Can You Be A GC with NO Experience?!

Can you be a General Contractor with no experience? I'll share with you some tips on how to become a general contractor without any experience...or do you need experience before you start your general contracting company? If you're looking to start your own construction business, then you'll want to watch this video!

We'll discuss the importance of having a solid foundation in construction, and discuss some of the skills and qualities that make a good general contractor.

Add me on Facebook and LinkedIn ► Jesse Lane

[Jesse_Lane]

Guys!!! Check out Structur software here, it's a game-changing software for contractors: www.structur.com

[kena]

I started working for companies learning the basics from framing, insulation, hardwood flooring etc. And then when i decided to make a gc Company i started to work for a plumber saturdays to get the extra knowledge. Don’t work for the money work for the knowledge because knowledge always pays out in the end.

[jsurber]

Dude you starting hittin me emotionally at the "you are your greatest asset. You are everything you need to get what you want done." Dang how powerful.

[pacsoulpavon]

Love this man ! I’m only 25 .

In 2014 I got my first job building food trucks and i learned how to do framing, plumbing and electrical (I know it’s not the same as a house) then I went and followed my dream of being a carpet cleaner and got a job for 2 years and In 2017 I bought my own truck mounted carpet cleaning van and and officially opened “invasion carpet cleaning & repairs” here in Colorado . We do a lot of restoration work, carpet installation, flooring, synthetic turf installation and drywall work. so I tough “why not start to remodel” SO WE DID! we have done laundry rooms, bathrooms & small projects . I just went to bid 2 different projects that literally need everything! From framing to the whole project being finished ! I am scared but I think all my knowledge has came to this point . Im turning 26 in April and can say I have so much knowledge under my belt . My next step is to buy a $25, 000 mobile home, remodel it my self and rent it out for income.

[AlaskaWild]

I disagree with this. I have a friend who has never built anything in his life (he’s an IT Guy), and he is making a ton of money as a builder now. He learned along the way.

[BillyG]

OK, I’m 74, always a guy building, tearing apart cars, building boats, working in the trades. I started going up the ladder and into the office on the board. All while still building. I was fascinated and loved my tools, still do. I was already an excellent framer, foundation builder, knew most trades, besides wanting my own license. I got my General Engineering and Building after I’d already built a bunch of houses in 1978. There are a whole bunch of crummy crooked guys with licenses out here in California, making big bucks. All while great honest guys are getting screwed by dishonest people. You are right, but you are also honest...

[logandunson]

I gotta agree with captain 👆🏼. A general contractor doesn’t have to be a pro at every single one of the trades that he oversees. But needs a general understanding of all of them. It’s their job within their trade to do their trade right . The GC makes sure he’s got the right people doing the fight job at the right time.

[jarrodnorris]

I already knew this to be true, because I have wanted to be a GC for years and I am finally able to go out and do the work. I am now 16 and I am working with a framing crew. Before hand all I had was YouTube, the internet, and some books. But nothing is more valuable and helpful than hands-on experience. It teaches really good work ethic and what it actually feels like to do the work, and it is not easy that’s for sure. I am watching this video on the way to the job. I have really found some valuable information on your channel. Thank you.

[mavishhomes]

The best thing in my opinion you could do for yourself is work for someone that has a company that emulates what kind of business you want to run. Put your dreams aside for a sec, work for them for a year or two and absorb as much as you possibly can like a sponge. Ask questions. Be annoying. Learn, learn and learn. THEN Apply that to your business start up. If you want to be a general contractor try and land a project manager position where you are forced to learn every scope included in a complete project. Once you go through a few jobs you will start to learn how the pieces come together. You will never learn everything to a T but you will learn how to find the right answers by knowing what questions to ask and whom to ask. Great video Jesse

[kyleclemente]

Depends on your state actually. The state contractors board regulates the acceptable qualified experience as a prerequisite to get any building license.

[jaytab]

In Florida, I've been in multiple trades for last 27 years. Half of all the contractors had no experience at all. They have friends say they worked for them just to get license. They all where wealthy and that is all that matters. Few of them don't even live in Florida and have there accountant run the business.

[toddhuguenin]

Thanks for the video, Jesse. I built schools & orphanages in The Former Soviet Union & have looked into becoming a GC here in Ormond Beach. This answered my question.

[robertirvin]

Do not try to take your way into anything. You'll get caught and you'll be embarrassed and carry a tarnished reputation. Spend 3 months in each general phase of house building. Foundations, framing, plumbing and electrical. That's one full year of trade work...while you're doing that, go to night school for bookkeeping, safety, contracts, etc. After that, form your company and start bids for small gigs...deck installations, gutters, new windows, etc. After a year of that, you'll be a legit GC!!!

[Creativeinc]

so well said, everyone is expecting that anything can be instantaneous, when in reality in order to be successful you need to commit your full energy and persistence to it in order to conquer!

[issaycperez]

I’m 28 rn man and I decided to get in to construction about 3 years ago and I have put everything I got in to it now I got 2 truck full of tools and can do so much now, I’m still learning but I hope in the future I can obtain my license

[CivilDefenseEngineer]

I'm glad you didn't just say "No. Case closed. Pursue something else." but rather showed what kind of experience to pursue if you're serious about it.

[awndab]

First time subscribing to a YouTube channel, ever! great video Jesse

[abrahammartinez]

Hey I'm 23 years old and I have been doing all types of work under my family construction company and I been feeling like wasting my time working for them and no doing anything for me, but after your video, I realize that i been in like an internship, leaning about like you said from putting together 4x4 to roofing a restaurant . Excited to take me Business and Finances exam next month .Thanks for the

[SafiGhaith]

You made me smile so hard, thank you, I am inspired!

[FG-dwcf]

Here's a question.. What if I have zero experience, but my dad has 15 years of experience leading his own team in sub contracting masonry work for residential and comercial? He can't get the book work done so I'm going to do it and we plan to do it together. Also, I have plenty of friends and family who lead their own teams in various sub contracting fields. Electric, plumbing, framing, everything. Pools etc. So if I literally have a strong team ready to follow me, it has to be a dif situation than just simply having zero experience right?