Breakeven Cost

A legal claim registered against a property or asset when a subcontractor hasn't been paid for work or materials. It prevents the owner from selling or refinancing until the debt is settled. In oil and gas and construction, liens are a key tool for protecting payment rights.

A variable fee added to invoices to offset rising fuel costs for equipment, vehicles, and machinery. Rates are typically tied to a published fuel index and adjusted weekly or monthly. Subcontractors should confirm surcharge terms in their master service agreements before mobilising.

The point when a client formally accepts and begins using delivered equipment or a completed scope of work. For subcontractors, this date often triggers final billing milestones or warranty periods. Confirm it in writing to protect your payment rights.

Invoicing for work completed to date on a longer project, rather than waiting until project completion. Helps subcontractors maintain cash flow on extended jobs.

A court order declaring a prime contractor in default on financial obligations, often freezing payments to subcontractors. It signals serious insolvency risk and can delay or eliminate outstanding invoices. Subcontractors should file liens immediately upon receiving notice.

Materials or equipment stored at your job site but owned by the supplier until you use them. You only pay when items are consumed, reducing upfront capital tied up on remote projects. Common for frequently used consumables like fittings, gaskets, and PPE on long-duration field contracts.

What Happens to Subcontractor Billing When a Project Stalls, Goes Over Budget, or Never Gets Commissioned

You did the work. The project was cancelled, shelved, or never activated. Here is what subcontractors need to know about billing rights, legal remedies, and how to get paid when no one wants to discuss the invoice.

Post-Completion Warranty and Punch Work: Protecting Your Margins After the Job Ends

Warranty walks, punch lists, and post-completion callbacks eat into subcontractor margins. Learn how MSA warranty clauses work, when you can push back on mobilization costs, and how to document your way out of disputes.

Mechanic's Lien Rights for Subcontractors: What to Do When You're Not Getting Paid

A practical guide to mechanic's lien and materialman's lien rights for oilfield and construction subcontractors in Texas, Oklahoma, and Alberta — deadlines, filing steps, and leverage tactics.