Your subcontractors can make or break your project. Managing them well is one of the highest-leverage skills a general contractor can develop.
Finding reliable subcontractors
- Ask other contractors for recommendations
- Check references and previous work
- Verify licenses and insurance
- Start with a small project before giving them a large one
- Build a pool of 2-3 subs per trade so you are never stuck
Clear scopes of work
The #1 cause of subcontractor disputes is unclear scopes. Every subcontract should include:
- A detailed description of the work
- The plans and specs referenced
- Materials included and excluded
- Start and completion dates
- Payment terms
- Site access and logistics
- Cleanup expectations
Use construction management software that lets you generate professional subcontracts from your project scope.
Tracking subcontractor performance
Track each subcontractor on:
- Quality: Did the work meet standards?
- Schedule: Did they start and finish on time?
- Communication: Were they responsive?
- Safety: Did they follow site rules?
- Cost: Did they stay within the agreed price?
This data helps you decide who to hire again and who to avoid. Subcontractor portal software lets subs receive bids, view tasks, and submit invoices—keeping everything organized.
Communication and coordination
- Weekly coordination meetings with all active subcontractors
- A shared project workspace where subs see schedules and documents
- A subcontractor portal for bid requests, task assignments, and document access
- Written confirmation of all verbal agreements
This replaces the phone-call-and-text-message chaos that causes miscommunication and delays.