i think most states will have a state licensing board for contractors. where i am, in CA, I can go to the CA govt site and look up any contractor's license number, which will give some details regarding license status in good standing, year incorporated, bond insurance, etc.

at our initial GC meetings, we asked them if they could provide references and also asked if they could show us any projects in person. once we got the quotes and got more serious, we checked references and visited current job sites to see their quality of work. some things we felt were important were how they would handle change requests, also how many other projects they would be working on while doing ours, also asked about payment schedule to make sure that they do not ask for too large a portion loaded towards the start of project (and then leave you waiting forever at the tail end to do other projects).

I can only tell you what I did, and I don't know that it is worth much, except that I'm happy with my GC so far. We are only 1/2 way through though, so I suppose things could change.

I got bids from 5 GCs. I eliminated one because they more or less told me that my job was small (it is $50,000+) but they would fit it in as they could.

I eliminated another because I didn't feel as though they were listening to me.

I eliminated the third because they weren't willing to come to my house for a meeting on the layout unless I put money down. They wanted to only meet in their offices, and work from the plan that I provided them. I think that a GC plays an important role in the design project, even if you go in with an architect's plan. For better or worse, I was looking for a GC who would look at my kitchen and tell me why, in their estimation, my dream would work or not.

So, it came down to two. For both of them, I outlined what I wanted, I discussed time frame, I discussed who they used as subcontractors, and I talked about the particular challenges that I thought they would face in my kitchen.

I had personal references from them both in advance. I saw their work. I checked BBB. I checked Angieslist. I googled them both. I checked bankruptcy filings.

I ended up going with the more expensive of the two bids for two reasons. First, I wanted to extend my existing oak floors in the rest of the house into the kitchen. The GC that I chose indicated that this was not hard to do and gave me references so that I could see other spaces where they had done that. The contractor that I didn't pick seemed hesitant, and kept suggesting other alternatives.

Second, the GC that I chose has a number of employees (26) who act as project managers and designers and supervisors. Much of the work that is subcontracted by other GCs is actually done by full-time employees working for the GC that I chose. The GC is a very well respected, established company.

The other GC was really a one-man operation. His wife and son worked with him, and probably a few other folks as well, but I was worried that, if the relationship didn't work out well with him or if something happened to him or his business, I would be SOL.

I would ask everything that occurs to you during your meeting, no matter how trivial it might seem, I asked the most inane of questions during my various meetings. I didn't care how minor my concern or issue was, I asked it. From my perspective, if they don't care to give you a considered answer when they are trying to get my business, they really won't care after you have signed their contract.

I also read the contract before I signed. I didn't want to agree to an arbitration clause. I don't know if the non-selected contractor had one; the one that I chose did not. I would have had a struggle with myself if they had.

As I said, I'm happy with my GC thus far.

I agree with the above posters but want to add:
I'd make sure to see recently completed projects so that you know how it went beyond the honeymoon phase. You want to know what happened a few months after if/when the roof leaked. You want to know that they will finish the job completely and not leave you hanging. You want to ask how they were about payment and if they stuck to the schedule or pressured for payment once your job went long. You want to know if things cracked afterward, if nails started popping out of the sheetrock, etc...
I also made the huge mistake of not insisting that they allow me to paint before attaching the moldings. I argued that point but conceded. WTH was I thinking? That made my job so much harder. I had wanted to be reasonable to stay on their good side, yet they were not so concerned about staying on my good side!
You want to know what they will do if their trucks ruin your lawn or sprinkler system.
You want to know how many change orders they gave
the reference that could have been discussed up front (not hidden items that popped up, but for a la carte charges that could have been foreseen). Ask to come to their office, and once there ask to see their most recent change order. Note whether it is nickel and diming or is legitimate.
Ask how they left the house every day. Were there coffee cups, packing material, scraps, debris, etc... strewn around or did they do at least a rough cleanup?

If your project is over $50k, have your lawyer read it over and make sure your rights are covered. It is worth paying them to make sure you don't get left vulnerable. The contract they offer you was written by their atty to protect them, you want your own atty to approve it. It is not "saving money" to skip that step!
Those are all things I wish we had done. Sigh.

references from recently completed jobs as well as almost completed. and ask him if when you give him a check for the subs, does he pay them ...OR does he go out and buy a new car?

sorry. i'm just bitter. good luck.

Oh no, Kate! Did that just happen to you?? Between that and how long he's taken on your house, I might have strangled him by now. Hope your next post isn't from jail! ;)

Kay, first I'd like to congratulate you on the new baby! I admire all you've been able to do with young kids and the kitchen reno. It's a tough juggle.

I agree with everything else that's been said. We had a GC for a while during planning and the foundation work for our addition. (Now I'm the GC.) I'd only add to listen to your gut as well. Our GC was great, but a couple of my other subs have been PITAs that I wish I hadn't hired. My hackles were ruffled a teensy bit by the plumber when I called to hire him, but I ignored it. Should have listened to my gut. We just fired him.

Good luck. Go snuggle that tiny pink baby bundle.

We ended up getting burned by the fact that our contract is cost plus fixed fee. The GC seriously underestimated the cost and made several costly mistakes and we have to pay and pay again. He makes his fees even on his mistakes. That I really object to because he has low incentive to take responsibility for his errors. I wonder if we would have fared better if a lawyer had reviewed.