General Contractor vs. Construction Manager

A
My project involves multiple phases, occupied spaces, or complex coordination.

B
My project is straightforward and well-defined.

A
I want proactive identification and mitigation of risks before construction begins.

B
I’m comfortable managing risk mainly through contract terms.

A
I want real-time cost visibility and value engineering before pricing is locked.

B
I prefer a single lump-sum price and minimal involvement in budgeting decisions.

A
Delays would significantly impact operations or revenue.

B
Timeline flexibility is not critical.

A
I want to be involved in trade selection, scope decisions, and phasing strategy.

B
I want to hand it off and limit my involvement.

A
The project will be built in active, occupied, or customer-facing spaces.

B
The site will be vacant and isolated.

A
The design may change and benefit from construction input during planning.

B
The design is finalized and unlikely to change.

A
This is part of a broader expansion or multi-location rollout.

B
This is a one-off project.

A
My internal team needs construction leadership and guidance.

B
We have strong in-house construction management capabilities.

A
I want to minimize surprises, scope gaps, and change orders.

B
I understand changes may happen and will address them as they arise.