Buyout

The true hourly cost of a worker, including wages, benefits, payroll taxes, and overhead. Subcontractors use it to set profitable bill rates for clients. Bidding below your loaded labour rate guarantees a loss on every hour worked.

A legal claim registered against a property or project when a subcontractor hasn't been paid for labour or materials. It prevents the owner from selling or refinancing until the debt is resolved. Filing deadlines are strict, so act quickly if payment is overdue.

A pricing model where work is billed per unit completed (per meter drilled, per cubic meter hauled, per joint welded, etc.).

The total value of contracted work that has not yet been completed. Used by bonding companies to assess contractor capacity and risk.

The process a prime contractor or operator uses to review, approve, and finalise invoices before releasing payment to subcontractors. Understanding the settling system helps subs forecast cash flow and avoid payment delays. Timelines vary widely between clients, so confirm the cycle before mobilising.

A return visit to a job site to fix work that failed inspection or did not meet spec. Callbacks are unpaid rework that directly cuts into a subcontractor's margin. Minimising them is critical to staying profitable on fixed-price 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.