What is a Milestone?

Bottom-of-Chain or Low-Tier in the construction industry refers to the lowest level of subcontractors or suppliers involved in a construction project. They are at the end of the construction chain, typically providing specific services or materials as subcontracted by higher-tier companies. These can include specialized tasks like electrical work, plumbing, landscaping, or supply of construction materials. Their work is crucial as they lay the foundation for more complex tasks to be executed by upper-tier contractors. They are also bound by the contracts in place, like other members of the chain, although directly managed by mid-tier subcontractors instead of the main contractor.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) within the construction industry is a comprehensive document that outlines the specifics about a particular construction project. It's a call to bidders, helping interested contractors and construction firms understand the project details, timelines, expectations, and criteria for selecting the winning bid. An RFP in the construction industry typically includes information such as project scope, schedule, required materials, budget, and other relevant factors. It acts as a formal invitation, allowing companies to bid on the project by proposing a plan that meets or exceeds the listed requirements. This inherently ensures competition, dedication towards the job and best value for money for the project owner.

Billings in excess of costs (also called overbillings) occur when you’ve invoiced your client for more work than you’ve actually completed or incurred costs for. In other words, it represents getting paid ahead of your work schedule.

Here’s how it works: If you’re a concrete subcontractor on a $100,000 job and you bill 50% upfront ($50,000) but have only completed $30,000 worth of work, that $20,000 difference is your billings in excess of costs. You owe your client that work, and until you complete it, that $20,000 remains as a liability on your balance sheet.

For subcontractors, understanding billing in excess of costs is essential because it can be a strategic cash flow tool when used carefully. For example, when bidding on a job, you can be smart about how you structure your schedule of values (SOV)—breaking work down into more detailed line items that allow earlier billing. However, this strategy requires regular monitoring to ensure:

• Your billing somewhat aligns with your actual percentage complete, and 
• The remaining contract value will still cover your remaining costs.

The biggest risk of overbilling is thinking your margins look better than they are, simply because you’re collecting cash faster. Surety companies and lenders also scrutinize overbillings closely, as excessive amounts can signal poor project management or potential cash flow problems down the road.

With Siteline, you can easily track whether you’re billing in excess of your costs by pulling your month-to-month incurred costs and comparing them against your billing progress. This real-time visibility helps ensure you’re billing appropriately while maintaining realistic profitability expectations. If you’re interested in seeing for yourself, schedule a personalized demo of Siteline here.