Contractor vs Subcontractor: What Do General Contractors Look For in Subcontractors
April 29, 2025 | Read: 9 minutes
Many subcontractors believe that having the right expertise and specialized skills is all it takes to secure a job.
They usually rely on their licenses, qualifications, and past project records to showcase their capabilities when bidding for work with contracting companies. This dynamic can sometimes feel like a contractor vs subcontractor clash, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
Doing the work well is essential, but tradespeople sometimes overlook the critical role that soft skills play in managing a job effectively alongside technical expertise.
For any given project, most bidders will have the qualifications and experience to prove they can deliver high-quality results. This brings us to the often overlooked factor in the contractor vs subcontractor equation: the value of soft skills. Subcontractors with stronger interpersonal and communication abilities often stand out and have a better chance of being hired by General Contractors.
Let’s break it down!
1. The Ability to See the Bigger Picture of a Project
Tradespeople often focus solely on completing their contracted tasks.
While it’s important for subcontractors to stay committed to their work, this narrow focus can limit their ability to see how their role fits into the larger project. This mindset in the contractor vs subcontractor dynamic can lead to delays, as subcontractors may overlook how their efforts impact other aspects of the project.
General Contractors prefer working with subcontractors who take accountability for the overall success of the project. To stand out, subcontractors should create plans that align seamlessly with the workflows of other tradespeople involved. Using field service scheduling software is a practical way to streamline this coordination.
By adopting a broader perspective, you can uncover opportunities to improve the project as a whole. Sharing these insights with the General Contractor not only adds value but can also boost your chances of securing repeat business if your suggestions prove beneficial.
How to Demonstrate this when Bidding
One way to demonstrate this to General Contractors is by having a deep understanding of the Subcontractor Agreement in relation to your bid.
Subcontractors often see the agreement as no more than a formality so they do not take the time to understand its finer details.
This later leads to problems when issues like delays and change orders occur. These problems can in fact be avoided since the agreed methods in managing issues that may arise are often enclosed in the Subcontractor Agreement.
Asking questions and discussing the details of the contract to the General Contractor during an interview can leave a strong impression on your bids. Doing so shows the General Contractor that you recognize their need for the whole project to run smoothly, not just your part of it.
2. Sense of Accountability
General Contractors want to work with subcontractors who take full responsibility for the job to ensure that it meets the needs of the clients.
You can demonstrate accountability in your work even in the smallest of things like:
- Doing your own punch list
- Staying within budget
- Showing up to work on time
- Keeping your own set of daily or weekly plans
- Cleaning your area at the end of your shift
- Doing safety meetings before the start of each shift
How to Demonstrate on a Bidding
There are a few ways to establish your accountability during bids. Some of these are the following:
- Having your own insurance – Having General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance not only shows your commitment to creating a safe work environment for your staff but also ensures that your team can focus on their work without unnecessary stress. Commusoft can help you maintain and track these insurance details effortlessly. With features like automated reminders for renewals and centralized document storage, Commusoft enables you to stay compliant and organized, giving General Contractors added confidence in your professionalism.
- Having managed projects yourself – Demonstrating your ability to manage successful projects showcases your responsibility and capability to oversee tasks and teams effectively. Commusoft provides the tools you need to enhance this expertise. From end-to-end project management to real-time tracking, the platform empowers you to allocate resources, monitor progress, and communicate seamlessly with your team. These features highlight your ability to lead and execute projects efficiently, setting you apart as a reliable subcontractor.
- Having a track record of finishing jobs as scheduled – A proven ability to complete projects on time speaks volumes about your time management and how you handle unforeseen delays. With Commusoft, you can amplify this strength by utilizing robust scheduling, automated reminders, and streamlined workflows. The platform helps you keep every team member on track, ensures timelines are met, and reduces the chance of miscommunication. This not only strengthens your reputation but also builds trust with General Contractors by showcasing your ability to deliver results on schedule.
Commusoft equips you with the tools to back up these qualities, ultimately making you a standout choice for any contractor looking for a dependable subcontractor.
