American Subcontractors Association

What American Subcontractors Association does

The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1966 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, that represents approximately 4,700 subcontractor, specialty trade contractor, and supplier member companies throughout the United States. Subcontractors perform 80-90% of the work on commercial construction projects, and ASA's mission — under the banner "Better Construction Through Fair Construction" — is to advance their interests through federal and state advocacy, education, networking, and professional development. The organization operates through a nationwide chapter network and is led by CEO Richard Bright with Andrew Christ (Compass Constructors COO) serving as ASA President.

ASA's core offerings include the Subcontractors Legal Defense Fund (SLDF), which files amicus curiae briefs in precedent-setting cases; the annual SUBExcel convention; The Contractor's Compass monthly journal distributed to 15,000+ readers; the ASAToday weekly newsletter; the MemberPlus mobile app; the ASAdvantage discount purchasing program; and the ASA Health Plan. The affiliated Foundation of the American Subcontractors Association (FASA), established in 1987, supports research and education and runs the FASA Cares initiative addressing diversity & inclusion, suicide prevention, disaster preparedness, and workforce development in construction.

ASA's business model is a hybrid membership-and-sponsorship model. Revenue is generated through recurring membership dues (subcontractors join via local chapters), a tiered corporate sponsorship program (Platinum $30,000, Gold $12,000, Silver $7,500, Bronze $3,500 annually), event fees from SUBExcel, donations to SLDF and FASA funds, and value-added member benefits. With only 1-10 employees at the national headquarters, ASA is a lean organization that leverages its chapter network and strategic alliances — most notably with NASBP (enhanced January 2024), the U.S. Small Business Administration, NGA, and CIASP — to extend its advocacy and service footprint well beyond its in-house capacity.

Name

American Subcontractors Association

Legal name

American Subcontractors Association, Inc.

Website

https://asaonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American Subcontractors Association (ASA) is a 501(c)(6) national trade association founded in 1966 representing approximately 4,700 subcontractor, specialty trade contractor, and supplier members across the U.S. construction industry through advocacy, education, networking, and the SLDF legal defense fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ASA generates revenue through national membership dues. Subcontractors join through local chapters which are affiliated with the national ASA organization. National portion of dues is waived for sponsors at each chapter joined.
2. Sponsorships: Annual sponsorship tiers including Platinum ($30,000), Gold ($12,000), Silver ($7,500), and Bronze ($3,500). Sponsors receive logo placement, advertising, event recognition, and membership benefits.
3. Donations and Fundraising: ASA collects donations through its Subcontractors Legal Defense Fund (SLDF), Subcontractors Legal Research Fund, Chapter Scholarship Fund, and FASA General Fund. These fund advocacy activities, legal interventions, scholarships, and foundation operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASA is a national trade association representing approximately 4,700 subcontractor, specialty contractor, and supplier member companies in the U.S. construction industry. Founded in 1966, ASA delivers advocacy (including the Subcontractors Legal Defense Fund supporting amicus briefs in precedent-setting legal cases), education (The Contractor's Compass monthly journal, ASAToday newsletter, learning center), networking (annual SUBExcel convention, nationwide chapter network), and member benefits (ASAdvantage discount program, ASA Health Plan, MemberPlus Mobile App).

Product overview

The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) is a national trade association, not a software product company. ASA provides a membership-based platform of services including advocacy programs (Subcontractors Legal Defense Fund), educational resources (The Contractor's Compass, ASAToday newsletter, Learning Center), networking events (SUBExcel annual convention), member benefits (ASAdvantage discount program, ASA Health Plan), and a mobile app (MemberPlus). The association collaborates with technology partners like COMPASS for preconstruction tools and operates FASA Cares, a foundation initiative addressing industry issues including diversity, suicide prevention, and disaster preparedness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FASA: Foundation of the American Subcontractors Association - a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity supporting research, education, and public awareness, including FASA Cares initiatives for diversity, inclusion, and suicide prevention.
• FASA Cares
• SUBExcel
• ASAdvantage
• ASA Health Plan
• Subcontractors Legal Defense Fund (SLDF)
• ASAToday
• The Contractor's Compass

