A general contractor in New Jersey usually charges 10% to 20% of the total project cost to run the job, and most homeowners never see that number because it is built into a fixed price. Call (201) 676-3099 or book a free estimate.
A general contractor in New Jersey usually charges 10% to 20% of the total project cost to run the job, and most homeowners never see that number because it is built into a fixed price. On a $60,000 bathroom-and-kitchen project, that is $6,000 to $12,000 for planning, permits, scheduling every trade, ordering materials and being the one person responsible when something goes wrong.
This guide explains the three ways contractors charge, what the fee actually buys you, and the quotes that should make you nervous.
The three ways a contractor charges
One itemized number for the whole job, in writing, before work starts. The contractor's fee is inside it. It cannot change unless you sign a change order. This is the safest option for a homeowner because the risk of running long or over sits with the contractor, not you.
You pay the real cost of labor and materials plus a percentage, usually 15% to 25%. It sounds fair, but you find out the final number at the end, and the contractor makes more money the more the job costs. Use it only for jobs nobody can price up front, like opening walls in a 100-year-old house to see what is there.
Common for handyman work and small repairs: $85 to $150 an hour for a skilled tradesperson in North Jersey, or $450 to $600 for a half day. Fine for a punch list. Wrong for a remodel, because nobody can tell you the total.
2026 New Jersey numbers
The fee is not profit on top of profit. It pays for the project manager, the insurance, the truck, the permit runs, the warranty and the crew's time on the phone with you. A company that quotes a 5% fee is either hiding it somewhere else or will not be around to honor the warranty.
| What you are paying for | Typical 2026 range |
|---|---|
| General contractor fee on a remodel (inside a fixed price) | 10% – 20% of the job |
| Cost-plus markup, if you go that route | 15% – 25% over cost |
| Skilled tradesperson, hourly (plumber, electrician, carpenter) | $85 – $150 / hour |
| Handyman half day (punch list, small repairs) | $450 – $600 |
| Diagnostic or service call minimum, credited to the repair | $150 – $495 |
| Permit fees, paid to the town (passed through, no markup from us) | $75 – $2,500 |
| Design or plans for an addition (architect or engineer) | $2,500 – $12,000 |
What the fee actually buys you
- One person responsible for the whole job, so the plumber, electrician and tile setter do not point at each other.
- Permits pulled and inspections scheduled in your town, so the work is legal and shows up clean when you sell.
- Materials ordered in the right sequence, so the crew is not waiting on a vanity for two weeks with your bathroom torn apart.
- Insurance that covers your house if a worker gets hurt or something breaks.
- A warranty backed by a company with a phone number that still works next year.
Why one job gets three quotes $20,000 apart
The cheap quote is usually missing something: the permit, the disposal, the drywall repair after the plumbing, the allowance for tile that is actually in the showroom, or the second coat of paint. It is not a lower price. It is an unfinished list.
The expensive quote is sometimes a company that does not really want the job, or a sales-driven outfit paying a commission to the person in your kitchen. That commission can be 10% or more of your price and buys you nothing.
The fair quote is itemized. Every line says what is included and what is not. If you cannot see the plumbing as its own line, ask why.
Six questions that expose a padded quote
- Is this a fixed price, or an estimate that can change? (Only a fixed price protects you.)
- What is the allowance for tile, fixtures and cabinets, and what happens if I pick something cheaper?
- Who pulls the permit, and is the fee in this number?
- Is debris removal and dumpster included?
- What is the payment schedule? (In New Jersey, a registered home improvement contractor cannot take more than a small deposit before work, and you should never pay in full before the final walkthrough.)
- Which parts are done by your own crew and which are subcontracted?
How we price it
Free in-home visit, then one itemized fixed price on the spot. Our fee is inside the number, permits are passed through at cost, and the price cannot change without your signature. No deposit on most jobs. You keep the written price even if you never hire us.
Questions people ask next
Is 20% a normal general contractor fee in New Jersey?
Yes. Ten to twenty percent of the project cost is normal for a licensed, insured contractor who manages the whole job. Big remodels sit near the low end because the dollars are larger; small complicated jobs sit near the high end.
Should I pay a general contractor by the hour?
Only for small repairs and punch lists. For any remodel, insist on a fixed, itemized price. Hourly pricing on a remodel means you carry the risk of every delay.
Do I need a general contractor for a bathroom remodel?
If the job touches plumbing, electrical and tile, yes, or you become the general contractor yourself: hiring, scheduling and inspecting three or four trades. Most people underestimate how much time that takes.
Is a contractor's fee negotiable?
The fee is rarely the place to save money. Changing the scope is: keep the layout, keep the cabinet boxes, pick stock tile. A contractor who slashes the fee usually makes it back somewhere you cannot see.
What does a general contractor charge for an estimate in NJ?
A free in-home estimate is standard for remodels. Some companies charge $100 to $300 for a detailed design consultation and credit it to the job. Ours are free and you keep the written price.
Need a general contractor near you?
If you searched “general contractor near me” anywhere in New Jersey, that's us. First Call Contracting is based in Paramus and sends its own licensed crew to all 21 counties — written price before work starts, no deposit, a real person on the phone 24/7.
Want one fixed number, not a fee you have to decode?
Free in-home visit. Itemized fixed price on the spot. Our fee is already inside it and it cannot change without your signature.
Or call Alex direct: (201) 676-3099