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Cash Flow Glossary Term

SRF (State Revolving Fund)

A government-backed loan programme that funds municipal water, wastewater, and infrastructure projects. These funds often finance large construction contracts, creating steady work for subcontractors and field service crews. Knowing a project is SRF-funded signals stable, government-secured payment on long-term builds.

Related Terms

LEM (Labour, Equipment, Materials)

Cash Flow

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

Take-Or-Pay

Cash Flow

A contract clause requiring the client to pay for a minimum volume of services or materials, whether used or not. For subcontractors, it provides revenue protection when a project slows down or scopes are cut. Negotiate these clauses carefully to ensure your standby rates and mobilisation costs are covered.

Embedded Cost

Cash Flow

Expenses already built into a contract rate that cannot be billed separately, such as mobilisation, PPE, or overhead. Subcontractors must identify these upfront to avoid absorbing unrecovered costs. Missing embedded costs during bid review is a common source of margin loss.

Pay-When-Paid

Cash Flow

A 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.

Price Book

Cash Flow

A document listing agreed-upon rates for various services, equipment, and materials between an operator and contractor. Field tickets are validated against the price book before approval.

Red Flag Warning

Cash Flow

A 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.

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