The base price a subcontractor pays to source materials, equipment, or supplies before adding markup. Understanding wholesale cost helps field service companies price jobs accurately and protect margins. It is the starting point for calculating billable rates to clients.
Wholesale Cost
Related Terms
Tolling Agreement
Cash FlowA 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.
Take-Or-Pay
Cash FlowA 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.
Ticket Rejection
Cash FlowWhen an operator returns a field ticket for correction before approval. Common causes include missing information, rate discrepancies, or insufficient documentation. Rejections delay payment and require rework.
Expansion Capital
Cash FlowFunds raised or borrowed to grow a subcontracting business beyond its current capacity. This covers new equipment, additional crews, or entry into new service markets. It differs from operating capital, which keeps day-to-day work running.
Contingent Payment
Cash FlowPayment tied to a specific condition being met, such as project completion or client approval. Subcontractors must track these triggers carefully to invoice on time. Delayed conditions can create serious cash-flow gaps in the field.
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.
Latest Cash Flow News
Gordie Howe Bridge to Open July 27, Adding Second Detroit-Windsor Span
U.S. and Canadian officials set a July 27 opening for the Gordie Howe International Bridge after a six-week delay tied to toll governance talks, adding a second commercial crossing between Detroit and Windsor.
yesterday Cash FlowKiewit's Weeks Marine Gets $88M Hudson Tunnel Change Order
The Gateway Development Commission approved an $88 million change order for Weeks Marine to clear submerged piles from the Hudson River, clearing the path for tunnel boring machines set to start in 2028.
3 days ago Cash FlowCourt Ruling Clears Funding Freeze on $16B Hudson Tunnel Project
A federal judge permanently blocked the U.S. Department of Transportation from withholding funds on the Hudson Tunnel Project, ruling the September freeze flagrantly violated federal law.
15 days ago Cash FlowAecon 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.
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.
Stay sharp on field operations
Industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to FieldNews