A funding structure where a specific project secures its own debt and equity, separate from the sponsor's balance sheet. For subcontractors, payment depends heavily on the project's cash flow rather than the owner's overall finances. This increases payment risk, making it critical to review contract terms and security provisions carefully.
Project Financing
Related Terms
Lump Sum
Cash FlowA pricing model where the contractor agrees to complete a defined scope of work for a fixed total price, regardless of actual costs incurred.
Red Flag Warning
Cash FlowA signal that a client or project poses serious financial or operational risk to a subcontractor. Common triggers include late payments, scope disputes, or sudden crew access restrictions. Recognising these early helps subcontractors protect revenue and avoid costly disputes.
DSO (Days Sales Outstanding)
Cash FlowThe 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.
Shut-In
Cash FlowA temporary halt to production or operations at a well or facility, which often results in subcontractors being stood down with little notice, directly impacting billable hours and crew scheduling. Understanding shut-in clauses in your service agreement is critical, as they typically limit or eliminate your ability to claim standby pay or mobilisation costs during the downtime.
Unit Rate
Cash FlowA pricing model where work is billed per unit completed (per meter drilled, per cubic meter hauled, per joint welded, etc.).
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
Utilities Tighten Large-Load Tariffs With Upfront Fees, Longer Contracts
A new LBNL and Brattle Group analysis finds utilities increasingly requiring upfront payments, exit fees, and ramp schedules for large-load customers like data centers, a shift that will slow project timelines for grid-tie and on-site generation subcontractors.
5 days agoCash FlowTrump 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.
12 days agoCash 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.
28 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.
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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