Construction company
Where are you in your construction journey?
Pre-launch and operating owners need different things. Pick the track that matches you. You can switch any time.
I want to start a construction company
Costs, licensing, the entity, the gear, the order to do it in. Honest guides for the part you have to do yourself. The one thing we'll do for you on day one is your website.
- What it really costs
- License, registration, and insurance
- Gear, branding, and the basics
- A starter website that books calls
I want to grow my construction company
More clients, better pricing, your first hire, Google and Facebook ads, and the systems that take you from solo to a real team.
- Local SEO and Google Business Profile
- Google Ads, Facebook, retargeting
- Pricing that protects margin
- Hiring, training, and scaling teams
What we do for owners, either track
Start here
The guides to read first: what it costs, what it pays and how to get going.
- Startup cost How much do you need to start a construction company
- Profit How much profit can a construction company make
- How to start How to start a construction company step by step
- Get customers How to get clients and customers for a construction company
- Google Ads How to run Google Ads for a construction company
- Website How to make a website for a construction company
Is a construction company right for you?
A construction company turns building skill into a project-driven business with large ticket sizes. Demand spans residential remodels, new builds, and commercial work, and a single signed contract can carry the business for months. Progress billing keeps cash moving as the job advances.
It suits a licensed contractor (or someone willing to get licensed and hire one) who wants to run crews and subcontractors instead of swinging a hammer alone. The hard part is rarely the building. It is bidding jobs profitably, licensing and bonding, and managing crews and cash. The start-here guides cover each step.
- Startup cost $10k–$41k Tools, truck, license, bond, insurance, software
- Net margin 8%–12% What a well-run small firm aims for, after paying you a wage
- Licensing Required State contractor license, bonding, liability insurance
- Demand Cyclical Strong long-term, sensitive to rates
The money figures come from our startup cost guide and profit guide, where each range is broken down line by line.
What you can realistically earn from a construction company
Net at 8%–12%, on top of paying yourself a market wage.
Subcontractors and a foreman. You bid, they build, and change orders get billed.
Project managers, systems, and repeat contracts, still at 8%–12% net.
Ballpark monthly ranges for a typical US operation, worked through in the profit guide. Your market and pricing move these.
Construction company: common questions
What owners ask before they commit.
How much does it cost to start a construction company?
A lean subcontracting general contractor opens for roughly $10k–$41k: entity and license, a surety bond, first insurance installments, an $8k–$20k tool kit, and a truck. A self-performing crew that buys heavy equipment and runs payroll from day one is $80k–$250k. The number that decides year one is working capital, the cash to float 30 to 60 days of materials and subs before a draw clears.
Read the full guide →How much can a construction company make?
Pay yourself a market wage first, then count profit on top. A well-run small firm aims for 8%–12% net after that wage, so $500k of revenue leaves $40k–$60k and $1M leaves $80k–$120k. Gross margin is the lever: custom and design-build work can gross 25%–35% and production work 18%–22%, and unbilled change orders are where the profit leaks.
Read the full guide →Do I need a license to start a construction company?
Almost always yes. Most states require a contractor license, a surety bond, and liability plus workers' comp insurance. The setup guide walks through registration step by step.
Read the full guide →How do I get my first construction clients?
Local visibility plus referrals win: a Google Business Profile, a portfolio site that ranks for "general contractor + your city", and relationships with realtors and suppliers.
Read the full guide →How should I price construction jobs?
Detailed estimates with a clear markup on materials and labor protect your margin against overruns. The pricing guide covers bidding, change orders, and progress billing.
Read the full guide →How do I grow a construction company beyond myself?
Growth comes from reliable subcontractors, a project manager, and a pipeline of repeat commercial and developer work. The growth guide breaks down the sequence.
Read the full guide →