• Construction establishments that build on their own account, for sale to others, are known as speculative builders, operative builders or merchant builders.

Specialty trade contractors usually work under contract to another construction establishment but, especially in renovation and repair construction, they may contract directly with the owner of the property.

A construction establishment may be the only establishment of an enterprise, or one of several establishments of an integrated real estate enterprise engaged in the land assembly, development, financing, building and sale of large projects.

Some examples include the following: post-harvest activities of agricultural establishments (such as crop drying), logging, the beneficiating of mineral ores, the production of structures by construction establishments, and various activities conducted by retailers, such as meat cutting and the assembly of products such as bicycles and computers.