Differential

The average number of days it takes to collect payment after a sale. For field service companies, DSO measures how long between completing work and receiving payment. Industry benchmarks range from 30-60 days.

The seasonal period when thawing ground and flooding restrict heavy equipment access to remote job sites. For subcontractors, it typically means project delays, suspended haul routes, and reduced billable work. Plan cash flow carefully to cover the slow period.

When an operator returns a field ticket for correction before approval. Common causes include missing information, rate discrepancies, or insufficient documentation. Rejections delay payment and require rework.

A breakdown of costs on a field ticket or invoice, separating charges into labor hours, equipment usage, and materials consumed.

A pricing model where contractors are paid a fixed daily rate for equipment and/or personnel, regardless of the amount of work completed that day.

Contracts that lock in a future price for North Sea crude oil, used as a global benchmark. When Brent prices drop, operators often cut budgets and delay projects, directly reducing subcontractor workloads. Tracking Brent futures helps field service companies anticipate slowdowns and plan their crews and bids accordingly.

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.