3. The Ability to Communicate with Co-workers
Construction projects rarely go exactly as planned, making effective communication within the team crucial for addressing unexpected challenges.
Often, these projects bring together a mix of people who may not know each other and who likely have different ways of working. This can create friction and disrupt progress. The contractor vs subcontractor relationship can be further complicated if subcontractors don’t take steps to encourage a collaborative atmosphere. By promoting courtesy and attentiveness among team members, subcontractors can help bridge gaps and foster smoother workflows.
General Contractors also value tradespeople who acknowledge their mistakes and present actionable solutions. This proactive approach not only reduces the impact of delays but also demonstrates accountability, a quality that stands out in any project.
How to Demonstrate on a Bidding
Most General Contractors can already get an idea of how one might work and communicate with other people just by speaking to them. So, having a good grasp of the English language and showing common courtesy should help in getting a General Contractor’s trust during bidding.
This is also why networking is crucial for subcontractors. Having a broad network of construction professionals shows that you have the communication skill to work with a team through the fact that you have built such a network.
A large network can also be useful even after biddings as you have more options for referrals in case the General Contractor needs other tradesmen in the project. Your referral is not only good for the General Contractor and the referred subcontractor but can also put you in a good light to both parties.
4. Solid Safety Track Records
General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance are just a small part of safety culture. General Contractors are equally concerned with the practical ways that subcontractors ensure personal safety on a site.
This is because General Contractors want to avoid the negative consequences of not practicing safety procedures in their projects. These consequences go from having to pay compensation to the affected subcontractors to having their reputation damaged because of an unsafe work environment.
General Contractors are very particular with the safety records of their subcontractors as a result.
You should therefore at least have three years of safety records on your hand when bidding for work.
How to Demonstrate on a Bidding
While three years of safety records are typically the standard in bidding, providing a longer history can give you an edge over competitors. Demonstrating an extended track record of safety helps strengthen your case and reinforces your reliability.
However, if your safety record over this period isn’t flawless, it’s crucial to address this in your bid. Instead of avoiding the topic, highlight how you’ve revised your safety policies and procedures following past incidents. This approach can redefine the contractor vs subcontractor dynamic by positioning you as someone who learns from challenges and takes proactive steps to improve.
General Contractors value subcontractors who show accountability and a commitment to growth, proving they can be trusted to deliver responsibly.
5. Being Proactive at Work
A reactive work attitude can cause unexpected interruptions in a construction project and General Contractors want to avoid that as much as possible. Rather, they are after subcontractors who are always on top of their job.
You can show proactiveness by:
- Giving referrals
- Identifying and raising issues
- Submitting your proposals on time
- Following up on the status of your proposals
- Visiting and surveying the job site in advance
- Assuring all submittals are approved before your work starts
- Keeping in touch with the project manager or field superintendent to monitor progress
How to Demonstrate on a Bidding
One way of displaying proactiveness during bids is by asking questions to get a better understanding of the scope of work. Don’t just read the bid outline and send your offer to the General Contractor.
Having a deep understanding of the job can give you a better idea of which materials or what process might be better to get it done. You can then make informed suggestions to the General Contractor in your bid offer.
You can also send copies of product literature with your proposal so the General Contractor can see the differences between the materials, or offer to give you a call if they have any questions regarding your proposal.
Another way is by citing each scope of the job and providing various pricing scenarios in your final bid to make it easier for the General Contractor to see the different options you offer. Not only will it demonstrate your proactiveness, but it will also show off your knowledge of the project.
The takeaway on contractor vs subcontractor
Establishing a good standing with General Contractors in a local area is one of the best ways of getting a steady stream of business for subcontractors. There’s no better way of building up a positive reputation among the General Contractors in your locale than by having the soft skills mentioned above and by being professional all throughout.
At the same time, communication plays a big role in any strategy. If you’re finding that you spend too much time putting emails and messages together, we’ve got just the thing for you! Our Customer Communication Toolkit has 10 essential templates that are perfect to get you started communicating better with potential customers!
