Watch First: Quick Walkthrough
Start with this short video to see the big picture. Then use the step-by-step plan below with links to the Georgia Business & Law collection so your materials are always one click away.
What The Georgia Business & Law Exam Covers
This open-book exam checks whether you can run the business side of construction. Expect questions around organization and licensing, estimating and bidding, project management, contracts and lien rights, labor and employment basics, safety, workers’ comp, and accounting. The good news is these topics are predictable, and focused exam prep mirrors the outline so you can train with purpose.
Your 6-Week Study Blueprint
Weeks 1–2: Foundations
- Company setup, licensing, and insurance basics. Outline once.
- Accounting essentials: job cost reports, markup vs. margin, break-even.
- Daily drills using targeted practice exams to build pace.
Week 3: Estimating & Bidding
- Direct vs. indirect costs, overhead, and profit.
- Scope sheets and takeoff checklists to avoid misses.
- Timed “bid-day” math sprints to simulate test pressure.
Week 4: Contracts & Law
- Contract types, indemnity, delays, and notice requirements.
- Lien rights timeline and common release forms.
- Change orders: pricing and documentation.
Week 5: People, Safety, and Cash Flow
- Payroll, hiring basics, and recordkeeping.
- OSHA fundamentals and incident documentation.
- Schedules, look-aheads, retainage, and progress billing.
Week 6: Take two full timed practice tests. Review every miss with your references open. Build a one-page “fix list,” retest weak areas, and keep your books arranged exactly how you will use them on exam day. If you still need materials, grab aligned study guides from the collection.
Build A Fast Open-Book Toolkit
Your setup should make answers jump off the page. Keep it lean and consistent from practice to test day.
- Tabbed primary references with clear section flags.
- A 30-keyword front-page index with page numbers.
- Sticky “quick math” for overhead, break-even, and markups.
- A one-page contract clause checklist to spot traps.
Prefer a ready-made bundle that pairs well together? Check the curated packages.
Exam-Day Game Plan
- Set your pace. Divide questions by minutes. Use a light timer buffer.
- Read the ask first. Glance at the last sentence, then scan choices.
- Index first. Jump straight to the right page using your custom index.
- Work the formula. Write it, plug in clean numbers, circle the result.
- Two passes. First pass clears 70 percent. Second pass tackles flagged items.
High-Yield Topics To Master
Money & Accounting
- Markup vs. margin, overhead allocation
- Percent-complete revenue recognition
- Job cost codes and reports
- Cash flow projections and retainage
Contracts & Law
- Scope, indemnity, delays, differing site conditions
- Notice requirements and change orders
- Lien rights timeline and release types
- Insurance basics: GL, auto, workers’ comp, umbrella
Estimating & Project Management
- Takeoff flow and common misses
- Bid-day checklists and alternates
- Schedules, float, and look-aheads
- Subcontractor buyout and coordination
People & Safety
- Hiring, I-9, payroll taxes
- Toolbox talks and training logs
- OSHA recordkeeping
- Return-to-work plans
Use aligned study guides that include sample problems in each area so practice mirrors the exam.
Practice Problems You Should Sprint
- Markup vs. Margin: Job cost is 96,000. Overhead is 12 percent and desired profit margin is 20 percent. What selling price hits both targets?
- Break-Even: With fixed costs at 250,000 and a contribution margin of 30 percent, what annual revenue meets break-even?
- Lien Timeline: Build a mini timeline for preliminary notices, claims of lien, and releases. Turn it into a 60-second reference.
- Change Order Math: Price labor, materials, equipment, then apply overhead and profit correctly.
Make these ten-minute “flash sprints.” Consistency beats marathon cramming every time.
Your Materials Checklist
- Approved references with tabs and a 30-keyword index
- Calculator with fresh batteries
- Pencils, highlighter, sticky flags, small timer
- Photo ID and exam confirmation
Missing anything? Grab it from the Georgia Business & Law collection so your kit stays consistent.
Common Pitfalls And Easy Fixes
- Over-highlighting. Fix it with a three-color system and a tiny legend on the inside cover.
- No index. Fix it by writing your own 30-keyword index with page numbers.
- Changing layouts. Fix it by practicing with the exact book arrangement you will take to the test.
- Unforced math errors. Fix it with a standard formula sheet and unit checks.
Week-Of Checklist
- Confirm test center, time, and allowed materials.
- Run one full timed practice exam.
- Pack your reference tote, calculator, and confirmation.
- Keep sleep, food, and caffeine normal so nerves stay quiet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Georgia Business & Law exam open book
+How much time should I study
+What should I bring on exam day
+Where do I get prep tailored to Georgia’s test
+Conclusion
Passing Georgia’s 2026 Business and Law Contractor Exam is about systems, not superpowers. Build a repeatable routine: index first, open the right section, confirm the rule, do clean math, move on. Keep practice short and consistent so your pacing feels natural and your nerves stay calm. Maintain the exact same book layout from your desk to the test center. With aligned study materials, a lean toolkit, and two solid practice exams in week six, you will walk in prepared and walk out relieved.
Summary
This guide gives you a clear path to pass the Georgia Business and Law exam in 2026. Use a six-week plan, drill predictable topics like accounting, contracts, lien rights, estimating, scheduling, payroll, and safety, and keep an open-book toolkit with tabs and a 30-keyword index. Train under the clock, use a two-pass strategy on exam day, and protect a final ten minutes for error checks. Everything you need lives in the Georgia Business & Law collection, including books, study guides, and practice exams. Keep your routine tight and your references tidy, and the score will follow.