General Contractor
The contractor who holds the prime contract and runs the project.
What it means
The general contractor (GC, or prime contractor) holds the main contract with the project owner and is responsible for delivering the whole job — coordinating subcontractors and suppliers, managing the schedule, and standing behind the completed work. The GC is the hub of the project's paperwork: pay applications up to the owner, payments and lien waivers down to the subs.
Why it matters before you sign
Whether you are the owner hiring a GC or a sub working under one, the GC's contract terms set the frame for everyone else's — understand the chain you are joining.
In a contract, it looks like this
The general contractor collected conditional lien waivers from every subcontractor before submitting the monthly pay application to the owner.
This definition is a general, educational explanation — not legal advice. XOsign provides AI-assisted document tools and does not provide legal advice; consider consulting a qualified attorney for guidance on your specific situation. Requirements vary by state.
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