What Does a Commercial General Contractor Actually Do?
A commercial general contractor oversees the entirety of a construction project, ensuring that it is completed on time and within budget. This role encompasses coordinating between various subcontractors, suppliers, and clients while managing compliance with local building codes and regulations.
If you’ve ever driven past a construction site and wondered who’s orchestrating all that organized chaos, you’re looking at the work of a commercial general contractor. But what exactly do they do? And more importantly, why should you care?
Understanding the Role of a General Contractor
Project Planning and Preconstruction: Before a single nail gets hammered, your contractor develops detailed project timelines, budgets, and construction schedules. This preconstruction phase is where potential problems get solved on paper instead of on-site (where they’re much more expensive to fix).
Check out software for construction management. Many small business owners have shown satisfaction with Procore or other software.

