Site Prep Contractors
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 38,400 site preparation contractors in the US prepare land for construction activity. Services include excavation work; wrecking and demolition; trenching; sewer and water main installation; construction machinery rental (with operator); and road construction. While private sector projects account for the majority of revenue, site prep contractors also provide services to federal, state, and local governments.
Dependence On General Contractors
Because site preparation is just part of the construction process, companies often depend on general contractors to secure client business.
Seasonal And Weather-Related Factors
Seasonality and weather conditions affect project timelines and site prep contractors’ ability to perform work.
Industry size & Structure
The average site preparation contractor operates out of a single location, employs 9-10 workers, and generates about $2-3 million annually.
- The site preparation services industry consists of about 38,400 companies that employ 396,000 workers and generate about $97 billion annually.
- The industry is fragmented; most site preparation contractors serve a limited geographical market.
- Some large general contractors, such as Granite Construction and Sterling Construction, offer site preparation services in addition to other construction services.
Industry Forecast
Site Prep Contractors Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Oct 14, 2024 - Single-Family Home Sales Rise
- Developers are feeling more optimistic about construction conditions, which may be leading to fewer project abandonments, according to recent data from ConstructionConnect. In September 2024, project abandonments fell 49.8% compared to the same period a year earlier. Abandoned projects have a delayed bid date, have been paused, or have been canceled. Within the private sector, project abandonments fell 9.4% in September 2024 compared to September 2023, projects put on hold dropped 6.8%, and delayed bid activity was flat with a 0.1% decline. Public projects saw a 17.6% year-over-year drop in projects put on hold in September, and abandonments fell 5.5%. Developers are likely feeling more optimistic after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.5 percentage points on September 18.
- The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) decreased by 4.2% in September 2024 to 208.6 (2000=100), down from the revised August reading of 217.7. The Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which has been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. On a monthly basis, the institutional planning component improved by 5.2% in September, but commercial planning declined by 7.8%. Dodge’s associate director of forecasting, Sarah Martin, said, “Despite this month’s decline, the Dodge Momentum Index remains at very robust levels. A surge in data center activity drove much of the recent rapid growth in the DMI – so as planning for that sector moderated over the month, overall commercial planning fell back. By mid-2025, the Fed’s rate cuts should spur planning projects to reach groundbreaking more quickly – leading to stronger nonresidential activity as 2025 progresses.”
- North American construction and engineering spending in 2024 is expected to grow by about 5%, according to FMI’s fourth-quarter 2024 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. With growth of 29%, public safety will lead 2024 nonresidential building construction, followed by manufacturing (21%), amusement and recreation (10%), transportation (5%), and educational (4%). Commercial construction spending is expected to decline 8% in 2024 amid weaker demand for warehousing space. Lodging construction spending is forecast to drop 6%, and stubbornly high office vacancies will continue to weigh on new office construction, which is projected to rise 1% in 2024. Amid moderating interest rates, single-family construction spending is forecast to rise 5% in 2024. A recent jump in new apartment supply is expected to reduce multifamily spending by 4% in 2024. With an increase of 14%, water supply will lead 2024 growth in the infrastructure sector, followed by sewage and waste disposal (9%), power (7%), and highway and street (4%).
- New single-family home sales fell 4.7% month-over-month but were up 9.8% year-over-year in August 2024, according to the US Department of Commerce. Some potential home buyers stayed on the sidelines ahead of an anticipated interest rate cut, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In mid-September 2024, the Federal Reserve announced a half-percentage point rate cut. The NAHB suggests home builder sentiment is improving amid expectations that the Fed’s credit-easing cycle will continue. However, falling interest rates may increase competition between home builders and existing homeowners who’d previously felt locked in by their low interest rates.
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