Site Preparation Contractors Industry Profile

Companies in this industry prepare sites for building and perform tasks such as excavating, grading, demolition, and septic system installation. Major companies include Controlled Demolition (CDI), Manafort Brothers Incorporated, and Phillips & Jordan (P&J) (all based in the US), as well as Ground Construction (GCL), Keller, and Keltbray (all based in the UK).

Some large construction firms have international operations and provide site prep services around the world. Midsized companies may subcontract skilled operators to larger firms' international projects during the local off-season. US firms import construction equipment, including earthmoving machinery, primarily from Germany, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.

The US site preparation contractor industry includes about 35,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $100 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Construction and demolition projects drive demand for site prep contractors. The profitability of individual companies depends on accurate bidding and optimal deployment of personnel and equipment. Large companies have advantages in handling multiple types of projects simultaneously. Small companies can compete effectively by subcontracting their services to larger firms, specializing by type of work, or becoming a preferred contractor for local builders and developers. Small companies often compete with solo owner-operators who hire temporary workers and rent equipment as needed.

The industry is highly fragmented; the top 50 largest firms is about 10% of the industry revenue. Many site prep contractors operate as unincorporated sole proprietorships, without permanent employees.