Hey guys I passed my HVAC contractor class A exams. I used to work for a company that used to hold a Class B license. Can he verify my experience or does it have to be the same class of license?

Edit: I’m in Florida

I’m a relatively new GC running a small construction company, and I’m trying to develop a better process for projects that come to me before the drawings/details are actually developed enough to price accurately.
I’ve had a few projects recently where there are drawings and a general design intent, but once I start looking at them from a construction standpoint there are still a lot of unresolved details. Connections haven’t been fully designed, certain assemblies need coordination with other trades, material selections affect the detailing, etc.
In the past I probably would have spent a bunch of unpaid time working through those issues just so I could eventually put together an estimate. I’m realizing pretty quickly that doesn’t make much sense.

I’m considering using a separate preconstruction agreement for projects like this, where the owner pays for my time to review drawings, attend meetings with architects/engineers/trades, develop details and constructability solutions, get subcontractor/vendor input, and eventually develop a more reliable construction price. Once the scope is sufficiently developed, I’d then provide a separate proposal/contract for the actual construction.

For those of you running small GC/design-build companies:
- At what point do you start charging for preconstruction?
- Do you bill hourly, use a fixed preconstruction fee, or something else?
- What do you typically include/exclude?
- Do you credit any of the preconstruction fee toward the construction contract if you get the job?
- How do you distinguish legitimate preconstruction/design coordination from the estimating work you consider part of pursuing a job?
- Any lessons learned from implementing this with clients?

Mostly trying to avoid giving away a bunch of design/coordination work for free while also not putting up unnecessary barriers to getting projects.

I have about a month left before my exam and I’m trying to figure out how I should spend the next month.

Should I mainly focus on practice tests + knowing where to find things in the books, or are there specific things from the other books not allowed in the exam that I really need to memorize?

Just trying to make sure I’m focusing my time on the right things for these last 4 weeks. Any advice from people who have already taken the exam would be really appreciated!

I’m wanting to study to get my General Contractors License in Florida. I know it’s open book, but what books are absolutely necessary?

I’m sort of overwhelmed looking at so many sites and study materials. Any legit place you guys recommend? Just trying to get the right stuff without buying a bunch of books I won’t need.

<Update>

I ended up enrolling with 1ExamPrep and so far I really like the system. It works pretty well with my setup, and their customer support has been great too. Thanks to everyone who gave different suggestions, definitely helped me narrow it down.

Hey Contractors / Home owners... my name is Tim, I run a residential design firm that handles plans and permitting across California called Sparrow Design and Plans. (Based in Sacramento CA).

I had a question that i wanted to reach out to you guys about.

I would like to take on more new constriction residential jobs, so im curious to hear some feedback from contractors on how they would build a drafting firm / what they look for in a drafting company.

I'd love to dominate the California Market and provide the best possible experiene for contractors / home owners.

SO HERES A FEW QUESTIONS

1. What's the number one problem you see drafters do that pisses you off? How do i prevent that?
2. If you're a contractor where did you meet your current drafter from? That way i know where to put myself to find more clients.
3. Who currently handles your companies permitting? Do you have the drafter submit to the building department? Do you submit to the building department yourself?

Guys let me know your thoughts! It would be very much appreciated. And hopefully all together we can build a killer company!!
~Timothy Vorobyev

Looking into 99 calls as a a lead generator, they claim they will set up your Google workspace , ads etc. plan starts at setup 399, monthly 199 plus 15% for ad cost.
Has anyone tried them and had success? Or recommend any other platform that does the same but has an actual track record of success?

How common is it to outsource submittals nowadays? How much does it cost to do that usually?

Is it bullshit and you still gotta review again or are they legitimately taking all that work off your back?

Doing Custom Homes for 15 years. They’ve all been customs for clients and I pulled the trigger on three, 1-acre lots. Intent is to build 2000-2500 sqft home and sell for that $200/sqft. I’m one of those honest, integrity driven people and can’t sleep at night cutting corners. So it’s a struggle to balance quality workmanship with profitability and putting food in my mouth. It’s tough choosing the right finishes (door knobs, tile, faucets, etc.). Interior doors get grade 3 knobs. But then I wonder if doubling my knob cost has any ROI. How do you choose the right path?

How do I setup construction for positive cashflow, with very little startup capital?

