30 Questions to Ask Your General Contractor Before You Sign

Signing a construction contract is one of the biggest, most exciting steps in bringing a new retail, restaurant, health & fitness, medical & banking, or animal care & veterinary space to life. Asking the right questions upfront is how experienced franchisees and multi-unit operators set their projects up for a smooth, on-time, on-budget opening. Use these 30 questions to ask a general contractor before you sign. They will help you build confidence in your choice and start the relationship with clear, shared expectations.

Set Your Project Up for Success From the Start

A confident, experienced general contractor will welcome these questions. Clear, specific answers are a great sign that you’ve found a partner who will keep your project on schedule, on budget, and aligned with your brand standards. Use the six categories below to structure your conversations and build a complete picture of your future construction partner.

Experience & Track Record

1. How many years have you been building in Retail & Store Rollouts, Restaurants, Health & Fitness, Medical & Banking, or Animal Care & Veterinary projects specifically?

Experience in your specific vertical matters more than general commercial experience. Each industry carries its own code requirements, equipment needs, and timeline pressures.

2. Can you share references from clients who built similar spaces?

Ask for at least two references from projects completed in the last 12 to 18 months, and follow up with an actual phone call.

3. How many locations have you completed for multi-unit or franchise brands?

A contractor experienced in multi-site rollouts will understand prototype consistency and how to replicate a proven design across locations.

4. What is your on-time completion rate?

Ask for a specific percentage and how they track it, rather than a general assurance.

5. Are you licensed and actively building in the state or city where my project is located?

Licensing requirements, code interpretations, and inspection processes vary significantly by jurisdiction.

Licensing, Insurance & Bonding

6. Can you provide proof of your contractor’s license for this jurisdiction?

Verify it independently with the state or local licensing board rather than taking their word for it.

7. What are your general liability and workers’ compensation coverage limits?

Confirm the limits meet or exceed what your landlord, lender, or franchisor requires.

8. Can you name us as an additional insured on your policy?

This protects you financially if an incident occurs on the job site during construction.

9. Are you bonded for this project, and can you provide proof?

A performance bond protects you if the contractor is unable to complete the work.

10. Has your license or business ever faced disciplinary action or litigation?

A pattern of complaints or legal disputes is worth investigating further before you sign.

Permits, Compliance & Due Diligence

11. Who is responsible for pulling permits, and how long does that typically take here?

Permit timelines vary widely by municipality and are often the single biggest variable in your overall schedule.

12. Have you built in this specific city or county before?

Established relationships with local plan reviewers and inspectors can meaningfully speed up approvals.

13. Will you manage zoning, health department, fire marshal, and ADA approvals?

Confirm which approvals fall under the contractor’s scope of work and which remain your responsibility.

14. What happens to my schedule and rent commencement date if a permit is delayed?

Ask how contingency is built into the schedule for approval delays outside the contractor’s control.

15. Do you perform a site or due-diligence review before we sign the lease or construction contract?

Catching site conditions, utility access, or code issues before signing can prevent costly surprises later.

Budget & Cost Transparency

16. What exactly is included in your bid, and what’s excluded?

Ask for a written scope of work, not just a total number, so you can see precisely what you’re paying for.

17. How do you handle change orders?

Understand the approval process and markup before work begins, not after you receive an invoice.

18. Can you provide an itemized estimate rather than a single lump sum?

Line-item pricing makes it far easier to compare bids and spot gaps in scope.

19. Do you offer value engineering if we need to reduce costs?

A good contractor can suggest alternatives that preserve design intent while controlling spend.

20. Is there a contingency line in the budget, and who controls it?

Clarify in advance how unused contingency funds are handled at project close-out.

Schedule & Project Management

21. What’s a realistic timeline from permit issuance to opening day?

Compare this against your lease commencement date and any deadlines set by your franchisor or brand.

22. Who will be my main point of contact, and how often will I receive updates?

Regular, proactive communication is one of the strongest predictors of a smooth project.

23. Do you use your own employees or subcontractors on site?

Directly employed crews tend to offer more consistency and accountability across multiple locations.

24. How do you keep the project on track when delays occur, whether from inspections, weather, or material lead times?

Ask for a specific example of how they recovered a delayed project in the past.

25. Can you work nights or weekends if we need to stay open during a remodel?

This matters if you’re renovating an operating location rather than building a new one.

Brand Standards, Warranty & Long-Term Support

26. How do you maintain design and brand consistency across multiple locations?

This is especially important for franchisees and multi-unit operators who need every location to match an approved prototype.

27. What’s your warranty on workmanship, and how long does it last?

Get the warranty terms in writing, including exactly what’s covered and what could void it.

28. How do you handle punch-list items after opening?

Ask how quickly outstanding items are typically resolved once you’re open and operating.

29. Can you support future locations as we grow?

If you plan to open more units, a contractor who scales with you saves time re-vetting a new team for every project.

30. What does your close-out package include?

Look for as-built drawings, warranty documentation, equipment manuals, and permit close-out records. You’ll need these for future renovations or inspections.

Signs You’ve Found the Right Fit

The best general contractors welcome this level of due diligence. Look for clear, specific answers backed by documentation: a verifiable license, proof of insurance, real references you can call, a written scope of work, and a defined change-order process. That kind of transparency and preparation is a strong signal you’ve found a partner who will deliver a great result.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important question to ask a general contractor before signing a contract? There’s no single most important question, but confirming licensing, insurance, and a detailed written scope of work will protect you from the most common and costly disputes.

How do I know if a contractor has franchise build-out experience? Ask for references from multi-unit or franchise clients specifically, and ask how many locations of a similar size and use they’ve completed in the last two to three years.

What should be included in a general contractor’s bid? A complete bid should include an itemized scope of work, a project schedule, insurance and licensing documentation, and a clear change-order process, not just a single total price.

How long does a typical commercial construction project take? Timelines vary by industry, square footage, permitting jurisdiction, and scope, but most commercial build-outs run several months from permit issuance to opening day. Ask your contractor for a schedule specific to your project.

Choose a Contractor Who Protects Your Investment

Choosing a general contractor is about more than price. It’s about finding a partner who protects your timeline, your budget, and your brand standards. For nearly four decades, CORCON has delivered projects nationwide across Retail & Store Rollouts, Restaurants, Health & Fitness, Medical & Banking, and Animal Care & Veterinary markets, sending our own dedicated team to job sites to keep quality and schedules consistent from state to state. If you’re planning a new build-out or remodel, our pre-construction team is ready to walk through every question on this list for your specific project. Contact CORCON today to talk with our team about your next build.