Certified Payroll & Compliance for SoCal Contractors

certified payroll &
complaince for california contractors

Win more public works contracts without compliance headache

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Prevailing Wages Explained:

What Every Contractor Needs to Know

WHAT ARE PREVAILING WAGES?

If you’re a contractor or subcontractor working on public works projects in California, you’ve likely heard of prevailing wages. But what does that actually mean?
Prevailing wage laws require contractors to pay workers a specific minimum wage rate set by the government for publicly funded construction projects. These wages are based on the local “prevailing” wages for different trades and classifications in each region.

💡 In simple terms: If you’re working on a government-funded project, you must pay your employees according to state-mandated wage rates.

WHO NEEDS TO FOLLOW PREVAILING WAGE LAWS?

If your business is involved in construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, or maintenance on a public works project, you are required to comply with prevailing wage laws.
✔ General Contractors – Responsible for ensuring all subcontractors comply.
✔ Subcontractors – Must follow prevailing wage laws just like the general contractor.
✔ Public Works Project Owners – Must ensure compliance in the bid process.

WHEN DO PREVAILING WAGES APPLY?

Prevailing wages are required on any public works contract that is:
State, Local, or Federally Funded – Projects paid for with taxpayer dollars.
Valued at $1,000 or More – Even small contracts must follow prevailing wage laws.
Construction, Renovation, or Maintenance Work – Not just new construction, but also upgrades, repairs, and even painting projects.

💡 If your project is funded by any government entity—city, county, state, or federal—then prevailing wages apply.

HOW ARE PREVAILING WAGES DETERMINED?

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) sets prevailing wage rates based on:
✔ Location of the Project – Different counties have different wage rates.
✔ Trade or Craft of the Worker – Carpenters, electricians, laborers, etc., all have different rates.
✔ Type of Work Being Performed – Different rates apply for construction, repairs, or maintenance.
📌 Where to Find Wage Rates?
You can check the latest prevailing wage rates on the DIR website:
➡ California DIR Prevailing Wage Rates

CERTIFIED PAYROLL REPORTING: THE KEY TO COMPLIANCE

To ensure contractors are paying the correct prevailing wages, the government requires weekly Certified Payroll Reports (CPR).
What This Means for You:
✔ Accurate record-keeping – You must track and submit payroll details weekly.
✔ Compliance verification – The government ensures workers are paid correctly.
✔ Avoid fines & penalties – Failure to submit CPRs can result in stiff penalties and even being banned from future public works projects.
📌 We Can Help!
If certified payroll reporting sounds overwhelming, our team specializes in handling it for you!

Book a Free Consultation

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW PREVAILING WAGE LAWS?

Ignoring prevailing wage laws can lead to serious consequences:
🚨 Fines & Penalties – Violations can cost thousands of dollars per worker.
🚨 Delayed Payments – The government may withhold payments until compliance is met.
🚨 Loss of Future Contracts – Companies that fail to comply can be disqualified from future public works projects.
🚨 Lawsuits & Back Pay Claims – Workers can sue for unpaid wages, costing contractors even more.

FINAL THOUGHTS: IS PREVAILING WAGE COMPLIANCE WORTH IT?

Absolutely. While it may seem like extra paperwork and complexity, public works projects offer steady, high-value contracts that can significantly grow your business.
Instead of struggling with compliance, let an expert handle it so you can focus on building and growing your company.
📞 Need help with certified payroll and prevailing wages? Let’s chat!

Book a Free Consultation

Certified Payroll Reporting

We handle all required payroll submissions for compliance with prevailing wage laws. We make sure the employees are correctly classified to avoid penalties.

01

Prevailing Wage
Compliance Audits

Ensure your company meets DIR and DOL regulations before an official audit happens. Facilitate existing audits and maintain working relationships with the labor compliance representatives.

02

Public Works
Contractor Training

We train your staff on compliance and certified payroll reporting. We help you set up and manage LCP Tracker, eComply, Quickbooks Payroll and other systems.

03

WHAT WE DO

INDUSTRIES WE SERVE

General Contractors

Managing multiple projects?
Let us handle your certified payroll compliance.

01

Subcontractors

Ensure correct payroll reports & classifications without the headache.

02

Public Works Construction Firms

Stay compliant with CA prevailing wage laws.

03

PayVeritas is a specialized firm helping SoCal construction companies navigate certified payroll and compliance requirements for public works projects.

Our mission is to simplify payroll compliance so contractors can focus on building not paperwork

Christina Slattery

Founder and Managing Director

LOWER COST HIGHER EXPERTISE

No overhead costs

You only pay for what you need.
Get expert-level service without the full-time price tag.

Full-time payroll employee costs $60,000+ per year (salary + benefits).

Not just payroll

I offer full compliance management, payroll audits, contractor registration, employee classification, and public works training.

No Costly Mistakes

Mistakes in compliance lead to fines, audits, and even debarment from public contracts.

I specialize in public works compliance—this is ALL I do. Guaranteed accuracy and audit-proof payroll reports.

No training or turnover

You need to train new employees on DIR compliance, payroll software, and wage classifications.
If they leave, you start all over again.

No training required—I bring years of experience from day one.

Flexible Pricing Plans

Pay Only for What You Need

Full Service

General contractors & subcontractors
who want everything handled for
public works projects.

Get a Quote

Contractors who need compliance help on a single public works project.

Certified payroll setup &
reporting for one project

Pre-audit compliance review

Certified payroll corrections

DIR audit representation & defense

Training &
Consulting

Per Project

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Audits & Corrections

1-on-1 training for your payroll team

Step-by-step guidance for public works payroll compliance

Customized compliance playbook

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Public works projects offer steady, high-paying contracts backed by local, state, and federal funding.

Winning a public works contract means long-term business growth—many contractors go from small projects to multi-million dollar bids.

Government-funded projects provide security and credibility—once you’re in, you become eligible for even more opportunities.

Why Public Works Can Transform Your Business

Many contractors hesitate to enter the public works
sector because of its complex regulations, certified payroll reporting, and compliance requirements. But here’s the truth:

We take care of the compliance side so you can focus on what you do best—building and growing your company. Whether you’re a general contractor or subcontractor, getting started with public works projects can open doors you never imagined.

Don’t let fear of compliance hold you back! Let’s make certified payroll, prevailing wage, and public works contracting easy and stress-free.

Yes, the paperwork can feel overwhelming at first—but that’s where we come in!

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Book a Free Consultation

Don’t let fear of compliance hold you back! Let’s make certified payroll, prevailing wage, and public works contracting easy and stress-free.

FAQ

Certified payroll is a weekly payroll report required for public works projects in California. It ensures that workers are paid prevailing wages as mandated by state and federal laws. Contractors must submit certified payroll reports to the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to stay compliant and avoid penalties.

Phone

CONTACT US TODAY

PAYVERITAS

CHRISTINA SLATTERY

PHONE: +1 6193172868
EMAIL: OFFICE@PAY-VERITAS.COM

I am ready for a long road flight for working with a week- or months-long projects.