Funds raised or borrowed to grow a subcontracting business beyond its current capacity. This covers new equipment, additional crews, or entry into new service markets. It differs from operating capital, which keeps day-to-day work running.
Expansion Capital
Related Terms
Full Truckload Pricing
Cash FlowA freight rate applied when a shipment fills an entire truck, typically offering lower per-unit costs than partial loads. Subcontractors hauling equipment or materials to remote sites often negotiate FTL rates to reduce logistics costs. Consolidating loads before mobilisation helps field teams maximise savings under this pricing model.
Committed Utilization Agreement
Cash FlowA contract where a client guarantees a minimum percentage of hours or days your equipment and crew will be engaged over a set period. It protects subcontractors from revenue gaps during slow cycles. Rates are often discounted in exchange for that guaranteed volume.
Pay-When-Paid
Cash FlowA contract clause where a general contractor delays paying subcontractors until the owner pays them first. This shifts financial risk downstream to subcontractors and field service companies. Review these clauses carefully, as they can significantly impact your cash flow on long projects.
Operating Days
Cash FlowThe number of days equipment or crews are actively deployed and generating billable revenue on a job site. Subcontractors use this figure to track utilisation, forecast earnings, and negotiate day-rate contracts. Downtime, mobilisation delays, or weather shutdowns typically do not count as operating days.
PPI (Producer Price Index)
Cash FlowA government measure tracking price changes for goods and services at the producer level. Subcontractors use it to justify rate increases on long-term contracts when input costs rise. It also supports escalation clause negotiations with operators and prime contractors.
LEM (Labour, Equipment, Materials)
Cash FlowA breakdown of costs on a field ticket or invoice, separating charges into labor hours, equipment usage, and materials consumed.
Latest Cash Flow News
Aecon and Arctic Gateway Sign MOU for Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway Development
Aecon Group has signed a collaboration agreement with Arctic Gateway Group to support infrastructure development in northern Manitoba, targeting the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway. Subcontractors with remote construction experience should take note of upcoming opportunities in the region.
9 days ago Cash FlowNew Brunswick Prompt Payment Law Passed in 2023, Still Not Enforced — And Contractors Are Paying the Price
New Brunswick's prompt payment legislation received Royal Assent in 2023, but with no enforcement date set and no draft regulations released, contractors are still waiting months to get paid. Here's what the ongoing delay means for cash flow.
1 month ago Cash FlowCash Flow Strategy Gives Contractors an Edge in Volatile Market
Engineering News-Record outlines how contractors can manage cash flow through payment term negotiations, digital payments, and financial planning tools to stay competitive amid rising costs and economic uncertainty.
2 months ago Cash FlowChariot Backs Angola Offshore Deal With $12M, Gains Access to 4,000 bpd from Chevron-Operated Block
Chariot is financing an Angolan offshore acquisition with $12 million, securing production-linked cash flows from Block 14, a Chevron-operated asset producing around 40,000 bpd gross since 1999.
2 months 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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