Use Our License Services to Grow Your Business.
You’ve built your reputation one quality job at a time. But every project over $3,300 you can’t quote is money left on the table — and you know there’s more you could be doing.
Builders Helping Builders gives experienced sole traders access to our QBCC builder’s license so you can take on renovation projects up to $200k+, commercial fit-outs, and extensions you currently have to turn down. Grow your business without the 2-3 year wait to get licensed yourself.
From Sole Trader to Licensed Builder
Taking on head contracts, supervising your own projects, and building a business that works for you — not just with you. That’s what a QBCC builder’s licence unlocks.
We work with you to document your real-world experience in a way that meets QBCC requirements, so nothing you’ve worked hard for goes to waste.
Your Pathway Includes:
- Supervisory Evidence Gathering & Documentation
- Nominee Agreement & Structure
- Licence Category Guidance
- Post-Approval Business Setup Support
How We Support Sole Traders Through the Licence Process
At Builders Helping Builders, we take your on-the-tools experience and help you turn it into a QBCC-compliant licence application — with the right structure, the right evidence, and the right support behind you.
- Supervisory Evidence Gathering & Documentation
- Licensee Nominee Matching & Placement
- One-on-One Mentoring from a Licensed Builder
- Head Contract Guidance for Your First Projects
- Ongoing Compliance Support Post-Licence
Companies We Have Worked With
Your Path to a QBCC Licence Starts Here
Before we match you with a nominee supervisor or map out your licence pathway, we start with what matters most — understanding exactly where you stand. Every BHB client begins with a structured health check of your current position against QBCC builder licensing requirements with our industry professional partners.
STEP 01
Book a Licensing Consultation
Our licensing specialists conduct a structured review of your qualifications, experience, and evidence against QBCC builder licensing requirements — giving you a clear picture of where you stand before you spend a cent on an application.
- Qualifications & licence class alignment reviewed
- Construction & supervision experience assessed
- Evidence gaps identified upfront
STEP 02
Receive Your Personal Roadmap
Within 3 business days, you’ll receive a clear, personalised roadmap outlining your eligibility, the right licence class for your situation, any gaps in your application, and the specific actions needed to move forward with confidence.
- Eligible licence class confirmed
- Experience and evidence gaps identified
- Clear action plan to strengthen your application
STEP 03
We Walk the Path With You
With your roadmap in hand, BHB matches you with the right nominee supervisor for your situation, helps you build your evidence portfolio, and guides you through the QBCC application — start to finish. Stay focused on running your business while we handle the complexity.
- Nominee supervisor matched to your business
- Evidence portfolio compiled and reviewed
- Full QBCC application support provided
GET STARTED
Your Licence. Your Business. Let's Make It Happen.
✓ Specialist QBCC licence knowledge
✓ Matched to the right licensee nominee for your situation
✓ Mentoring that protects you and your projects
✓ Trusted by sole traders, developers & construction businesses across QLD
"We don't just help you get licensed — we help you build a business that lasts."
Start your licensing
journey
Free, no-obligation complementary discovery call. Will be in touch within 1 business day.
TESTIMONIALS
Our Reviews
We measure our success by the businesses we help build. Here's what our clients have to say about working with BHB.
QBCC Upgrading From a Trade Licence FAQs
For licensed trade contractors in SEQ working towards their own builder’s licence.
Can a company change nominees later?
Yes. Companies can change their nominee at any time, provided the incoming nominee holds the right licence class and QBCC is notified within 14 days. This is also the pathway many sole traders use once they’ve gained their own builder’s licence — stepping in as their own company’s nominee.
Should I apply for an Individual Licence or a Company Licence?
It depends on how you intend to operate. An individual licence lets you contract directly in your own name; a company licence lets the company contract, with a nominee (which could be you) supervising the work. Many builders end up holding both — an individual licence, plus a company licence where they’re also the nominee.
Do I need to hold an Individual Builder Licence before becoming a nominee?
Yes. To act as a company’s builder nominee, you need to personally hold an individual licence in the same class the company is applying for, or already holds.
Can I upgrade my Builder Licence?
Yes. QBCC allows licensees to upgrade between classes — for example, Low Rise to Medium Rise, or Medium Rise to Open — once you meet the experience and qualification requirements for the higher class.
What qualifications do I need?
Requirements vary by licence class, but generally include the relevant technical qualification (trade certificate, diploma or equivalent), a QBCC-approved managerial course, and documented supervisory or project experience matching the class you’re applying for.
How much site experience do I need to upgrade from a trade licence to a builder licence?
It depends on the class and your qualifications — typically 2 to 4 years of relevant experience, with the shorter end usually applying if you hold a recognised trade qualification such as carpentry. Your experience needs to cover the supervisory, administrative and management side of the work, not just the trade itself.
Can I count my own jobs as a sole trader toward builder licence experience?
Yes, provided it’s properly documented and verified. QBCC requires referees who held a licence or qualification at the same or higher level than the licence you’re applying for, and who can personally confirm the work and supervision you carried out — so good records and the right referees matter as much as the work itself.
What’s the difference between Low Rise, Medium Rise and Open Builder licences?
Low Rise covers Class 1 and 10 buildings, plus Class 2–9 buildings up to 2,000m² gross floor area (excluding Type A or Type B construction), with multi-residential capped at three storeys. Medium Rise extends Class 2–9 work up to three storeys. Open Builder removes the size and storey limits altogether, covering the full range of building work.
Do I need to complete a managerial course to upgrade to a builder licence?
If you already hold a contractor or nominee supervisor licence and are applying for an additional class, you generally don’t need to repeat the managerial course — but it depends on your current licence type, so it’s worth confirming before you assume either way.
Once I get my builder licence, do I need a company to use it?
No. You can hold and operate under an individual builder licence as a sole trader, contracting directly in your own name. Setting up a company is a separate business decision — useful for some structures, but not a requirement of holding the licence itself.