Percentage-of-Completion
What is percentage of completion?
Percentage of completion (POC) is a metric that represents the proportion of work completed on a construction project at a given point in time. It is expressed as a percentage of the total contracted work. The POC is important to subcontractor workflows for several reasons:
- Payment schedules: Most construction contracts stipulate that subcontractors receive payment based on the percentage of work completed rather than a lump sum payment at the end of the project. The POC determines the amount of payment that a subcontractor can request from the general contractor (GC) or the project owner for the work performed during a specific billing period.
- Cash flow management: Subcontractors rely on progress payments to maintain a healthy cash flow and cover expenses such as labor, materials, and equipment. The POC directly impacts the timing and amount of progress payments received, allowing subcontractors to plan and manage their financial resources effectively.
- Project monitoring and control: Tracking the POC helps subcontractors monitor their progress against the project schedule and budget. It enables them to identify potential delays or cost overruns early on, allowing for prompt corrective actions.
- Dispute resolution: In the event of disputes or claims related to payment or project delays, POC documentation can serve as evidence to support the subcontractor's position and substantiate their claims for outstanding payments or compensation.
- Resource allocation: By monitoring the POC, subcontractors can better plan and allocate their resources (labor, materials, equipment, etc.) across multiple projects, ensuring efficient utilization and avoiding resource conflicts or shortages.
- Project closeout: The POC is crucial during the project closeout phase, as it helps determine the final payment due to the subcontractor and ensures that all work has been completed according to the contract terms.
Overall, POC serves as a versatile tool throughout the entire project lifecycle, from initial payment requests to final closeout. And with Siteline, managing POC workflows becomes effortless. Siteline makes progress billing a cinch by:
- Generating custom pay applications with real-time POC calculations
- Offering intuitive dashboards for clear financial visualization and decision-making
- Integrating with GC payment portals for accurate, timely pay application submissions
- Centralizing all documentation for enhanced collaboration and communication
Book a demo today to experience how Siteline can empower your team to make informed decisions, maintain a steady cash flow, and ensure successful project closeouts.
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Other construction terms
What is a Chart of Accounts?
A Chart of Accounts (COA) in the construction industry is essentially a financial organizational tool that provides a complete listing of every account in an accounting system. These accounts are typically used to categorize financial transactions that a business has to deal with to conduct its everyday operations. In construction, the COA may include accounts such as materials, labor costs, subcontractor fees, overhead expenses, equipment costs, and liabilities. Different project types will often require different charts of accounts. Furthermore, the COA assists in organizing the company's finances and ensuring accurate financial reporting, it's also important for identifying the total costs of a construction job, tracking profit margins, and analyzing expenses. It's a critical tool in managing a construction company's finances.
What is Underbilling?
Underbilling refers to a scenario in the construction industry where the actual costs incurred on a project surpass the billed amount for a specific time period. Often occurring unintentionally due to unexpected cost variations, it results in a deficit situation for the contractor. It is essentially an imbalance where the contractor has delivered more work or materials than they have billed the client for. Underbilling can strain cash flow and disrupt project schedules if not addressed promptly. While this might prove beneficial to the client in the short term, contractors need to ensure that they identify and rectify underbilling to maintain project profitability and financial stability.
What is a Backlog?
A Backlog in the construction industry refers to the accumulation of work orders or tasks that are yet to be completed. It is often utilized as an indicator of the volume of work that needs to be addressed. Within a construction context, a backlog could include pending blueprints to approve, inspections to perform, or specific construction tasks to complete. It is crucial for project managers to monitor and manage the backlog because it can directly impact project timelines, productivity, and ultimately, profitability. A high backlog suggests a heavy workload and the potential for delay. A low backlog may indicate that there is not enough work to keep the crew busy. Therefore, balancing the backlog is key in efficient project administration.