Products and services

• MemberPlus Mobile App A mobile application providing ASA members access to resources, information, and member-only content on-the-go.
• ASAdvantage A discount purchasing program offering ASA members access to special offers and pricing from participating vendors and service providers.
• ASA Health Plan Health insurance offerings available to ASA members through the association's benefit programs.
• SUBExcel Annual Convention ASA's annual national convention providing education, networking, and professional development opportunities for subcontractors.
• The Contractor's Compass A monthly educational journal published by FASA featuring guidance from legal professionals, articles from member companies, and practical business knowledge for subcontractors.
• ASAToday Newsletter A members-only weekly newsletter featuring legislative updates, policy news, event announcements, and industry information.
• Subcontractors Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) A fund that finances amicus curiae briefs in appellate-level cases impacting subcontractor rights, supporting legal activities in precedent-setting cases.
• FASA Cares Initiative An initiative of the Foundation of ASA focusing on Diversity & Inclusion, Suicide Prevention, Disaster Preparedness, and Workforce Development in the construction industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• SLDF victory in Markham Contracting Co. v. Cahava Springs Phase I - Arizona Supreme Court affirmed subcontractors' ability to recover under unjust enrichment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• EngineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 December 2024Engine is a no-cost, no-commitment travel platform that makes it easy for businesses to book hotels, flights, and car rentals while keeping travel spend on-budget. Engine became a Silver Sponsor of ASA.
• SMARTBUILD Construction Management SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 July 2024SMARTBUILD is known for cutting-edge project management solutions like smartSUB, smartGC, and smartDesigner. Became a Silver Sponsor of ASA.
• National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2024ASA and NASBP announced an enhanced strategic alliance in January 2024 to strengthen mutual efforts supporting equitable risk environments for construction. The formal agreement expands working relationship on surety and risk management initiatives and advancing legislative policies beneficial to subcontractor interests including bonding access. ASA and NASBP coordinate advocacy campaigns, share research, provide educational programs, and collaborate to expand subcontractor access to bonding.
• BilldminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 September 2021Billd signed sponsorship deal with ASA to provide growth options and financing education for subcontractors. Billd is a payment solution for construction industry offering 120-day terms on materials. Billd and ASA share goal of helping subcontractors grow through financial education and business financing options.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2021SBA's Surety Bond Guarantee Program teamed up with ASA to help small business members access growth benefits through the SBG Program. SBA offers guarantees on contract surety bonds to help small businesses in construction, supply, and service sectors compete for contracting jobs. ASA members can access SBA's QuickApp for contracts under $400,000 without requiring financials.
• FonncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 November 2020Fonn became a Platinum Sponsor of ASA in November 2020. Fonn is a cloud-based construction management solution providing drawing storage, documents, progress tracking, on-site communication and off-site monitoring on one platform. Fonn was started in 2016 by CEO JT Grindheim with focus on field staff usability.
• COMPASS (powered by Bespoke Metrics)coreTechnology or Integration · 2 October 2020ASA formed collaboration with COMPASS to help subcontractors with preconstruction. COMPASS is construction software focused on preconstruction providing data and risk management throughout the supply chain. Collaboration includes designing software built specifically for subcontractors, with Data Control tool allowing subcontractors to securely provide data for prequalification, insurance, surety, or credit applications.
• National Glass Association (NGA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNGA combined with Glass Association of North America (GANA) in 2018 to form the largest trade association serving the architectural glass and metals industry supply chain. NGA produces GlassBuild America trade show and hosts conferences. Listed as a Gold Sponsor of ASA.
• BuildCulture.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASA partnered with BuildCulture.org as an Impact Champion for their Culture of Care initiative. Together they work to promote diversity and inclusion within the construction industry. ASA has taken the pledge as an organization and encourages all members to take the pledge. Resources include model HR policies and HR best practices for diversity.
• Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASA has taken the pledge to Stand Up for Suicide Prevention with CIASP. The construction industry has the second highest suicide rate per industry (53 per 100,000, 4 times the general population). ASA provides SAFE framework resources: Safe cultures, Training, Awareness, Normalizing conversations, Decreasing risks.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Home Builders: NAHB is the largest US residential construction trade association. Comparable association business model (dues, advocacy, conventions, education), but focused on homebuilders/residential rather than ASA's commercial subcontractor focus; some specialty trade members overlap.
• Associated Builders and Contractors: ABC is the largest US merit-shop construction trade association representing both general and specialty contractors. Comparable to ASA because it serves overlapping subcontractor members and competes for the same advocacy, education, and convention footprint, but operates at materially greater scale and broader scope.
• Associated General Contractors of America: AGC is the leading US trade association for general contractors, with overlapping membership among subcontractors that work for AGC members. Comparable in advocacy model and event-based engagement but with a generalist, GC-anchored orientation rather than ASA's subcontractor-exclusive focus.

Emerging players

• Design-Build Institute of America: DBIA is a membership organization promoting integrated design-build delivery, with significant overlap of specialty contractor members. Comparable as a project-delivery advocacy and education association, but oriented around a specific contracting method rather than subcontractor rights generally.

Direct peers

• National Association of the Remodeling Industry: NARI is a US trade association for remodeling contractors and subcontractors, with comparable dues-funded, chapter-based structure and overlapping specialty-trade membership that competes with ASA for the same small/mid-market subcontractor audience.
• Independent Electrical Contractors: IEC is a US trade association exclusively for independent electrical contractors — itself a subcontractor trade. Highly comparable business model: dues, chapter network, advocacy, education, and conventions aimed at a specialty trade subcontractor segment that often also belongs to ASA.
• National Tile Contractors Association: NTCA is a US trade association exclusively for tile/substrate installation subcontractors. Highly comparable niche-trade association model — dues, certifications, technical education, and advocacy — competing for the same specialty subcontractor member mindshare as ASA.
• Mechanical Contractors Association of America: MCAA represents mechanical (HVAC/plumbing) contractors, the largest single specialty subcontractor group. Same association business model as ASA: national + chapter structure, advocacy, education, labor relations, and conventions serving specialty trade contractors.

Peers

• National Association of Surety Bond Producers:

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ASAupdate
• Facebookfacebook.com/subcontractors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asa-national

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Subcontractors Association