The timing of money coming in and going out, which is a separate question from whether the work is profitable. A profitable business runs out of money by paying for materials in week one and being paid in week eight, repeatedly. Deposits, progress payments and short terms are cash-flow tools, not greed, and they are why a small contractor can take on a job whose materials cost more than the bank balance.
In FieldQuo — Dashboard
FieldQuo shows what is owed alongside what is scheduled, so the gap between the work and the money is visible before it bites.
Related terms
- DepositMoney taken before work starts, usually to cover materials and to prove the customer is serious.
- Progress paymentA payment due partway through a job, tied to a stage of the work rather than to a date.
- Payment termsWhen payment is due, counted from the invoice date.
- Accounts receivableThe money that has been invoiced and not yet paid, usually sorted by how long it has been outstanding.
More in pricing, cost and profit
Every document in your name, not ours
Quotes, invoices and scheduling for field-service businesses. Your first 14 days are free — your card isn't charged until they end.
Start free trial