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The Contractor Name Shuffle: When “New Name” Means “Old Problems”

When you’re hiring someone to work on your home—whether it’s roofing, siding, or solar—you’re putting your trust (and money) into their hands. Most contractors are honest professionals who do the job right. But some bad actors know how to dodge accountability without ever really going away.

How? Through a sneaky trick I call the Contractor Name Shuffle.

Let me show you how it works—with a totally fictional but all-too-familiar example.

Meet Cascade Pro Services… and All Their Other Names

Let’s say you’re looking for a roofing company, and you come across Cascade Pro Roofing. Clean website, shiny trucks, nice logo. Seems legit, right? (This is an example and not an existing company)

But what you don’t know is that this same owner has been running companies under different names for years:

Cascade Home Pro Repair – shut down after subcontractors weren’t paid and customers filed complaints.
Then came Cascade Restoration Group – more lawsuits, more debt.
Then Cascade Pro Exterior Experts – similar problems, same pattern.
And now… Cascade Pro Roofing.

Each time, the name changes just enough to appear fresh. But behind the scenes? It’s the same playbook, same team, same shortcuts. And the biggest trick of all?

They Keep the “Cascade” Logo on the Trucks.

By keeping the brand centered around the word “Cascade,” they don’t even have to repaint their vehicles. The only thing that changes is the business license number—and the name printed on the estimate.

To the average customer, it looks like the same trusted company that’s “been around for years.” In reality, it’s a revolving door of legal filings, unpaid invoices, and frustrated clients.

How Are They Getting Away With It?

Great question. Here’s how the system works:

Contractor licenses are tied to a business name and number—not to the owner’s full history.
As long as the new company pays their bond and insurance, they can get a fresh license.
Complaints don’t carry over unless someone files criminal charges (which is rare).
There’s no public “blacklist” showing how many times a contractor has rebranded.

It’s like pressing the reset button, over and over again.

What You Can Do to Avoid Getting Burned

Here are five steps to protect yourself before you sign a contract:

Ask for the license number, and look up how long it’s been active.
Search the owner’s name, not just the business. Use terms like “complaints,” “lawsuit,” or “unpaid.”
Look for vague branding—if they only advertise with a logo like “Cascade” or “Pinnacle,” but no clear company history, that’s a red flag.
Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or your state contractor board for old businesses linked to the same address or phone number.
Ask for references—and actually call them.

Final Thoughts

Name changes don’t always mean trouble. Sometimes companies rebrand for good reasons. But if a contractor keeps changing names every few years—especially when there’s a trail of lawsuits or complaints—you have every right to ask questions.

The best contractors build their reputation, not hide from it.

At [Your Company Name], we’ve stood by our work, our name, and our clients. If you ever have questions about a contractor—or just want help reviewing one before you hire—reach out. We’d rather help you now than hear about the damage later.

Lloyd Anderson