A contract where a subcontractor processes or treats a client's raw material using your equipment or facility, without taking ownership of it. You charge a fee for the service rather than buying and reselling the material. Common in midstream and processing work, it directly affects how you invoice and recognise revenue.
Tolling Agreement
Related Terms
Job Costing
Cash FlowThe process of tracking all costs associated with a specific job or project, including labor, equipment, materials, and overhead. Accurate job costing is essential for understanding profitability.
Firm-Fixed-Price
Cash FlowA contract where the subcontractor agrees to deliver work for a set price, regardless of actual costs incurred. Cost overruns come out of your margin, not the client's budget. Accurate estimating and scope control are critical before signing.
Cash Price
Cash FlowA fixed, all-in rate quoted to a client that requires no further negotiation or adjustments. Subcontractors often offer a cash price to secure faster payment or simplified invoicing. It typically excludes extras like mobilisation, standby time, or material markups.
Spring Breakup
Cash FlowThe seasonal period when thawing ground and flooding restrict heavy equipment access to remote job sites. For subcontractors, it typically means project delays, suspended haul routes, and reduced billable work. Plan cash flow carefully to cover the slow period.
Spot Price
Cash FlowThe current market rate for materials, fuel, or equipment rentals purchased for immediate delivery. Spot prices fluctuate daily, directly affecting your job cost estimates and margins. Locking in rates early can protect subcontractors from sudden price spikes mid-project.
Lease Bid
Cash FlowA formal pricing submission to secure a contract for equipment, vehicles, or workspace on a lease basis. Subcontractors use lease bids to compete for longer-term site access or equipment rental agreements. Winning a lease bid typically locks in your daily or monthly rate for the contract duration.
Latest Cash Flow News
Aecon and Arctic Gateway Sign MOU for Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway Development
Aecon Group has signed a collaboration agreement with Arctic Gateway Group to support infrastructure development in northern Manitoba, targeting the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway. Subcontractors with remote construction experience should take note of upcoming opportunities in the region.
9 days ago Cash FlowNew Brunswick Prompt Payment Law Passed in 2023, Still Not Enforced — And Contractors Are Paying the Price
New Brunswick's prompt payment legislation received Royal Assent in 2023, but with no enforcement date set and no draft regulations released, contractors are still waiting months to get paid. Here's what the ongoing delay means for cash flow.
1 month ago Cash FlowCash Flow Strategy Gives Contractors an Edge in Volatile Market
Engineering News-Record outlines how contractors can manage cash flow through payment term negotiations, digital payments, and financial planning tools to stay competitive amid rising costs and economic uncertainty.
2 months ago Cash FlowChariot Backs Angola Offshore Deal With $12M, Gains Access to 4,000 bpd from Chevron-Operated Block
Chariot is financing an Angolan offshore acquisition with $12 million, securing production-linked cash flows from Block 14, a Chevron-operated asset producing around 40,000 bpd gross since 1999.
2 months 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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