T
The Daily Insight

What is the role of the general contractor during a project?

Author

James Craig

Published May 15, 2026

A general contractor, or GC, in a construction project is the party responsible for scheduling and overseeing the day-to-day activities of a construction project. General contractors are hired to manage the project from groundbreak to its completion, providing the materials, labor, and equipment.

What types of projects do general contractors do?

Licensed general contractors can perform a wide variety of work. It can be earthmoving, plumbing, electrical, foundations, framing, or roofing work. But general contractors cannot always work on everything.

Who is a contractor in a project?

A contractor is a person or an organization hired by the client to complete the project. In summary, the roles and responsibilities of contractors have many different levels since they carry out broad range of tasks and manage numerous individuals.

What is a contractor for the government?

A government contractor is a private company that produces goods and services for public government agencies. Contractors become employed by the government by winning contracts that are out for bid. Smaller companies generally seek out smaller contracts that best match their business qualifications and scope of work.

What is the standard markup for a general contractor?

Average General Contractor Rates General contractors (GC) typically charge about 10% to 20% of your total construction project cost, also refered to as “cost plus.” For larger projects, you might pay closer to 25% for their services. They do not charge an hourly rate.

What are the contractor categories?

20 Types of Contractors and Which One Is Best For Your Project

  • General Contractor. Think of a general contractor as the manager for any building or renovation project.
  • Carpenter.
  • Electrician.
  • Drywaller.
  • Plastering.
  • Painter.
  • Wallpaper Installer.
  • Heating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)

What is the difference between general contractor and building contractor?

Builders usually are not responsible for mechanical work such as heating and cooling units, electrical work or plumbing. A general contractor oversees a team of subcontractors and is viewed as the “big picture” guy.