What to Compare
Use a general contractor for projects involving 3+ trades, permits, or structural work. For single-trade jobs (just HVAC, just tile, just painting), hire the specialty contractor directly and save the GC markup.
Head-to-Head Breakdown
General Contractor (GC)
Features and considerations
- Coordinates all trades — one point of contact
- Handles all permits and inspections in Florida
- Assumes liability for the whole project
- Experience managing complex Florida projects
Limits and questions
- Less direct oversight of individual trade quality
- Finding a good GC in Florida's busy market is challenging
Specialty/Trade Contractor
Features and considerations
- Direct relationship with the craftsperson doing the work
Limits and questions
- You become the project manager — coordinate multiple trades yourself
- Responsibility for permits falls to you (or each trade)
- No single point of accountability if trades conflict or blame each other
Side-by-Side Comparison
| General Contractor (GC) | Specialty/Trade Contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Current quote | Ask the General Contractor (GC) provider to document current quote and terms for the exact offer. | Ask the Specialty/Trade Contractor provider to document current quote and terms for the exact offer. |
| Permits in Florida | Verify the current requirements and applicable documents for your address and General Contractor (GC) proposal. | Verify the current requirements and applicable documents for your address and Specialty/Trade Contractor proposal. |
| Project Management | GC manages all scheduling | You coordinate all trades |
| Insurance Liability | Verify the current requirements and applicable documents for your address and General Contractor (GC) proposal. | Verify the current requirements and applicable documents for your address and Specialty/Trade Contractor proposal. |
| Best Project Size | Ask the General Contractor (GC) provider to document current quote and terms for the exact offer. | Ask the Specialty/Trade Contractor provider to document current quote and terms for the exact offer. |
| Florida License Required | Verify the current requirements and applicable documents for your address and General Contractor (GC) proposal. | Verify the current requirements and applicable documents for your address and Specialty/Trade Contractor proposal. |
| Timeline | GC optimizes scheduling across trades | Dependent on each trade's availability |
| Fit for your project | Ask the General Contractor (GC) provider to document current quote and terms for the exact offer. | Ask the Specialty/Trade Contractor provider to document current quote and terms for the exact offer. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Florida home renovations require a licensed general contractor?
Read the agreement attached to each specific offer from General Contractor (GC) and Specialty/Trade Contractor. Ask what is covered, what is excluded, how to report a problem, and how cancellation or unused payments are handled.
How do I verify a contractor's license in Florida?
Visit myfloridalicense.com and search by name or license number. Florida requires general contractors to hold a Certified General Contractor (CGC) or Certified Building Contractor (CBC) license.
Consumer resources
Use these official resources when evaluating an offer. They provide general guidance and do not establish a winner between these options.
- FTC: checking home-repair offers and written agreements — General consumer guidance; not evidence of either brand's price or performance.
- Florida DBPR: license search — Search for a profession regulated by DBPR; this link does not establish that a particular provider is licensed or that every service needs this license.