The Home Depot provides installation services to its customers for interior and exterior home maintenance projects. Local independent licensed contractors who specialize in these installations are subcontracted by Home Depot for each job. Work can be lucrative, but contractors have to jump through many hoops before becoming an installer for this big-box store. Candidates must complete the application process, including paying registration and application fees. Based on supply and demand, if a candidate is chosen, he must then qualify and undergo rigorous background checks to become a service provider and receive orders for jobs.

Register your business online at hdserviceproviders.com. As of May 2010, there is a $10 fee for registering on the site. On this first screen you will be asked to create a user name, password and secret question. You will then be asked to enter your company name and contact information and prompted to enter your credit card information. After your payment has been processed you will be asked to log in.

Enter your User ID and Password and click “login." Read the legal agreement and click the "Accept" button.

Click the “Application Process” button to start your application. You will be prompted to edit your company’s profile and enter all appropriate business information for your trade. You will need to enter the personal information of the principals of the company, services you can provide, coverage area, insurance information, and license information. It is not uncommon for the application process to take two or three visits to complete. Take your time and be thorough.

Submit your application and pay the application processing fee. The $50 fee is in addition to the registration fee. Candidate selection is based on supply and demand—the application you submit will remain on file for sourcing purposes. If your company is selected, you will be asked to provide a certificate of insurance and proof of licenses. Principals and installers will also have to undergo Home Depot's background checks, which will cost you $69.50 per principal and $46.50 per installer, as of May 2010.