Florida Contractors Manual, 2025 edition
Required for Business and Finance since February 2026. Florida Statutes 455 is reprinted inside it — you don't buy it separately.
Florida Contractors Manual 2025 guide →Reference books
Florida General Contractor License Books (2025 Editions)
The wrong edition is the most expensive mistake on this exam.
Business and Finance is open-book, but the page numbers you tab are only right if you're holding the 2025 Florida Contractors Manual. Show up with last year's copy and every lookup goes slow — on a test that already gives you about 3 minutes 15 seconds per question. Here's the correct five-book set, sourced and shipped in one order, so the only thing you're hunting for on exam day is the answer.
In stock. Ships within 2 business days with tracking.
Builder's Guide to Accounting
Where the job-cost math, payroll, and financial-statement questions come from. It's where most of the Business and Finance math lives.
AIA documents A201, A401, and A701
The contract documents the exam pulls from. Original editions only — no photocopies allowed in the test center.
That's the Business and Finance set, and it covers DBPR's full 2026 Business and Finance reference list: Florida Statutes 455 is included inside the Contractors Manual. Taking only Business and Finance? Here are the Florida Business and Finance exam books.
Correct editions
Only the editions the state allows
The 2025 Florida Contractors Manual is the one Business and Finance requires now. Show up with last year's copy and the page numbers don't match the exam. I send the editions that are actually allowed.
One order
Five books, one checkout
Tracking these down from three different sellers is a weekend you don't get back. Order the set once. I have the right editions in stock and ship them.
The price
$499 for all five books, shipped
The plain, correct set, sourced and shipped for you. You're not paying for tabs or highlighting you can add yourself.
Order the set
$499
Every set is the editions the state allows in the room, and they're in stock. Your set ships within 2 business days and you get tracking by email.
After the books
Once they arrive, the tab & highlight guide shows you where to mark them. Not ready to buy? Take the free timed practice exam and see where you stand first.
Which books does the Florida general contractor exam require?
The Florida DBPR publishes an official reference list for each part of the exam. The lists below are the ones valid from January through December 2026. Exam answers are based on the editions listed. You can bring an earlier or later edition, but at your own risk, and only one copy of each reference is allowed in the room.
Business & Finance: 6 references
Taking Business and Finance first? See the Business and Finance book set.
| Ref # | Book | Edition on DBPR's 2026 list | In our $499 set? |
|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | Florida Statutes Chapter 455 | 2025 | Yes, included inside the Contractors Manual |
| R37 | Builder's Guide to Accounting (Craftsman Book Company) | 2001 | Yes |
| R50 | Contractors Manual (Florida Contractors Manual) | 2025 edition, used for the exam since February 1, 2026 | Yes (2025 edition) |
| R5 | AIA A201, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction | 2017 | Yes |
| R6 | AIA A401, Standard Form of Agreement Between Contractor and Subcontractor | 2017 | Yes |
| R7 | AIA A701, Instructions to Bidders | 2018 | Yes |
Contract Administration and Project Management: 13 references
One list covers the general, building and residential contractor exams. Our $499 set is the Business & Finance set, so it doesn't include the books that appear only on this list.
| Ref # | Book | Edition on DBPR's 2026 list |
|---|---|---|
| R5 | AIA A201, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction | 2017 |
| R6 | AIA A401, Standard Form of Agreement Between Contractor and Subcontractor | 2017 |
| R7 | AIA A701, Instructions to Bidders | 2018 |
| R46 | Code of Federal Regulations, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 | July 1, 2025 |
| R50 | Contractors Manual | 2025 edition, used for the exam since July 1, 2026 |
| R85 | Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction | 11th edition, 2024 |
| R140 | Energy Efficient Building Construction in Florida | 2024 |
| R247 | BCSI-ED2-D, Guide to Good Practices for Handling, Installing and Bracing of Metal Connected Wood Trusses | 2025 edition, used for the exam since July 1, 2026 |
| R200 | Florida Building Code, Building | 2023 |
| R203 | Florida Building Code, Accessibility | 2023 |
| R250 | Florida Building Code, Residential | 2023 |
| R251 | Florida Building Code, Existing Building | 2023 |
| R252 | Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation | 2023 |
Study-only references (not allowed in the testing room)
DBPR also suggests these for studying for Contract Administration and Project Management. You can't bring them into those exams.
- R37 Builder's Guide to Accounting, 2001. You can bring it to Business & Finance, but not to CA or PM.
