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Cash Flow Glossary Term

Suspension Clause

A contract provision allowing the prime contractor or owner to pause work without terminating the agreement. Subcontractors may be entitled to standby rates or cost recovery during the suspension period. Review these clauses carefully, as payout terms and notice requirements vary widely.

Related Terms

Revenue Leakage

Cash Flow

Revenue that is earned but never collected due to operational inefficiencies. Common causes include lost field tickets, unbilled equipment hours, forgotten third-party charges, and documentation errors. Industry estimates suggest 1-5% of revenue is lost to leakage in paper-based operations.

Diesel Surcharge

Cash Flow

A variable fee added to invoices to recover fuel cost fluctuations on equipment-heavy jobs. Subcontractors often tie it to a published index, such as the weekly rack price. Review prime contracts carefully — some owners cap or exclude surcharges entirely.

CWIP (Construction Work in Progress)

Cash Flow

An 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.

Beneficial Use

Cash Flow

The point when a client formally accepts and begins using delivered equipment or a completed scope of work. For subcontractors, this date often triggers final billing milestones or warranty periods. Confirm it in writing to protect your payment rights.

Apportionment

Cash Flow

The division of costs, revenue, or liability between multiple parties on a shared project or contract. Subcontractors encounter this when overhead costs or insurance claims are split across several work scopes or prime contractors. Clear apportionment terms in your contract protect against unfair cost allocations.

Project-Level Debt

Cash Flow

Financing 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.

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