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Cash Flow Glossary Term

Capacity Charge

A fee billed to clients to reserve your crew, equipment, or services during a set period — whether fully utilised or not. It protects subcontractors from revenue loss during standby or low-demand phases. Common in long-term service agreements for drilling, frac, or maintenance contracts.

Related Terms

Construction Input Costs

Cash Flow

The direct costs subcontractors pay to deliver field work, including labour, materials, fuel, and equipment. These costs fluctuate with market conditions, directly squeezing margins if contracts aren't priced accordingly. Tracking them closely helps subcontractors identify when to renegotiate rates or escalation clauses.

Project-Level Debt

Cash Flow

Financing borrowed against a specific project's revenue, not the owner's overall assets. Subcontractors should know this because payment depends on that project performing financially. If the project underperforms, your invoices may be delayed or disputed.

Nonresidential Inputs

Cash Flow

Materials, labour, and equipment costs tied to commercial and industrial construction projects. Subcontractors track these input costs to price bids accurately and protect margins. Rising input costs can erode fixed-price contract profitability quickly.

Beneficial Use

Cash Flow

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.

Differential

Cash Flow

A pay premium added to a base rate for working in hazardous, remote, or demanding conditions. Subcontractors should account for applicable differentials when pricing bids and setting crew rates.

Bridging Power

Cash Flow

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.

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