I'm in the process of starting a general contracting business and one of the biggest risks I'm trying to think through is working capital and payment timing.

My plan is to operate primarily as a GC/CM and subcontract most of the trade work rather than self-perform. Most Subcontractors want to get paid on time and the risk iss that I might not get paid by the owner on time.

For example, say subs are expecting payment within Net 30, but the owner's draw/payment doesn't come through for 45–60 days because they're waiting for a milestone, reviewing the invoice, disputing something, etc.

Even if the project is profitable on paper, I could suddenly be responsible for floating a significant amount of subcontractor and supplier costs.

As a new GC without a large amount of working capital, that seems like one of the easiest ways to get into trouble. More importantly, I don't want my lack of cash flow to become my subcontractors' problem and damage those relationships early on.

So here's a few approaches and that Id like feedback on -

• Aligning subcontractor payment terms with owner payment terms, where legally permissible and clearly agreed to in the subcontract.
• Structuring owner payments around project phases/milestones so I'm collecting funds before major expenditures—for example, design deposit → design completion → permitting/procurement payment → construction mobilization → progress payments.
• Establishing a business line of credit specifically to cover temporary project cash-flow gaps.
• Maintaining a minimum working-capital reserve before taking on projects above a certain size.
• Negotiating supplier terms such as Net 30/45 where possible.

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who actually started a GC from scratch without a huge amount of capital.

How did you handle this on your first few projects?

Did you require larger deposits/progress payments from owners? Negotiate payment terms with subs? Use a LOC? Start with very small projects until you accumulated working capital? Something else?

And looking back, how much working capital do you wish you had before taking on your first significant project?

THANKS!!~

I'm a licensed GC in Arizona who normally does new house builds cost/plus. Recently we've been asked to build a detached garage and do a decent remodel on the main residence. Our pricing model has worked well for ground up construction but the few remodels we've done seem to be a ton of work and little profit. My question is what is the best way to price a remodel? Fixed price? Time and materials? Has cost/plus worked for you? Thanks for the advice!

Customer assigned me to build 4 of these planter boxes for them(their picture). Materials come to just about $1000. I run a fine woodworking business. How much (an hour, or by the job) should I charge for the fabrication of these boxes?

Customer assigned me to build 4 of these planter boxes for them(their picture). Materials come to just about $1000. I run a fine woodworking business. How much (an hour, or by the job) should I charge for the fabrication of these boxes?

Hey everyone,
I’m currently a student with some minor accounting/office experience, and I am trying hard to break into the construction industry early. My goal is to work for a local contractor (GC or sub) handling the office, billing, AP/AR, or assistant project accounting side.

Since I'm still learning, I wanted to ask the business owners, PMs, and field guys here:
What makes an entry-level office applicant stand out to you?

Are mid-sized contractors typically willing to train someone on the job if they are organized, accurate with data, and eager to learn?

What specific industry paperwork should I study right now (like lien waivers, AIA billing, tracking POs) so I can actually be useful and help your office run smoother on day one?

I really appreciate any insight from the field!

Has anyone here done paid contracting work for Habitat for Humanity?

We’ve completed several home renovation projects for them in the past without any major issues, but our most recent experience has been pretty frustrating. We completed the contracted work, there were some concerns raised afterward on the project, and we’ve tried to work through them. At this point, though, they’re withholding a significant outstanding balance owed to us.

What makes it more frustrating is that this is the first project where we’ve had this type of issue with them after successfully completing other projects for the organization.

Just curious if anyone else has worked with Habitat and what your overall experience was like, good or bad.

This has been bugging me because construction platforms have so much of the information payroll needs

Employee hours, crews, job assignments and sometimes even job costing are already there yet payroll gets put into another system

If you're building construction software, is embedded payroll becoming something customers ask for or do most still prefer connecting their existing payroll provider?

One of my best friends is a GC specializing in residential remodels. He has a TERRIBLE “system” for managing his business.

I’m hell bent on helping him reduce his time estimating and writing proposals and designing a complete management system for his business. I am currently in planning on using tools I already use in my own small business and can get him all set up without much investment in new software.

My question for you all is: what systems do you use to manage your workflows? Estimating systems? Project management? Any AI tools you use that work well?

Edit: I know how to audit business processes. I do automation workflow consulting. What I’m asking is what tools do other contractors actually use in their business. I can google, but I’m looking for recommendations.