Do you have good problem-solving skills along with good managerial and business know-how? A general contractor can be the right choice of career for you. It can help you earn a good amount of money while giving you the ease to handle the managerial roles yourself, as being the contractor you are not working under somebody, rather you have the authority to delegate tasks.
Who is a general contractor?
A general contractor’s responsibility is to coordinate and supervise a construction project. A general contractor can either be a person or a company, and they oversee the whole construction process from the beginning to the end starting with construction, remodeling, and renovation. The following are a set of responsibilities a general contractor has;
Main responsibilities
- Responsible for hiring subcontractors for the project
- Providing the required materials and services to complete the project-raw materials, labor, and equipment
- Having direct communication with the clients, coordinating the timeline and the progress of the project
- Obtaining certain permits required for the construction of commercial or residential projects, whilst following the rules and regulations of the local and federal authorities
- Negotiate with people and companies to take up the projects
- Budgeting responsibly and efficiently
- Disposing of the construction waste carefully after the completion of the project
- Ensure the safety of the constructors on the construction site
- Surveying the site and making sure everything is going according to the plan
- Ensuring field management, whilst providing the basic facilities required for the on-site workers
Steps to become a general contractor
Becoming a general contractor requires one to have hands-on experience in the field along with having higher education and a license and certificates. However, one can slowly begin without these if they are passionate and willing to take up opportunities and have a passion for discovering and learning, and then later gain these requirements legally and professionally. One of the essentials to choosing this as a direction for work would be figuring out what one wants to achieve from the career, as becoming a general contractor requires you to be well-versed in all managerial skills to ensure the project runs smoothly. The following is a step-by-step guide to obtaining a general contractor title.
1. Gain experience in the field
Hands-on experience is essential to figure out if this is the career you want to take up, as you get the basic knowledge of what it would entail in the future and if you would enjoy practicing or not. There are many ways in which you can get hands-on experience, one of them being through apprenticeship. Apprenticeship is like a study program where you have on-the-job training, where you learn the hands-on approach. It is often paid, combining the two aspects of teaching and working. You can find apprenticeship opportunities on government websites or some public limited companies.
2. The Education
Having gained the hands-on experience, you would have been made aware of the basics of the job, so if you still want to pursue this as a career it is good to get the certain education required for it. A bachelor’s degree in a construction-related field is important this can include engineering, construction science, or construction management, other than that it can be related to the business field. One can take up online or in-person courses offered by different schools and institutions, be it short courses or diplomas, to learn or enhance the skill set.
3. License and certifications
A high school diploma is essential for one to be able to gain the licenses. The first step to receiving a general contractor license would be to look up the minimum requirements for the license in your area. The most basic requirement to gain a license is that you will have to be a certain age that is 18 years old. You should have a legal permit to work in a certain country. One should have a clean citizen record, that is, not be involved in any sketchy activities or have a criminal record of any kind. Other than that, you would also be required to have some sort of experience in the construction field to obtain the license. You will also have to pass the required exam to be able to be eligible to obtain the license. One of the other requirements is that one should be able to provide proof of insurance.
4. Create a business proposal
After obtaining your license you can start working on your business proposal as it will be your guide on how to progress in your career. Highlight all your goals and target certain areas. In the business plan, you should highlight how you would want to register your company. Which category of people do you want to cater to? Which types of projects do you want to take up? How would you want to market your service or the business, what will be your targeted areas? The most essential part of your plan would be your finances and how you would allocate your money throughout the process, as it is key to a successful project.
5. Build your network
As for any business to succeed, a strong network of people is essential so you can get your name and word across. The more renowned you are, the more projects you will obtain. It is essential to interact with others in the field to learn more about the area of study and stay up to date with the market trends. When dealing with clients, you should prioritize top-notch customer service, so the clients are content with the work you provide and come back to you in the future. Moreover, you should also be a good boss, so that the people working with you or under you spread the positive word about you.
6. Be open to learning
As humans, we are ever-evolving, every day is a new day, hence we get something new to experience. An essential part of running any business is to be open to change so that one does not become outdated and evolves the business whilst being flexible. It is important to be aware of the market trends so you can incorporate them into your business from time to time, as well as the consumer market trends so you can cater your services to them accordingly. Moreover, one is never too old to learn new skills, so keep on learning different skills be it hard or soft skills to be a successful contractor.
Final thoughts
General contractors earn more than a sufficient salary, depending on how flexible you are and how much you are willing to put into the business over time. We have established that good employee relations and excellent customer service are the keys to success, along with having a strong business plan. A strong set of networks will get your name across faster and bring you more business. Thus, as long as you are doing these things and putting in the effort required, your license will be worth it and your business will flourish.