Wholesale Cost

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.

A legal claim registered against a property when a subcontractor hasn't been paid for work or materials provided. It secures your right to payment by encumbering the owner's title. Filing deadlines are strict, so act quickly if invoices go unpaid.

A structured process where completed sections of a project are formally transferred to the client in stages rather than all at once. Each phase triggers its own inspection, sign-off, and often a progress payment. Subcontractors must track completion milestones carefully to avoid billing delays.

Time when a subcontractor's crew or equipment is on-site but unable to work due to client-caused delays. Most contracts allow billing at a reduced standby rate during this period. Tracking and documenting standby time is critical to recovering these costs.

A pay premium added to a base rate for working in hazardous, remote, or demanding conditions. Subcontractors should account for applicable differentials when pricing bids and setting crew rates.

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

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.

Post-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.

Mechanic'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.