referrals, we confirm its license or registration is active, check its insurance and look at its complaint history.

How do I correct or remove a listing?

Business owners can ask us to correct or remove a listing through the pros page. Corrections to the underlying record need to go to the licensing agency.