Frank does not list every builder who applies. About half are declined. This page explains what Frank checks, how it checks, and what happens after a builder joins the network.
This is not marketing copy. It is the process.
checks required. All four must pass. No partial listing.
of applicants declined. The seal means something because not everyone gets it.
monitoring after joining. Not a one-time event.
State authority register checked at application and monitored continuously.
Each check exists because the building industry has earned the distrust it faces. 3,490 construction firms went insolvent in FY24–25. Sixty-three percent were small builders — under five staff. The checks below are designed to separate the builders who are running a proper business from the ones who are not.
Builder's licence
Every builder in Australia must hold a current licence with their state building authority to carry out residential work. The register is public in every state. Anyone can search it — VBA in Victoria, QBCC in Queensland, NSW Fair Trading in New South Wales, CBS in South Australia, and equivalent bodies elsewhere.
What Frank does with it:
What the register shows:
Home building insurance
Home building insurance is mandatory for residential building work above the minimum threshold in every state — called Domestic Building Insurance in Victoria, Home Building Compensation in NSW, and Home Warranty Insurance in other states. It protects the homeowner if the builder dies, disappears, or becomes insolvent before the work is complete or within the statutory warranty period.
What Frank confirms:
What Frank displays:
Track record & references
Frank contacts previous clients and reviews completed projects before listing a builder.
What Frank reviews:
What gets flagged:
Financial stability
Builder insolvency is the number one fear for homeowners. 3,490 construction firms went insolvent in FY24–25. Frank reviews financial indicators before any builder joins the network.
A builder who is overcommitted or financially stressed does not appear on Frank. Not because Frank has a moral position on failure — but because homeowners who use Frank should not have to think about it.
Why this check matters
63% of insolvent construction firms were small builders — under five staff. The exact category most Australians are told to find by asking around or scrolling through a directory. Frank looks at the indicators that most platforms never ask about.
Verification is not a one-time event. Frank monitors three things on an ongoing basis — not because it does not trust builders, but because licences lapse and insurance renews.
Builders who leave Frank — voluntarily or otherwise — lose their postcode. It becomes available to the next qualified applicant.
Licence status
If a builder's registration is suspended, cancelled, or subject to new conditions, Frank is notified and the builder's profile is immediately suspended pending review.
Insurance currency
Home building insurance policies have renewal dates. Frank tracks them. If a builder's insurance lapses and is not renewed within the grace period, their profile is removed.
Complaints and disciplinary action
Frank monitors state building authority public registers for new disciplinary findings against listed builders. Substantive complaints or findings trigger a review — which may include suspension or removal from the network.
When you see the Frank Verified seal on a builder's profile, it means three things have been independently confirmed:
The seal is not a membership badge. It is not awarded for paying a subscription. It is the result of a verification process that about half of applicants do not pass.
Builders who earn the seal can display it on their utes, signage, scope documents, and website.
Enter your suburb and Frank will show you who's been verified in your area.
Free for homeowners. No obligation.
Every builder in your search results carries this seal. It means the checks above have been done.