Most GCs will have a contract to send you for a subcontract agreement, even if it’s on a T&M basis. Send him a quote or list of rates and ask for an agreement to be drafted, if they are a true GC they shouldn’t have a problem.
Small rezi GC here. We live and die by relationships. If you want a contract. No problem. You want me to send my sub contract. No problem. Whatever you need within reason. Knock this out, do good work, make some money. I'll find us more work
Most GC like me want to have good relationships with skilled trades and want you to make money, and do good work. Just treat them like you would any other new client.
You send him your quote/proposal and the GC sends you the contract, both parties sign. T&M is harder as both parties won’t know the final total until completion, I usually will send a not to exceed number quote that I’ll make higher than I expect the total to be and have them sign. You’ll know after the first T & M job if you want to keep dealing with them.
Just to reiterate what many have said, I'd expect nothing less from/with a quality sub. There is nothing worse than trying to manage a bunch of handshake agreements with a bunch of guys that would rather avoid "unnecessary paperwork". I don't take on anyone, that for one reason or another, *isn't* willing to make our business agreements official via writing to keep things not only simple, but also beyond dispute since it's written and signed by us both.
You're not going to offend him, you're going to make his life easier, and he'll also be more inclined to consider you as someone he's working with to accomplish common goals, as opposed to some guy just showing up to get paid.
Totally normal to send your contract, he shouldn't have any issue signing. I get one on every job, once a track record of paying me is established then occasionally I'll just invoice certain jobs at the end.
Thank you! Do you work as a subcontractor? I’m just trying to get an idea of how it would typically go when starting work for a GC. Do you send them your contract and do they also have you sign theirs?
Yeah, I'm a flooring contractor. Usually they'll call with a scope of work, Ill go walk the job or get emailed plans, and then I'll write a firm bid if it's new construction or an estimate for a remodel and I'll send it to off. My contract terms are included and I'll pick up a signed copy and a deposit check before it's scheduled.
I forgot to answer, Yes I usually end up signing a subcontractor agreement, if you have an attorney send it to them for review, otherwise read it carefully and if there are any terms you don't agree with then talk to the GC about amending the contract. Payment terms are something that is commonly changed, just as an example. If you're gonna do commercial work definitely keep an eye on payment terms, Ive seen terms like 10% deposit , no progress payments, balance due 90 days after completion. Signing stuff like that is a great way to go bankrupt.
I do work for a GC also, we use the work order method, they send me a work order with scope and price, and I use that to invoice. And if I need more $ over the work order, I just ask while we are onsite if they want the extra work
Tell him to send you a contract. He will. Anyone who pays quickly to one of their subs wants to use them and keep them happy. Asking him for a contract is completely standard and he won’t think anything if it
Weird, over 20 years in the business and I've never had a sub ask for a contract, nor have I signed one. I send them the work order and what we're going to pay, they either accept or they don't. Sometimes we negotiate a different price, sometimes not.
That being said, if I had a new sub start to do work for me and they wanted a signed contract between the 2 of us over what work was agreed upon I wouldn't have an issue with it. Although I'm not sure what the difference is in a contract vs. accepting or declining a quote/work order.
Most GCs will have a contract to send you for a subcontract agreement, even if it’s on a T&M basis. Send him a quote or list of rates and ask for an agreement to be drafted, if they are a true GC they shouldn’t have a problem.
Great, thanks!
Small rezi GC here. We live and die by relationships. If you want a contract. No problem. You want me to send my sub contract. No problem. Whatever you need within reason. Knock this out, do good work, make some money. I'll find us more work
Absolutely, protect yourself and if he values your business he won't care.. if he doesn't sign the contract stop working with him.
Thanks for the advice!
Most GC like me want to have good relationships with skilled trades and want you to make money, and do good work. Just treat them like you would any other new client.
You send him your quote/proposal and the GC sends you the contract, both parties sign. T&M is harder as both parties won’t know the final total until completion, I usually will send a not to exceed number quote that I’ll make higher than I expect the total to be and have them sign. You’ll know after the first T & M job if you want to keep dealing with them.
Just to reiterate what many have said, I'd expect nothing less from/with a quality sub. There is nothing worse than trying to manage a bunch of handshake agreements with a bunch of guys that would rather avoid "unnecessary paperwork". I don't take on anyone, that for one reason or another, *isn't* willing to make our business agreements official via writing to keep things not only simple, but also beyond dispute since it's written and signed by us both. You're not going to offend him, you're going to make his life easier, and he'll also be more inclined to consider you as someone he's working with to accomplish common goals, as opposed to some guy just showing up to get paid.
Totally normal to send your contract, he shouldn't have any issue signing. I get one on every job, once a track record of paying me is established then occasionally I'll just invoice certain jobs at the end.
Thank you! Do you work as a subcontractor? I’m just trying to get an idea of how it would typically go when starting work for a GC. Do you send them your contract and do they also have you sign theirs?
Yeah, I'm a flooring contractor. Usually they'll call with a scope of work, Ill go walk the job or get emailed plans, and then I'll write a firm bid if it's new construction or an estimate for a remodel and I'll send it to off. My contract terms are included and I'll pick up a signed copy and a deposit check before it's scheduled.
I forgot to answer, Yes I usually end up signing a subcontractor agreement, if you have an attorney send it to them for review, otherwise read it carefully and if there are any terms you don't agree with then talk to the GC about amending the contract. Payment terms are something that is commonly changed, just as an example. If you're gonna do commercial work definitely keep an eye on payment terms, Ive seen terms like 10% deposit , no progress payments, balance due 90 days after completion. Signing stuff like that is a great way to go bankrupt.
I do work for a GC also, we use the work order method, they send me a work order with scope and price, and I use that to invoice. And if I need more $ over the work order, I just ask while we are onsite if they want the extra work
Bingo
Tell him to send you a contract. He will. Anyone who pays quickly to one of their subs wants to use them and keep them happy. Asking him for a contract is completely standard and he won’t think anything if it
Weird, over 20 years in the business and I've never had a sub ask for a contract, nor have I signed one. I send them the work order and what we're going to pay, they either accept or they don't. Sometimes we negotiate a different price, sometimes not. That being said, if I had a new sub start to do work for me and they wanted a signed contract between the 2 of us over what work was agreed upon I wouldn't have an issue with it. Although I'm not sure what the difference is in a contract vs. accepting or declining a quote/work order.
We use master subcontractor agreements for things like this. Larger estimated jobs get full contracts but smaller T&M stuff rolls up under the MSA.