General Contractor business resources

Bids, proposals, change orders and the license rules, for general contractors who run the whole job. All of it is free to use, with nothing to sign up for. When you want the office work done for you, see how general contractors run on Koira.

32Free resources

9Tools

7Document templates

7Sections

Price a job

Cost calculators and the math behind an honest number for general contracting work.

Paperwork

General Contractor documents with the trade's own line items, terms and a worked example. Fill one in, then print it or download Word.

Free templateGeneral contractor estimateLine items, deposit, good-until date and a signature line.Free templateGeneral contractor invoiceLines, tax, deposit already paid and the balance due.Free templateGeneral contractor receiptAmount received, how it was paid and the balance left.Free templateGeneral contractor work orderTasks, materials, crew, site notes and a sign-off.Free templateGeneral contractor proposalThree options side by side, each with its own total.Free templateGeneral contractor change orderAdded work, credits, the new total and days added.Free templateGeneral contractor service agreementVisits, coverage, price, billing, renewal and cancellation.

Licensing

What each state asks of general contractors before the first job, read from the state boards and linked to them.

Checked in 47 states and DCGeneral Contractor license requirements by stateBuilding, remodeling and home improvement. The rules swing from a full state exam to a city permit desk.ReportContractor license requirements by stateWhich states license which trades, checked against each state board.

Pay

What the people in this work earn in every state, from the federal wage survey, and how a wage turns into a price.

Pay by stateConstruction Supervisor salary by stateForemen and crew leads who run the work on site.Pay by stateConstruction Laborer salary by stateCrew labor on job sites: demo, digging, hauling and cleanup.Pay by stateCarpenter salary by stateFraming, finish and remodel carpenters.ReportTrade wages by state 2026Median pay for 14 trades in every state, from the BLS wage survey.

Start a business

The steps to open a general contracting business, a name, and a plan you can take to a bank.

Start-up guideHow to start a general contractor businessState license, bonds, subcontractor paperwork, bidding and cash flow.Name generatorConstruction company name generatorName ideas for a construction business.Business planRemodeling and general contracting business plan templateA remodeling company plan with trade sections and example text.Any tradeHow to Start a Home Services BusinessHow to start and own a home services business: picking a trade, licenses and insurance, pricing, first customers, getting paid and the tools a small shop needs.

Checklists

Printable checklists and reports to fill in on site, so nothing is missed and the customer sees what you found.

ChecklistJob hazard analysisSteps, hazards and controls, from OSHA's JHA guide.ChecklistConstruction site safety checklistDaily site walk built on OSHA's Focus Four hazards.ChecklistNew client onboarding checklistBefore, during and after the first visit with a new customer.

Messages

Texts and emails to copy for the moments every job has: the follow-up, the deposit, the reminder and the review ask.

Message templateQuote follow-up textNudge an open estimate by text: first nudge, check-in, polite close.Message templateDeposit requestAsk for the deposit: what it covers and a link to pay.Message templatePayment reminderUnpaid invoice reminders: friendly, firm and final notice.Message templateReview requestAsk for a Google review after the job, with your link.Message templatesEvery message templateQuote follow-ups, payment reminders, appointment texts, review requests and more.

General Contractor business resources

Price a job

Cost calculators and pricing guides

Measure and do the math

Your rates and margins

Paperwork

Licensing

Pay

Start a business

Checklists

Messages

Built for general contractors. Start with a free AI report.