General contractors won't hire you if you're not compliant. This checklist covers every document, certification, and requirement you need to have in place before you can step foot on a commercial jobsite or get approved in a GC's vendor system.
Business Entity & Tax Documents
Your legal foundation—every GC will ask for these before onboarding you.
- LLC or Corporation formation documents
- EIN (Employer Identification Number)
- Completed W-9 form
- State business registration
- Local business license / occupational license
- Good standing certificate from Secretary of State
Insurance Requirements
The #1 reason subs get rejected—make sure your coverage meets or exceeds minimums.
- General Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate
- Workers' Compensation: Statutory limits for your state
- Commercial Auto: $1,000,000 combined single limit
- Umbrella/Excess: $1,000,000–$5,000,000 (for larger projects)
- Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming GC as additional insured
- Waiver of subrogation endorsement
Licensing & Certifications
Trade-specific licenses and certifications that prove you're qualified for the work.
- State contractor's license (trade-specific)
- Specialty certifications (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc.)
- Minority/Women/Veteran-owned certifications (MBE, WBE, VOBE)
- Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certification
- DBE certification for government projects
- State prequalification (for public works)
Safety Compliance
Safety programs and certifications are non-negotiable for commercial work.
- OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety (all workers)
- OSHA 30-Hour (supervisors and foremen)
- Written Safety Program / Safety Manual
- Experience Modification Rate (EMR) below 1.0
- Drug-free workplace policy
- Incident/accident reporting procedures
Onboarding & Prequalification Documents
Have these ready to submit immediately when a GC invites you to prequalify.
- Company capability statement (1–2 pages)
- Project history / experience list
- Key personnel resumes
- Bank reference letter
- Trade references (3 minimum)
- Financial statements (for larger projects)
Workforce Compliance
Ensure your crew and hiring practices meet legal and contractual requirements.
- E-Verify enrollment (required for many government projects)
- I-9 forms for all employees
- Proper worker classification (W-2 vs 1099)
- Prevailing wage compliance (for public projects)
- Certified payroll reporting capability
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy
Environmental & Specialty Compliance
Additional requirements for specific project types and environments.
- EPA Lead-Safe Certified (for pre-1978 buildings)
- Asbestos awareness training
- Confined space entry certification
- Hazardous materials handling (HAZWOPER)
- Stormwater pollution prevention (SWPPP) knowledge
- Environmental management plan
Technology & Systems
Modern GCs expect you to use technology for communication and project management.
- Professional email address (not personal Gmail)
- Ability to use project management platforms (Procore, PlanGrid)
- Digital document signing capability
- Electronic invoicing and payment processing
- Photo documentation capability
- Scheduling software familiarity
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