How much does a general contractor charge in Florida?

How much does a general contractor charge in Florida?

There is no single Florida rate. A general contractor charges the cost of the work (labor, materials, subcontractors) plus overhead and profit, and how those appear on your bill depends on the contract. BuildingAdvisor wrote in 2016 that there is no industry standard for markup, which varies by job type, region and market.

The most current benchmark is NAHB’s 2026 Remodelers’ Cost of Doing Business Study: for 2024, remodelers averaged a 29.9% gross profit margin and a 6.3% net profit margin. NAHB’s summary does not define either margin, so treat them as industry context, not a markup or a price check.

Margin and markup differ. A margin is a share of the price you pay; a markup is a share of the contractor’s cost. A 25 percent markup on $100 of cost makes a $125 price, a 20 percent margin. Ask which one a quoted percentage is.

What are the common ways a general contractor charges?

Most residential bids fall into three structures: fixed price, cost-plus, and cost-plus with a cap. The difference is who pays when costs run over.

BuildingAdvisor’s author prefers a fixed price in most cases, if the scope will not change much after work starts, and says cost-plus can be a necessity when many unknowns exist. Consumer Reports notes that a cost-plus owner keeps any savings if the job finishes under budget. Under cost-plus, ask for a cap and itemized billing.

Two terms appear in every model. Allowances are placeholder amounts for items not yet chosen, and pricier picks raise the price. Change orders record scope changes, and some contractors charge an administrative fee for each. Ask about both before you sign.

What does a general contractor’s price include?

A complete price covers the written scope: labor, materials, subcontractors, and the contractor’s overhead and profit. Anything the scope leaves out is not in the price.

Check permits and inspections (who applies and who pays the fees), demolition and disposal, what each allowance buys, exclusions such as appliances or backsplash, and whether a fixed price includes a contingency and who keeps the unused part.

Published cost ranges are in the kitchen remodel cost guide and budget rules of thumb; they are third-party estimates, not quotes. A single “turnkey” number should still be itemized; see turnkey kitchen remodeling for what that approach covers.

How much deposit can a Florida contractor ask for?

Section 489.126 sets deadlines, not a deposit cap. If the first payment on residential work exceeds 10 percent of the contract price, the contractor must apply for needed permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days after they issue. Just cause, or your written agreement to a longer period, excuses the deadlines.

A contractor holding more than the value of the work performed may not go 90 days without doing any work, or the period the contract sets (s. 489.126(3)). If a contractor misses these deadlines, ask a Florida construction attorney or DBPR what you can do.

Local guidance goes further than the statute: Hillsborough County advises paying no more than 10 percent before work starts, and UF/IFAS suggests tying draws to percent complete.

What must a Florida residential contract include?

Florida requires specific notices and the contractor’s license number. Scope, schedule and payments are whatever you negotiate, so write them down.

• License number on every offer of services, proposal, bid and contract (s. 489.119(5)(b)).
• Recovery Fund and lien notices in residential contracts above $2,500, subject to the conditions in the statutes. The lien notice warns that unpaid subcontractors and suppliers can claim against your property, and advises requiring written lien releases before payment (ss. 489.1425, 713.015).
• Final payment affidavit. The contractor must give you a sworn affidavit that lienors who served notice are paid, or listing those who are not. The owner holds final payment until it arrives (s. 713.06(3)(d)).
• Scope, dates and payments. Hillsborough County says a contract should cover scope, start date, estimated duration and payment schedule. UF/IFAS adds a definition of completion, a warranty and separate change orders.

A federal rule, not a Florida contract requirement, can also matter: the FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule gives some buyers until midnight of the third business day to cancel certain sales made in the home, but it does not apply if you sign at the contractor’s permanent place of business, and emergencies and repair visits you requested are excluded. Ask the contractor and an attorney whether it applies to your contract (FTC page).

The $2,500 line is not the $7,500 or $15,000 figure in Florida’s permit rules; our guide to contractor vs. general contractor in Florida puts all three in one table.

How do I compare general contractor bids?

Put every bid on the same scope sheet, name each pricing model, and compare what is included before you compare totals.

1. 01

   Match the scope

   Give every contractor the same layout, selections and appliance list, and list what each allowance buys. A lower total often means a smaller scope.

2. 02

   Name the model

   Fixed, cost-plus or capped? For cost-plus, ask what the fee is calculated on and what the cap is.

3. 03

   Check the payments

   Compare each deposit and milestone with s. 489.126.

4. 04

   Ask about gaps

   Ask contractors to explain large differences, as the FTC advises. UF/IFAS warns against treating the lowest price as the best value.

5. 05

   Verify before you sign

   Confirm the license and insurance with our guide to checking a Florida contractor license, then use the questions in how to choose a kitchen remodeler.

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