Self-perform work is scope the general contractor executes with its own employees rather than subcontracting to a specialty trade. Common self-perform scopes for commercial GCs: rough framing, finish carpentry, drywall, doors and hardware, basic concrete, and selective demolition. The GC keeps the labor markup that would otherwise go to a sub, but assumes direct labor management, supervision, and tool/equipment cost responsibility. Specialty trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, glass) almost always remain subcontracted because of licensing, equipment, and crew specialization.
Well-managed self-perform produces a margin advantage: the GC captures both the GC overhead and the trade contractor's gross margin on the self-performed scope. Poorly managed self-perform destroys margin: idle crews between projects, supervision overhead, and slower productivity than a specialized sub. The contractors who win on self-perform consistently invest in: a steady backlog (so crews stay productive between projects), strong field supervision, and tight coding of self-performed labor in the job cost system so margin is visible per scope.