January 14, 2026
The start of a new year is the perfect time for general contractors to step back and evaluate how their business is running. Between managing subcontractors, keeping up with certified payroll requirements, and staying compliant with prevailing wage laws, it is easy to let certain things slide. However, the contractors who take time to address inefficiencies now will be the ones running smoother projects by the end of 2026.
Here are five resolutions every general contractor should consider making this year.
1. Get Serious About Certified Payroll Compliance
If your company works on public works projects governed by the Davis-Bacon Act or state prevailing wage laws, certified payroll is not optional. It is a legal requirement. Yet many contractors still treat it as an afterthought, scrambling to complete certified payroll forms at the last minute or relying on outdated manual processes that invite errors.
In 2026, resolve to get ahead of your certified payroll obligations. That means understanding the wage determination for each project before work begins, ensuring your payroll system can accurately track hours by classification, and submitting reports on time every week. Certified payroll mistakes can lead to costly back-wage claims, project delays, and even debarment from future government contracts. The risk is simply too high to keep doing things the old way.
If you are still filling out certified payroll forms by hand or copying data between spreadsheets, consider investing in certified payroll software that automates the process. The right system will pull directly from your payroll data, flag potential compliance issues before submission, and generate completed forms with a single click.
2. Organize Your Subcontractor Documentation
Subcontractor management is one of the most time-consuming aspects of running a construction business. Every subcontractor on a prevailing wage project needs to submit their own certified payroll records, and as the general contractor, you are responsible for collecting and reviewing all of it. If a subcontractor falls out of compliance, the liability often falls back on you.
This year, commit to building a better system for tracking subcontractor documents. That includes certified payroll submissions, certificates of insurance, apprenticeship certifications, and any other compliance documentation required by the contract. Too many general contractors rely on email chains and file folders that quickly become disorganized as projects scale up.
A centralized document storage system can make a significant difference. Look for a solution that allows you to set submission deadlines, send automated reminders to subcontractors who are behind, and quickly verify that all required documents are in place before an audit or project close-out.
3. Stay Current on Prevailing Wage Determinations
Prevailing wage rates are not static. The Department of Labor updates federal Davis-Bacon wage determinations regularly, and many states update their own prevailing wage schedules annually or even more frequently. If you are using outdated rates on a project, you could be underpaying workers without even realizing it.
Make it a resolution to review wage determinations at the start of every project and set up a process for monitoring updates throughout the year. This is especially important for long-duration projects where rates may change mid-contract. Some contracts include escalation clauses that require you to adjust wages when new determinations are issued, while others lock in rates at the time of bid. Knowing which rules apply to your projects is essential.
For contractors managing multiple prevailing wage projects across different jurisdictions, keeping track of all these updates manually can be overwhelming. This is another area where contractor compliance software can help by automatically updating wage determinations and alerting you when changes affect your active projects.
4. Invest in Construction Project Management Tools
General contractors who are still managing projects with spreadsheets, paper forms, and disconnected software systems are leaving money on the table. Modern construction project management tools can streamline everything from scheduling and budgeting to communication and document control.
In 2026, take an honest look at your current systems and identify where bottlenecks are slowing you down. Are you spending hours each week chasing down information that should be at your fingertips? Are field teams and office staff working from different versions of the same documents? Are you missing deadlines because tasks are falling through the cracks?
The right general contractor software will centralize your project data, improve collaboration between teams, and give you real-time visibility into project status. Many platforms now integrate with accounting and payroll systems, making it easier to keep financial data in sync with field operations. The upfront investment in better tools almost always pays for itself through improved efficiency and fewer costly mistakes.
5. Prioritize Construction Safety Training
Construction safety should never be treated as a checkbox exercise. Jobsite injuries are not only devastating for workers and their families but also expensive for contractors in terms of workers compensation costs, project delays, and potential OSHA penalties. A strong safety culture starts at the top, and general contractors set the tone for every project.
Resolve to make construction safety training a priority in 2026. That means going beyond the minimum OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 requirements and investing in ongoing safety education for your crews. Regular toolbox talks, equipment-specific training, and hazard recognition programs can all help reduce incidents on your jobsites.
Additionally, take time to review your safety documentation and incident reporting procedures. Are near-misses being reported and addressed before they become serious injuries? Is your team conducting regular site safety audits?
Start 2026 on the Right Foot
Running a successful construction business requires more than just winning bids and completing projects. It requires staying on top of compliance obligations, managing subcontractors effectively, and continuously improving your operations. The resolutions above address the fundamentals that separate well-run general contractors from those constantly fighting fires.
If certified payroll and prevailing wage compliance are pain points for your business, eMars can help. Our certified payroll reporting software simplifies certified payroll reporting, automates wage determination tracking, and provides centralized document storage for subcontractor management. Schedule a demo today to see how eMars can help you keep your resolutions in 2026.
