A contract clause allowing the hiring company to end a service agreement before the scheduled completion date. Subcontractors may receive a penalty payment, but it is rarely full contract value. Always clarify demobilisation costs and notice periods before signing.
Early Termination Option
Related Terms
Emergency Relief Funding
Cash FlowShort-term financial assistance available to subcontractors facing sudden revenue loss due to site shutdowns, disasters, or contract cancellations. Funding may come from government programmes, industry associations, or lenders. Eligibility often requires proof of active contracts and demonstrated financial hardship.
Substantial Completion
Cash FlowThe point when a project is complete enough for the owner to use it for its intended purpose. For subcontractors, it typically triggers final invoicing and starts the defect liability period. Holdbacks or retainage are often released shortly after this milestone.
Capacity Charge
Cash FlowA 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.
Price Spread
Cash FlowThe difference between what a prime contractor charges the client and what they pay the subcontractor for the same scope. A wide price spread reduces your effective rate and margin. Negotiating tighter spreads protects subcontractor profitability on long-term contracts.
Contingent Payment
Cash FlowPayment tied to a specific condition being met, such as project completion or client approval. Subcontractors must track these triggers carefully to invoice on time. Delayed conditions can create serious cash-flow gaps in the field.
CWIP (Construction Work in Progress)
Cash FlowAn 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.
Latest Cash Flow News
Trump Administration Appeals Ruling Blocking Hudson Tunnel Funding Freeze
The Justice Department has appealed a federal court ruling that barred DOT from withholding funds on the $16B Hudson Tunnel Project, though reimbursements and construction continue for now, ENR reports.
yesterdayCash FlowMammoth Energy Still Owed $20M for 2017 Puerto Rico Storm Work
Nearly nine years after Hurricane Maria, Mammoth Energy subsidiary Cobra Acquisitions is still collecting on Puerto Rico power restoration invoices, with $20 million outstanding as of June 2026, OK Energy Today reports.
17 days agoCash FlowGordie Howe Bridge Opens to Pedestrians as Vehicle Traffic Begins
The Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor and Detroit opened to pedestrians and cyclists this week, following last week's opening to motorists, according to a Canadian Press report via Daily Commercial News.
28 days agoCash FlowTalos 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.
1 month 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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