A general contractor fronts payroll, subcontractors and materials, then waits on a draw. This page is about commercial and trade work, where that wait is the main cash problem.
Apply Now →A general contractor sits in the middle of a payment chain. The owner or developer pays the contractor in stages, after work is inspected and approved. The contractor pays subcontractors, suppliers and its own crew on its own schedule, which is usually shorter. The mismatch is where money gets tight: you owe people before you are owed.
The larger the job, the larger that mismatch. A contractor winning a bigger commercial contract needs more cash to start it, not less, because materials and the first payroll cycles come before the first draw is released.
| Item | Timing |
|---|---|
| Crew payroll | Weekly or biweekly, regardless of draw dates |
| Subcontractor invoices | Often due within weeks of the work |
| Materials and deliveries | Ordered ahead of installation |
| Permits, insurance and bonding costs | Up front, before work starts |
| Equipment rental or repair | Monthly, or when something fails |
Labor costs also shift with wage rules. The 2026 state minimum wage is $17 per hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester, and $16 in the rest of the state, and it is indexed from 2027, so crew budgets tend to move upward over time.
Two common pressures are retainage, where a portion of each payment is held back until the job closes out, and late approvals. A contractor can finish a phase and still wait for an inspection or sign-off before payment moves. Working capital can bridge this wait. It cannot fix a contract with poor payment terms, so read those before you bid.
Suppose a contractor wins a commercial fit-out. In round numbers, the first month needs $60,000 for payroll, subcontractors and materials, and the first draw arrives after that month plus approval time. Funding that first month lets the crew start on schedule and lets the contractor buy materials in one order. If the contractor skips the funding, a common result is a late start or a smaller crew, which can push the whole schedule. Whether the job's margin covers the funding cost is the calculation to make before applying.
Larger commercial jobs often require insurance certificates, and some require bonding. These costs come before a contractor can mobilize, so they belong in your start-up cash plan. Keep them separate from the working capital you need for payroll and materials. A common mistake is to size a request around materials only and then find that bonding, insurance and mobilization costs consumed a good share of the cash before the first day on site.
It also helps to track the aging of your receivables. If most of your money is held in retainage and unapproved draws, you can see how much cash a job really needs and how much of your own cash you are risking on each contract.
Funding from $25,000 to $5,000,000, as little as 24 hours. FICO 500 and up considered, about three months of bank statements, no tax returns, a five-minute application and a soft credit pull. Sole proprietors can apply. This page is meant for commercial and trade work. Apply when your next contract is signed.
Yes. Funding for crew payroll, subcontractors and materials ahead of a draw is a typical use, so work can start on schedule.
A funding amount sized to cover a late draw can keep payroll and suppliers current. Check the payment terms in the contract before bidding, because funding bridges a delay but does not change the terms.
Sole proprietors can apply. About three months of business bank statements are requested, and no tax returns are required.
Add up payroll, subcontractors and materials for the period before the first draw arrives, then add a margin for approvals. Funding runs from $25,000 to $5,000,000.
This page is written around commercial and trade contracting. Each application is reviewed on its own bank statements, and funding is not promised for any category in advance.
Three months of business bank statements and a 5-minute application. FICO 500+ considered. $25,000 to $5,000,000, funded in as little as 24 hours.
Apply Now →It takes about two minutes and it will not affect your credit score.
No obligation • No impact to your credit score
