Finishing trades come late in a project, and payment comes later still. Crews and materials are paid for in the meantime.
Apply Now →Painting and drywall are finishing trades. They work after framing and mechanical systems, and often their start dates shift as earlier trades run over. When the schedule slides, the crew still needs to be paid and the work may get squeezed into a tighter window. At the end of the job, the contractor waits for the general contractor or owner to release payment, which may depend on final inspection or a punch list.
For a subcontractor, the payment chain is long. The owner pays the general contractor, who pays the subcontractor, and each step has its own timing.
| Cost | Detail |
|---|---|
| Crew wages | Weekly pay for painters, tapers and finishers, regardless of when the job pays |
| Materials | Joint compound, board, primer, paint and supplies bought for each job |
| Equipment | Sprayers, lifts, scaffolding, sanders and dust control |
| Vehicle and fuel | Trucks and vans hauling material and tools |
| Insurance | Coverage for crews working on active sites |
Finishing trades often carry retainage, with a percentage of the contract held back until completion. Punch-list items can delay final payment further. Change orders add work, but the paperwork can be slow. All of this makes it important to keep records and to bill promptly. Cash on hand helps cover the wait between finishing and getting paid in full.
Taking a larger contract may mean hiring more painters or finishers and buying more equipment. The payroll starts first, and the payment follows weeks later.
A job estimate should include materials, labor hours, equipment use, vehicle costs and a margin for rework. The most common mistake is underestimating labor, particularly on jobs with a lot of prep, patching or multiple coats. Tracking actual hours against the estimate shows whether your pricing is on target.
It also helps to track each job's cash position separately. How much have you spent, how much have you billed and how much have you collected? A job that is 70 percent complete but only 30 percent paid is a cash drain. If several jobs are in that state at once, working capital can bridge the period. Setting up a simple weekly cash view helps decide how much you actually need.
For illustration only: a drywall and painting crew wins a large commercial interior contract. The first month needs $40,000 for wages and materials, with the first payment due after a progress inspection. Funding that month lets the crew start on time, which is often required to keep a contract. The contractor should check the payment terms in the subcontract before committing.
We offer $25,000 to $5,000,000, funded in as little as 24 hours. FICO 500 and up considered, about three months of business bank statements and no tax returns. The application takes five minutes and uses a soft credit pull. Sole proprietors can apply. Start the application.
Yes. Sole proprietors can apply. About three months of business bank statements are requested, and no tax returns are required.
Assume a portion of each contract will be paid late. Size any funding to cover payroll through the period until retainage is released.
Equipment purchases are typical uses.
Funding can cover the first weeks of wages and materials. Check the contract's payment terms first.
No. The application uses a soft credit pull.
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.
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