General Contractor in Dallas, TX

A Dallas general contractor typically prices residential remodels at 18 to 25% markup on direct cost. On a $100,000 kitchen and living room renovation, that markup covers scheduling, sub coordination, warranty, insurance, and project management. Some Dallas GCs bid on cost-plus terms for additions over 800 square feet, which exposes sub cost line by line but adds a fixed fee on top.

Flat fee bids are most common on ContractShield because side-by-side comparison gets messy when two bidders use different pricing models. The Work Order Marketplace flags cost-plus vs flat-fee right in the bid summary so you can decide before you read line items.

Texas does not issue a statewide residential general contractor license, but the City of Dallas requires a Residential Building Contractor Registration through the Department of Code Compliance for projects over $2,000. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing subs still need their TDLR or city licenses.

ContractShield checks the Dallas registration plus GL insurance of at least $1,000,000 and workers' comp before a GC can reach the verified_pro tier. Smaller renovations may accept the insured tier, which is a lower threshold.

A Dallas kitchen remodel with cabinet swap, countertop, and appliance refresh takes 4 to 6 weeks from demo to final inspection. A full gut renovation with layout changes and new electrical or plumbing runs 10 to 14 weeks. Permitting through the City of Dallas adds 2 to 3 weeks on the front end for any structural or utility change.

Inside ContractShield, the project workspace shows the schedule week by week with milestone payments tied to inspections. That helps homeowners avoid the front-loaded deposit problem where 50% is paid before meaningful work starts.

Dallas addition cost averages $220 to $380 per square foot in 2026. The low end covers a simple bump-out with matching finishes. The high end covers second-story additions with new foundation, structural steel, HVAC, and full finishes. Two-story additions drive cost up because of engineering, temporary weatherization of the open roof, and a bigger electrical and HVAC scope.

Land-use rules in Dallas matter too. Many neighborhoods sit inside a Conservation District or a Planned Development district with setback, height, and material rules that add review time. Experienced Dallas GCs on ContractShield know which neighborhoods trigger extra review and price in the delay instead of hitting you with a change order later.

The Work Order Marketplace is the entry point. After the client accepts a bid, the project workspace turns on. That workspace includes tasks, timeline, time tracking for T&M work, materials log, photos, and payments. Change orders are requested by the GC, approved by the client, and versioned inside the record so there is no email archaeology at closeout.

Payments run on a milestone schedule defined in the contract. The GC requests release, the client reviews progress photos and the task ledger, and the payment clears through the connected payout account. A 1% platform fee is deducted from the GC side, and a 1% platform fee is added to the client side, for a total 2% platform take on the accepted bid.