- R38 Building Estimator's Reference Book, 32nd edition, 2024
- R52 Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th edition, 2021
- R83 Placing Reinforcing Bars, 10th edition, 2019
- R87 Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products (GA-216), 2018 edition
Lists change every year, so check DBPR's current reference lists before you buy anything for a 2027 exam date. For how each book is used on the exam, read what books you need for the Florida GC exam.
Florida Contractors Manual 2025: the edition that changed
The Contractors Manual (reference R50) is the book most people call the Florida Contractors Manual. DBPR moved to the 2025 edition in two steps. Business & Finance has used it since February 1, 2026. The general, building and residential Contract Administration and Project Management exams have used it since July 1, 2026. DBPR's 2025 lists named the 2021 edition, and no 2024 edition appears on the 2025 or 2026 lists. The 2025 edition is the one in our $499 set. For which exams use it, the test-center rules and how to tab it, read the Florida Contractors Manual 2025 guide.
Books for the building and residential contractor exams
Going for a Florida building (CBC) or residential (CRC) contractor license? You use the same books as a general contractor. The Business & Finance list is the same for every construction category, and DBPR publishes one Contract Administration and Project Management list for all three license types: general, building and residential. What changes is the exam length. Contract Administration and Project Management are 60 questions each for general contractors, 50 each for building and 45 each for residential. Practice with the free Florida general contractor practice test.
Test-center rules for your books
- Bound books only. A book must be permanently bound (stitched or glued) or held in its cover by fasteners that go through every page. Where DBPR allows a printed PDF, it has to go in a ring binder, brads, a plastic snap binder, a spiral notebook or screw posts. Staples don't count.
- Original editions only. Photocopies aren't allowed. The only exceptions are references DBPR marks as PDF-OK. On the Business & Finance list, that's Florida Statutes Chapter 455.
- Highlighting is fine. You can underline or highlight in pen or highlighter.
- No notes. Handwritten and typewritten notes aren't allowed. You have to black out or remove any existing notes, including ones left by a previous owner.
- No moveable tabs. Post-it Flags and other moveable tabs aren't allowed.
- One copy of each reference. And you can't mark your books during the exam.
Once your books arrive, the tab & highlight guide shows you where to mark them.
Florida contractor license books FAQ
What are the Florida general contractor license books for 2025?
"2025 editions" usually means the 2025 Florida Contractors Manual. DBPR's 2026 reference lists switch to it on February 1, 2026 for Business & Finance, and on July 1, 2026 for the general, building and residential Contract Administration and Project Management exams. The BCSI truss guide (BCSI-ED2-D) also moves to its 2025 edition for those two exams on July 1, 2026. Everything else on the 2026 lists keeps the edition shown in the tables above, such as the 2017 AIA A201 and A401, the 2018 A701 and the 2023 Florida Building Code.
Which books do I need for the Florida Business & Finance exam?
Six references: Florida Statutes Chapter 455, the Builder's Guide to Accounting (2001), the Contractors Manual (2025 edition), and AIA documents A201 (2017), A401 (2017) and A701 (2018). Our $499 set covers DBPR's full 2026 Business & Finance list: it's five books, and Chapter 455 is included inside the Contractors Manual.
Do I need to buy Florida Statutes Chapter 455?
No. It's reference R1 on the Business & Finance list, and it's included inside the Contractors Manual, so our $499 set covers it.
Can I use an older edition of the Contractors Manual?
DBPR allows earlier or later editions in the testing room, but at your own risk. The exam's answers are based on the edition on the list, which is now the 2025 edition for Business & Finance and for general, building and residential Contract Administration and Project Management.
Can I bring photocopies or a PDF of the books?
No. Only original editions are allowed, except for references DBPR marks as PDF-OK. On the Business & Finance list, that's Florida Statutes Chapter 455, which has to be bound.
Do building and residential contractors need different books?
No. The Business & Finance list is the same for every construction category, and one Contract Administration and Project Management list covers general, building and residential contractors.
What's in your $499 book set?
Five books for the Business & Finance exam: the Florida Contractors Manual (2025 edition), the Builder's Guide to Accounting, and AIA documents A201, A401 and A701. Sets are in stock and ship within 2 business days with tracking.
Stop guessing
Walk into that testing center knowing exactly what the day looks like.
Start with Business and Finance — the longest part of the exam — or take the free practice exam and see where you stand. Either way, you'll have done the real thing, on the clock, before it counts.