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.
Take-Or-Pay
Related Terms
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.
Joint Venture Dispute
Cash FlowA conflict between JV (Joint Venture) partners over cost-sharing, scope, or payments that can delay approvals and freeze subcontractor invoices. When JV partners disagree, field service companies often face work stoppages or withheld purchase orders. Always clarify which JV partner holds contracting authority before mobilising.
Joint Check
Cash FlowA payment cheque issued by a general contractor made payable to both the subcontractor and their supplier or creditor simultaneously. It ensures supplier invoices are paid directly from project funds, reducing lien risk. Subcontractors must endorse the cheque alongside the named party before cashing it.
Adjusted Ebitda (earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation)
Cash FlowA profitability measure that strips out non-cash costs and one-time charges, showing true operational earnings. For subcontractors, it reveals how much cash your field operations actually generate. Clients and lenders use it to assess your financial health before awarding contracts or extending credit.
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.
ITC (Investment Tax Credit)
Cash FlowA federal tax incentive that reduces the taxes a subcontractor owes based on eligible capital investments, such as purchasing equipment or machinery. Field service companies can apply ITCs to offset costs on qualifying assets used in operations. This can improve cash flow by lowering overall tax liability at year-end.
Latest Cash Flow News
Mammoth 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.
6 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.
17 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.
25 days agoCash FlowGordie Howe Bridge Set to Open Monday After Canada-Only Ceremony
Windsor held a Canada-only ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge ahead of Monday's opening, after Ottawa scrapped a joint U.S. event amid tariff tensions.
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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