the.com/subcontractor
the person actually doing the work while someone else's name is on the truck.
means a business or individual hired by a primary contractor to perform a specific part of a larger job.
from from latin sub (under) plus contractor, formalized in construction and government procurement law through the 1900s as projects grew too big for one company to handle alone.
legal liabilitygeneral contractor often still liable for their mistakes
pyramid structuresubs can hire their own sub-subcontractors
payment riskoften paid last, sometimes never, in disputes
licensingelectricians and plumbers usually work as subs
for instance
boeing 787 suppliers — over 50 subcontractors built major fuselage sections worldwide
trump tower electricians — classic nyc high-rise reliance on unionized subcontracted trades
pentagon defense subs — lockheed martin routinely subcontracts parts to thousands of firms