What is a Contract?

Accounts Receivable (A/R) in the construction industry refers to the amount of money owed to a construction company for goods and services it has provided but has not yet been paid for. This is typically recorded as an asset on the company's balance sheet as it represents a legal obligation for the customer to remit payment to the company. The A/R system helps track these outstanding payments within a set time period, allowing construction companies to manage their cash flow effectively. It's essential for construction firms to monitor their A/R closely, as late or uncollected payments can significantly impact their financial health and ability to fund future projects.

Within the construction industry, "leverage" often alludes to the concept of using a relatively small initial investment, or resources such as machinery, time, or manpower, to gain a high return. This generally references the strategic procurement and deployment of resources or borrowed capital to increase the potential return of an investment. Leverage is particularly strategic in construction management, as it allows contractors to undertake larger projects than they could otherwise afford, enhancing their potential profit. For instance, the acquisition of a construction crane may require a significant upfront investment, but allow for much more effective work on high-rise projects, enabling the contractor to command a higher price for the job. Therefore, the term "leverage" refers to optimizing resources or borrowed funds to increase efficiency, achieve greater scale and amplify profits in construction ventures.

A sworn statement is a legal document used in construction projects that lists all contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers providing labor or materials for a project. When signed, it serves as a sworn declaration that the information provided is complete and accurate, meaning the signer is swearing under oath that no parties other than those listed need to be paid for work on the project. 

Sworn statements include detailed financial information for each party, such as contract amounts, previous payments, current amounts due, and remaining balances. Because these statements are made under oath, providing false information can result in perjury charges.

For subcontractors, sworn statements create transparency in the payment process, ideally to help prevent payment disputes. They’re typically submitted alongside payment applications, especially when requesting final payment. While not required in most states, Michigan and Illinois mandate sworn statements for all construction projects, with Michigan requiring a specific standardized form. Submitting sworn statements proactively—even when not explicitly required—can build trust with general contractors (GCs) and often results in faster payments. However, accuracy is critical; any discrepancies with sworn statements can have the opposite effect—delayed payments and damaged relationships. Check out this blog post for more tips on managing sworn statements.

Siteline can simplify the sworn statement process through integrations with popular construction accounting systems like Sage 300 CRE, Sage 100, Sage Intacct, Spectrum, and Vista. These integrations automatically pull accounts payable (A/P) information to complete sworn statements and subcontractor affidavits accurately, preventing costly errors and delays. See for yourself—book a no-obligation demo of Siteline today.