

Retainage is the small amount, typically 5% to 10% of the payment amount of each progress payment that clients hold in reserve as "insurance" of sorts against a contractor not finishing the job. How Does Retainage Impact Progress Billing? Using the schedule of values simplifies the invoicing process while ensuring that every project task has financial accountability. Projects in these industries tend to have many complicated moving parts, and they can take years to complete. Carpenters, masons, electricians, painters, plumbers and roofers as well as the general contractors that employ these specialists commonly employ incremental invoicing to keep up with the ongoing payroll and materials costs throughout construction projects.Ĭompanies in the technology integration, aircraft and defense industries also use progress billing. Which industries use progress billing?Ĭonstruction is the most common industry to use progress billing. However, the steady cash flow and compatibility with long-term projects make it a staple in some industries. Progress billing is helpful for any project that has defined stages and milestones toward completion. It includes the current invoice balance, the balance of work left and any outstanding and overdue invoices. Remaining balance: The remaining balance is how much the customer still owes on the project. Project completion percentage: The project completion percentage is how much of the project is complete and is billed.Īpproved changes and subsequent adjusted price: Includes any approved change orders affecting the cost of the project, along with the price difference. Total paid to date: The total paid to date is how much the customer has paid so far in the project. There may be incentives built in, for example, if the contractor completes the job early or under budget. Total project amount: This is how much the project is estimated to cost upon completion. Progress billing invoices require some items not found on typical invoices to ensure that payments are accurate. Upon satisfactory completion of the project, customers sign off and make the final payment. The contractor can then fund the purchase of goods and labor for the next phase of construction. As long as the customer is satisfied with the quality of the product, it makes the payment.

Progress billing is calculated on a to-date basis by multiplying the project's percentage complete by the total project price.Īs it meets milestones, the contractor submits an invoice for completed work. The contractor and customer or lender contractually agree to a set of milestones with associated payment percentages, and work begins.

Cost changes and disputes are two of the top challenges.Progress billing keeps project owners, general contractors, subcontractors and other stakeholders on the same page about scope, milestones and payment.Progress billing is a standard invoicing method for large, long-term projects that require ongoing funding for supplies and labor.The method is most commonly used in construction.

Companies bill customers on a predefined timeline based on completion of milestones. Progress billing is an invoicing method that provides for a regular payment cadence throughout a large-scale, long-term project. Still, while it's a straightforward concept, there are some nuances around execution that companies and customers should be aware of. While it’s most often associated with the construction sector, the concept of incremental billing tied to progress milestones makes sense for a number of businesses. Progress billing is a way to manage invoicing in industries where projects may take months - even years - and cost hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. East, Nordics and Other Regions (opens in new tab)
