What does a general contractor do?
General contracting covers the work most households need at some point, from routine maintenance to the jobs that cannot wait. What a licence actually permits varies by state or province, which is why every ranking opens with the local rules before it lists a single company.
Explore services
Popular general contracting services
Design-build
Design and construction under one contract, and what that trades away.
About design-build →Whole-home renovation
What a full renovation costs, the contingency to hold, and the order work happens in.
About whole-home renovation →Permitting and inspections
What needs a permit, who should pull it, and what unpermitted work costs later.
About permitting and inspections →
How to choose a reliable general contractor
The same handful of checks separates a company worth calling from one worth avoiding, whatever the trade.
Check the credential at source
Ask for the licence or registration number, then look it up with the authority that issues it rather than taking the certificate at face value.
Get the insurance certificate from the insurer
A current certificate sent directly by the insurer, not a photocopy from the company.
Ask for a written, itemised estimate
Scope, materials, removal, disposal and who pulls the permit, all named on the page before anyone starts.
Compare like for like
Two or three bids on the same scope. A number far below the others usually means something has been left out.
Separate the two warranties
The manufacturer covers materials, the company covers the work. Get both in writing, and check whether the second transfers if you sell.
Ask who actually turns up
Employees or subcontractors, and who supervises on the day.
Put the surprises in writing first
Agree how change orders are priced and approved before the first payment.
General contracting requirements can vary by location
What a licence covers, who pulls the permit and what insurance is required are all set locally. A company that is properly credentialled in one state may not be in the next one over.
Every ranking opens with the rules that apply in that market, so the list that follows can be read against them rather than in the abstract.
How we evaluate general contracting companies
Full methodology →The steps are the same for every trade. The criteria are not, because a good mover and a good electrician are not measured the same way.
Reputation
Customer feedback and reputation patterns across sources we can verify, read as a pattern rather than a reaction to any single review.
Experience
Relevant trade experience and time working in the local market, weighted toward the exact type of work rather than the trade in general.
Credentials
Licensing, certifications and insurance where they apply to the trade, checked against the issuing authority rather than the company website.
Services
Range and relevance of the services actually offered, rather than a list of everything the company might take on.
Local presence
Genuine service coverage and relevance to the market being ranked, checked against where recent projects actually are.
Transparency
Clear business information, service details and contact paths, including whether estimates itemize scope.
General Contractors
Florida General Contractor License Requirements: What the State Actually Checks
The age, experience, exam and credit score requirements Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board actually checks before issuing a certified general contractor license, plus how to verify one that already exists.
Dana Whitfield · 16 min read
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Home Remodeling
Kitchen · Bathroom · Basement · Additions
Flooring
Hardwood · Tile · Vinyl
Painting
Interior · Exterior · Cabinets
Windows & Doors
Replacement · Installation · Repair
Carpentry
Finish work · Built-ins · Trim
Drywall
Installation · Repair · Ceiling work
Common questions about hiring a general contractor
What does a general contractor do?
General Contractors handle construction · improvements · design-build. Scope varies by company, which is why every ranking lists what each one actually takes on rather than what they advertise.
Do general contractors need a licence?
It depends entirely on where you are. Some trades are licensed everywhere, some in only a few states or provinces, and some nowhere at all. Each ranking names the authority we checked for that market, or says plainly that the trade is not licensed there.
How do you decide which general contractors make a list?
We research every company that genuinely serves the market, check credentials with the issuing authority, compare service range, warranty terms and documented local work, then read patterns in public feedback. The criteria are published on every ranking.
How much does general contractor work cost?
Cost depends on the job, the market and the material grade. We publish sourced ranges per market rather than a single national average, and where we have no sourced figure we say so rather than inventing one.
Can a company pay to be on a list?
No. Editorial positions are not for sale. Companies can buy a labelled sponsored placement that sits outside the ranked list, and it carries a Sponsored label wherever it appears.
My city is not listed. What now?
We add markets each month, working outward from the largest metros. The country and state pages show the nearest covered areas, and you can request a market through the contact form.
For general contractors
Reach homeowners researching general contractors
Claim your profile to keep your licence, hours, service area and photos current, or take a labelled featured slot. Neither buys a ranked position.