BuildWellGeneral contractor
A general contractor (GC) holds the main contract with the owner and is responsible for completing the project, including hiring and managing subcontractors.
The GC is the owner’s single point of responsibility. A GC prices the job, schedules the trades, buys or coordinates materials, runs the site, handles inspections and stands behind the finished work, whether its own crews do the work or subcontractors do.
GCs earn their money through markup on subcontractor and material costs, plus a fee or margin for overhead and profit. On cost-plus jobs the fee is visible; on lump-sum jobs it’s built into the price.
Licensing varies. Some states license general contractors at the state level, some leave it to cities and counties, and requirements often depend on the size or type of project. Check your state’s contractor licensing board.
In practice a GC answers for its subs: if a sub doesn’t pay a supplier, a lien can land on the owner’s property, and the owner will expect the GC to fix it. Collecting lien waivers, checking subs’ insurance and keeping written subcontracts protects everyone.
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- AI estimates priced for your area
- Estimates, invoices, clients and projects
- Clients sign on any phone
- Card and bank payments, no extra BuildWell fee
- iPhone, Android and the web
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