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Starting a water and mold restoration business in Kentucky

Kentucky has no state license for water or mold restoration, but it does have a mold law. Mold remediation companies have to follow minimum standards set by the state.

Kentucky Contractor Packet

The rules where you work $17

A first 30 days checklist, everyday forms, licenses, workers’ comp and taxes for Kentucky, with a yearly calendar. Instant PDF download.

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Digital product, all sales final. Informational only, not legal, financial, tax or business advice.

No license, but there are standards

Kentucky doesn't license water or mold restoration. It does have a mold remediation law: all mold remediation companies operating in Kentucky must follow minimum standards set by the state. Those standards are in 40 KAR 2:330. Read it before you sell your first mold job, because it shapes how you assess, write up and contract the work.

Training isn't required by the state, but carriers, adjusters and property managers will ask for it. Industry certification (IICRC is the common one) is how you get on their lists.

Source: KRS 367.83805, mold remediation standards · 40 KAR 2:330

Most of your work comes through insurance claims

Water jobs usually come with a carrier, an adjuster and a scope you didn't write. Know your price before you see theirs: your floor rate, your equipment day rates, and what your crew actually takes. Ask your agent about pollution liability. General liability policies often exclude mold.

What it takes to open the doors

Put in what each of these will really cost you. Leave out what you already own. The total tells you how many days of work it takes to pay for the start, at your floor rate.

Total to open the doors$0

Work out your floor rate and it loads here.

The rest is the same for every trade in Kentucky

Workers’ compOne employee and you're in Getting paid and liensGetting paid: notice, six months, twelve months Sales tax on materialsYou pay at the counter, whatever the contract says LLC and taxesLLC, sole proprietor, or S-corp?

When you’re ready to run work, consider Command Center

Every price you send starts from your floor rate. Proposals, change orders, invoices and receipts go out on your own letterhead, the customer signs and pays online, and every job closes out showing what it actually made.

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Education, not legal or tax advice. Rules change. Confirm anything here with the agency or a licensed pro in Kentucky before you rely on it. Last checked November 2026.