The process a prime contractor or operator uses to review, approve, and finalise invoices before releasing payment to subcontractors. Understanding the settling system helps subs forecast cash flow and avoid payment delays. Timelines vary widely between clients, so confirm the cycle before mobilising.
Settling System
Related Terms
Formula Programs
Cash FlowPricing arrangements where labour or service rates are automatically adjusted based on preset variables like fuel costs or inflation indices. Common in long-term oil and gas contracts, they reduce rate renegotiation between operators and subcontractors.
Special Dividend
Cash FlowA one-time payment made by a client company to shareholders, separate from regular dividends. For subcontractors, it may signal a cash-flush operator likely to fast-track project approvals or expand field budgets. Watch for these announcements when forecasting upcoming contract opportunities.
Principal Forgiveness
Cash FlowWhen a lender cancels part of the original loan balance owed by a subcontractor or field service company. This reduces total debt obligations, improving cash flow for ongoing operations. It differs from interest relief, as it directly lowers the core amount borrowed.
Project-Level Debt
Cash FlowFinancing borrowed against a specific project's revenue, not the owner's overall assets. Subcontractors should know this because payment depends on that project performing financially. If the project underperforms, your invoices may be delayed or disputed.
Bridging Capacity
Cash FlowA subcontractor's ability to fund ongoing operations while awaiting payment from a prime contractor or client. It covers payroll, equipment costs, and materials during invoice gaps. Strong bridging capacity keeps crews mobilised and contracts on track without cash shortfalls.
Phased Handover
Cash FlowA structured process where completed sections of a project are formally transferred to the client in stages rather than all at once. Each phase triggers its own inspection, sign-off, and often a progress payment. Subcontractors must track completion milestones carefully to avoid billing delays.
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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