Contracts Archives

Top 10 Contract Red Flags Every Subcontractor Should Flag Before Signing 0

By Christian Fernandez, Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. Winning the job is only half the battle. For many subcontractors, the real risk—and the real potential for lost profit—starts with the contract. Today’s subcontracts are often written to push as much risk as possible downstream. If you’re not reading carefully or pushing back where it matters, you

Contract Risk – Four Things You Can Do to Mitigate It 0

by Doug Reitz – Director, Maxim Consulting Group Over the years, I have seen skilled subcontractors do outstanding work and then not get paid for it. It could be disputes that drag on for months, unforeseen delays, missed contractual deadlines or even a misunderstanding that escalated. For some owners and GCs, holding payment is the

The Law Is Catching Up to Retainage—and Subs Should Take Notice 0

By Claire Wilson, Siteline The math has never been pretty. A general contractor negotiates 5% retainage with the owner, then turns around and holds 10% from its subcontractors. You absorb twice the financial burden for the same project risk—at margins that typically run 3 to 10%. For most subcontractors, the retainage being withheld is most

Peace of Mind in Construction: Managing Risk to Protect Your Well-Being 0
- Contracts, Legally Speaking, Payment
- September 29, 2025
By Leslie A. Boe, Dysart Taylor Cotter McMonigle & Brumitt, P.C. Construction is one of the most demanding industries— rising material costs, complex contracts, tight deadlines, changes in scope of work, and payment disputes can create a constant undercurrent of stress. Over time, that strain doesn’t just affect productivity—it affects mental health, sleep, and overall
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Change Orders Without Chaos: A Payroll Perspective on Simplifying Your Process 0
- Change Orders, CONSTRUCTION, Contracts, Improving Productivity
- May 27, 2025
By Jack Biltis, eBacon Inc. Change orders. Just the phrase can send a shiver down the spine of even the most seasoned construction professional. While often viewed as an operational headache impacting project timelines and budgets, the ripple effects of a disorganized change order process extend significantly into the realm of payroll. For payroll managers
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Change Orders, Lien Releases, and Claims, Oh My!0
- Best Practices, Contracts, FINANCE, LEGAL, Legally Speaking
- May 26, 2025
How (Sub)Contractors Can Ensure They Protect Their Rights to What They Are Owed By Michael Metz-Topodas, Saul Ewing LLP michael.metz-topodas@saul.com Despite construction project’s fundamental premise—contractors should receive payment for work properly performed—too many subcontractors have lived through too many horror stories about projects where that does not happen. Such scarring experiences can lead subcontractors to
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