General contractor vs. construction manager: what's the difference?
The two roles get used interchangeably, but they carry different risk, different fees, and a different relationship to your budget.
Owners often use "GC" and "construction manager" as if they're the same hire. They're related roles, but the contract structure behind each one is meaningfully different.
General contractor: one price, one risk-holder
A GC typically contracts for a fixed or guaranteed price and holds the risk of cost overruns on their own scope — you have one number and one point of accountability.
Construction manager: an advisor on your side of the table
A CM is usually paid a fee to manage trades contracted directly to the owner — more visibility into individual trade costs, but more of the cost risk stays with you.
Which we recommend, and when
For most residential and mid-size commercial projects, a GC's fixed-price accountability is the simpler, lower-risk path for the owner — it's why it's the model we build around.
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