A subcontractor's ability to fund operations while waiting on client payments. It covers payroll, fuel, and equipment costs between invoice and payment. Strong bridging power prevents work stoppages during slow pay cycles.
Bridging Power
Related Terms
Rule 144a
Cash FlowA U.S. securities regulation allowing large private companies to raise capital without a public stock listing. For subcontractors, it signals a major client may have access to significant private funding. This can affect contract stability and payment capacity on large projects.
Entitlement Risk
Cash FlowThe risk that a subcontractor cannot fully recover costs or markup owed under contract due to unclear scope, missing documentation, or disputed change orders. It often arises when work is performed without written authorisation. Strong record-keeping and proactive change management are the primary defences.
Rescheduling
Cash FlowRescheduling occurs when a client moves a confirmed job to a new date, disrupting crew and equipment plans. Subcontractors should have rescheduling clauses in contracts to recover standby costs. Repeated rescheduling without compensation can seriously damage a small operator's cash flow.
Adjusted Ebitda (earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation)
Cash FlowA profitability measure that strips out non-cash costs and one-time charges, showing true operational earnings. For subcontractors, it reveals how much cash your field operations actually generate. Clients and lenders use it to assess your financial health before awarding contracts or extending credit.
Principal Forgiveness
Cash FlowWhen a lender cancels part of the original loan balance owed by a subcontractor or field service company. This reduces total debt obligations, improving cash flow for ongoing operations. It differs from interest relief, as it directly lowers the core amount borrowed.
Rack and Carriage
Cash FlowA pricing structure where subcontractors charge a marked-up "rack" rate for materials, plus a separate fee for delivery or handling. It allows field service companies to recover supply chain costs beyond base labour rates.
Latest Cash Flow News
Talos Energy Takes 50% Stake in Repsol's Deepwater Mexico Block
Talos Energy will pay up to $50 million to acquire a 50% working interest in Repsol's Block 29 offshore Mexico, targeting FID in 2027 on a discovery holding over 200 MMboe.
2 days agoCash FlowGordie Howe Bridge Set to Open Monday After Canada-Only Ceremony
Windsor held a Canada-only ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge ahead of Monday's opening, after Ottawa scrapped a joint U.S. event amid tariff tensions.
7 days agoCash FlowNew CHPE Line Pushes NY-Canada Power Trade to 18-Month High
The EIA reports New York imported a record 52 GWh of Canadian electricity on July 3 as the new Champlain Hudson Power Express line ran at full 1,250 MW capacity during a summer heat wave.
10 days agoCash FlowDOL's $162M Apprenticeship Fund Ties Payouts to Worker Retention, Not Enrollment
The Department of Labor's $162 million Pay-for-Performance apprenticeship program pays contractors only after apprentices hit retention milestones, with sponsor applications opening this fall in shipbuilding, telecom, and skilled trades sectors.
13 days agoRelated Guides
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.
Cash Flow GuidePost-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.
Cash Flow GuideMechanic'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.
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