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Cash Flow Glossary Term

CWIP (Construction Work in Progress)

An accounting category tracking costs for projects not yet complete or placed into service. For subcontractors, your invoiced work may sit in a client's CWIP account until project completion. This can affect payment timing and how clients prioritise approving your billings.

Related Terms

Cash Price

Cash Flow

A fixed, all-in rate quoted to a client that requires no further negotiation or adjustments. Subcontractors often offer a cash price to secure faster payment or simplified invoicing. It typically excludes extras like mobilisation, standby time, or material markups.

Estimating Backlog

Cash Flow

The queue of pending bids and quotes a subcontractor has not yet completed or submitted to clients. A large estimating backlog can delay securing new work and strain small estimating teams. Tracking it helps prioritise high-value opportunities and allocate quoting resources effectively.

Capital Budget

Cash Flow

A client's approved spending plan for major projects, equipment, and infrastructure in a given year. When capital budgets are set or revised, subcontractors see direct impacts on contract awards and work volumes. Monitoring clients' capital budget cycles helps you time bids and resource planning effectively.

Backcharge

Cash Flow

A charge issued by an operator or general contractor to a subcontractor for costs incurred due to defective work, delays, or failure to meet contractual obligations.

Dayrate

Cash Flow

A fixed daily fee charged by a subcontractor or equipment provider, regardless of hours worked or output produced. It covers labour, equipment, and overhead for that calendar day. Dayrates are common in drilling, rental, and specialised field service contracts.

Builders Lien

Cash Flow

A legal claim registered against a property when a subcontractor hasn't been paid for work or materials provided. It secures your right to payment by encumbering the owner's title. Filing deadlines are strict, so act quickly if invoices go unpaid.

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