Building Duplex vs Larger Units in Florida

[Rufus Peoples]

A friend and I are planning to pool our money to buy cheap land and build multifamily units. After talking to one builder he mentioned that residential contractors couldn't build anything larger than a duplex. He said that if I wished to build anything larger I would have to find a commercial contractor that may charge more. The plan was to buy lots and build a 2 or 3 unit then refi out to do it again. I would like to know more about what I should be looking for in contractors and if it would just be simpler to start by only building duplexes or if what he said was even accurate.