The general contractor contracts directly with the owner, coordinates the work, and engages subcontractors. It remains responsible to the owner for subcontractor performance regardless of the subcontract structure.
Licensing requirements apply in most states.
Alternative Names:
GC|Prime Contractor
Why it Matters?
Responsibility to the owner for all work means the general contractor absorbs subcontractor defaults and defects first and pursues recovery downstream afterward, which makes subcontract indemnity and insurance requirements the practical protection. Licensing defects are separately consequential, since several states bar unlicensed contractors from enforcing their contracts or recovering for work performed regardless of quality.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Is the general contractor responsible for subcontractor work?
What are the consequences of licensing defects?
