General Contractor

· 2 min read
A general contractor (GC) is the person who manages your entire construction or renovation project — hiring subcontractors, pulling permits, coordinating schedules, and making sure…

A general contractor (GC) is the person who manages your entire construction or renovation project — hiring subcontractors, pulling permits, coordinating schedules, and making sure everything meets code. They’re the single point of accountability when your kitchen remodel goes sideways.

GC vs. Subcontractor

Subcontractors specialize in one trade: plumbing, electrical, framing, roofing, drywall. A general contractor coordinates all of them. On a kitchen renovation, your GC might hire an electrician, plumber, tile installer, cabinet maker, countertop fabricator, and painter — then manage the sequence so the plumber finishes before the floor goes in and the electrician shows up before drywall closes the walls.

You can hire subcontractors directly and save the GC’s markup (typically 15-25% on top of sub costs). But you’ll also be responsible for scheduling, permits, inspections, material ordering, and quality control. For projects involving multiple trades, a good GC earns their fee.

What They Charge

GCs typically charge cost-plus (actual costs + 15-25% markup) or a fixed-price contract based on a detailed scope of work. On a $100,000 renovation, the GC’s fee might be $15,000-$25,000. Some charge a flat project management fee instead of a percentage. Get multiple bids and compare the actual scope — the cheapest bid often has the thinnest scope.

Hiring Tips

Verify their license and insurance (general liability + workers’ comp). Check references from recent projects similar to yours. Look at their Better Business Bureau profile and online reviews. Ask about their subcontractor relationships — a GC who uses the same subs repeatedly gets better work and pricing than one cobbling together new crews for every job.

Get everything in a written contract: scope, timeline, payment schedule (never more than 10% upfront), change order procedures, and warranty terms. The home services hub helps you find vetted contractors, and the renovation ROI calculator shows which projects deliver the best return on your investment.