[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":99},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-subcontractor-payment":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":56,"prev":97,"next":98},{"name":5,"tagline":6,"title":7,"description":8,"guideTitle":9,"guideDescription":10,"ogImage":11,"disclaimer":12,"practicePitch":13,"citationsTitle":14},"Free MHIC Training","Maryland home improvement exam prep","Free MHIC Exam Prep: Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Practice","Free, narrated MHIC exam prep: 147 real Maryland contractor scenarios, every choice explained, with the law cited where it applies.","MHIC Exam Study Guide","Every scenario in the free Maryland Contractor Simulator, written out as a practice question: the situation, your options, how each choice plays out, and the Maryland law where it applies.","/og/free-mhic-training.png","Free MHIC Training is free study material for the Maryland home improvement contractor exam. It is not affiliated with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission and is not legal advice.","The free Maryland Contractor Simulator puts you in situations like these across a 40-day contracting career, narrated, with your license on the line. No account needed.","Law and codes cited",{"slug":16,"title":17,"subtitle":18,"description":19,"maxTurns":20,"characterCount":21,"scenarioCount":22},"maryland-contractor-simulator","Maryland Contractor Simulator","Learn the law by living it.","You just got your MHIC license application approved and you're starting your home improvement business in Maryland. Navigate real contractor scenarios — contracts, permits, clients, subcontractors, and inspectors. Every choice teaches you the law through consequence, not memorization. Master all five exam areas to pass.",40,20,147,{"slug":24,"title":25},"subcontractors-employees","Subcontractors, Liens & Workers",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":35,"speakerAvatar":36,"audioUrl":37,"choices":38,"citations":54},"subcontractor-payment","Must you pay subcontractors when the homeowner pays late?","Yes. Under COMAR 09.08.01.12 the prime contractor must pay subcontractors and workers regardless of when the homeowner pays, and a pay-when-paid clause does…","Yes. Under COMAR 09.08.01.12 the prime contractor must pay subcontractors and workers regardless of when the homeowner pays, and a pay-when-paid clause does not override that duty.",[32,33],"Tony Reeves finished the framing on Sarah's kitchen renovation two weeks ago. He's been calling daily — you haven't paid him yet because Sarah's progress payment is late.","Tony is threatening to file a mechanics lien on Sarah's property.","Tony Reeves","An experienced subcontractor who does quality framing and drywall work.","/media/characters/sub_tony.png","/media/voices/subcontractor_payment.mp3",[39,44,49],{"text":40,"verdict":41,"label":42,"explanation":43},"Pay Tony from your business account immediately — your payment obligation to subs doesn't depend on when the homeowner pays you","best","Correct","Under COMAR 09.08.01.12, the prime contractor has a duty to pay subcontractors and workmen regardless of payment status from the homeowner. This is one of the most commonly tested and most commonly violated provisions. Your cash flow problems are not Tony's problem. Pay your subs.",{"text":45,"verdict":46,"label":47,"explanation":48},"Tell Tony he'll get paid when Sarah pays you — that's how construction works","wrong","Wrong","That is NOT how Maryland law works. COMAR 09.08.01.12 explicitly states the prime contractor must pay subcontractors and workmen. 'Pay-when-paid' clauses do not override this duty. If Tony files a lien on Sarah's property, you now have an MHIC violation AND an angry homeowner dealing with a lien she shouldn't have. This cascades badly.",{"text":50,"verdict":51,"label":52,"explanation":53},"Offer Tony partial payment now with the rest when Sarah pays","partial","Risky","Better than nothing, but you still have a legal obligation to pay in full. Partial payment may delay the lien filing but doesn't resolve your duty under COMAR 09.08.01.12. If Tony isn't paid in full within a reasonable time, you're still in violation.",[55],"COMAR 09.08.01.12",[57,58,61,64,67,70,73,76,79,82,85,88,91,94],{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":59,"title":60,"topic":24},"tony-files-lien","What happens when an unpaid subcontractor files a mechanics lien?",{"slug":62,"title":63,"topic":24},"lien-rights-education","Can a subcontractor put a lien on a house the owner paid in full?",{"slug":65,"title":66,"topic":24},"client-wants-to-pay-sub-directly","Should a homeowner pay your subcontractor directly?",{"slug":68,"title":69,"topic":24},"mike-unlicensed-electrical","What if your electrician's license expired mid-job?",{"slug":71,"title":72,"topic":24},"subcontractor-not-licensed","Can you hire a plumber who is still getting licensed?",{"slug":74,"title":75,"topic":24},"homeowner-does-own-electrical","Can a homeowner do their own electrical work on your job?",{"slug":77,"title":78,"topic":24},"multiple-subs-coordination","Who coordinates subcontractors working in the same space?",{"slug":80,"title":81,"topic":24},"subcontractor-damages-property","Who is liable when a subcontractor damages the home?",{"slug":83,"title":84,"topic":24},"cousin-ray-no-show","How do you handle a subcontractor who stops showing up?",{"slug":86,"title":87,"topic":24},"worker-classification","Are your regular workers employees or 1099 contractors?",{"slug":89,"title":90,"topic":24},"workers-comp-claim","What must you do when an employee is hurt on the job?",{"slug":92,"title":93,"topic":24},"worker-injury-no-comp","What happens when an off-the-books worker is injured?",{"slug":95,"title":96,"topic":24},"hiring-day-laborers","What are the risks of hiring day laborers for cash?",null,{"slug":59,"title":60,"topic":24},1792184485314]