What is Days Working Capital?

Job Costing, in the context of the construction industry, is a specific accounting methodology used to track costs and profitability associated with individual projects. It hinges on a project-by-project approach, meaning every construction project is treated as its own separate financial entity with its associated expenditures and revenues. This process might involve itemizing labor rates, material expenses, subcontracting work, equipment usage, direct and indirect costs, etc - all attributable to a particular job. Through this project-centric focus, construction firms can assess the financial success of each job, understand where costs are exceeding estimates or budgets, thereby facilitating better bidding, budgeting, and overall project management in future projects. It's a critical tool for aligning project performance with business profitability goals.

A guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is a financial cap used in construction contracts, representing the highest possible price a client can expect to pay for a particular project. This cap encompasses raw materials, labor, indirect costs, and a margin for the contractor’s profit. 

While offering financial predictability and safety to the client, this method can significantly impact subcontractors. To transfer a portion of the financial risk, general contractors (GCs) typically offer subcontractors fixed-price (or lump sum) subcontracts. This setup incentivizes subcontractors to adhere to budgets and timelines, as cost overruns directly affect their profit margins (unless the client was the one who requested changes). Conversely, if the project is completed under budget, subcontractors may benefit by sharing the savings with the GC. Ultimately, GMP contracts foster transparency and collaboration, promoting shared responsibility for project success between all parties involved. 

In GMP contracts where payments are tied to milestones or completion percentages, accurate pay applications—a core feature of Siteline—are crucial to getting paid sooner. Siteline also enables subcontractors to track outstanding balances and monitor their cash flow in real-time, empowering them with insights to proactively manage their financial health—which is paramount in GMP contracts. Ready to take control of your cash flow under GMP contracts? See how Siteline can help by scheduling a demo today.

A request for change order (RFC) is a formal document that subcontractors submit to general contractors when they encounter work that falls outside their original contract scope. Unlike the actual change order, which is the approved contract modification, an RFC is the preliminary request that kicks off the approval process. These requests typically include details about the additional work, justification for why it's necessary, cost estimates, and timeline impacts.

RFCs are critical for protecting subcontractors from performing unbillable work, but they need to be submitted quickly when field conditions change. The challenge is that field teams often discover the need for additional work while actively working on-site, but the documentation and approval process typically happens back in the office. This disconnect can create delays that either hold up project progress or pressure subcontractors to proceed with work before getting proper approval.

Siteline streamlines this process by bridging the gap between field and back office teams, making it easier to document scope changes as they happen and convert them into well-organized requests. See how Siteline can improve your RFC process—request a personalized demo here.