Cash Flow Tip 8 - Subcontractor and Vendor Terms and Pay Schedules

Provide the right carrots and hammers to ensure customer service, quality, schedule, profitability, and cash flow.

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Cash Flow: Tip 8 Subcontractors and Vendors - Terms and Pay Schedules

As important as it is for you to have a great Schedule-of-Values (SOV) with your customer, it is equally important to have great terms with your subcontractors and vendors. These must provide the right incentives (carrots), and when necessary, the right hammers to ensure the right balance between customer service, pricing, scheduling, and quality.  

This requires the same creativity and negotiating skills used to get good terms with your customer. We frequently see two similar contractors with similar customers, subcontractors, and vendors getting VERY different terms.  

Remember that you will not get 100% of the things you don’t ask for.  

Remember to strike a good balance - this is a 2-way relationship. 


  • Eliminate or minimize pre liens or anything that will slow down the payment process on your end.  
  • Extend payment terms to 60 or 90 days if it doesn’t impact profitability or performance.  
  • Utilize tools like AMEX payments where applicable if it doesn’t impact profitability.  
  • Be proactive in developing their payment schedules (SOV) for them. Provide incentives to accelerate getting started and keep them engaged through close-out.

Cash Flow Tip 8 - Subcontractor and Vendor Terms and Pay Schedules
Great cash flow is a key driver of valuation and successful successions. Running out of cash is is the #1 reason contractors fail. Improving cash flow improves your Return on Equity. Protect yourself and never let cash flow be the limitation to your profitable growth....

Cash Flow Tip 8 - Subcontractor and Vendor Terms and Pay Schedules
Great cash flow is a key driver of valuation and successful successions. Running out of cash is is the #1 reason contractors fail. Improving cash flow improves your Return on Equity. Protect yourself and never let cash flow be the limitation to your profitable growth....

Resource - The Five Minute Foreman
The Five-Minute Foreman by Mark Breslin is our most recommended book for Foremen in any sized contractor. The writing style, digestible chunks, and companion workbook are a great combination. We have never heard any Foreman not absolutely love this book.
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Fighting back effectively against labor productivity impacts will significantly improve project outcomes including customer satisfaction if handled properly. There are four interrelated aspects to effectively fighting back.
Resource - Gottman and the Science of Relationships
There is no relationship more intimate than that of life partners. Executive-level relationships, including business partnerships, share many similarities. The Gottmans have dedicated their lives to studying relationships, trust, and conflict resolution.