How to Get Paid Faster as a Subcontractor

Slow payment is rarely about the GC being difficult — it's usually about friction somewhere in the paperwork. The subs who get paid fastest tend to remove that friction before it has a chance to slow anything down.

Start with the scope of work. A vague scope invites back-and-forth before an invoice can even be approved. Spell out exactly what's included, what's excluded, and how change orders are handled, and get it signed before work begins.

Invoice promptly and completely. Send your invoice the same day a job or milestone wraps, not weeks later, and include everything the GC's accounting team will ask for: your W-9 on file, a clear breakdown of line items, photos of completed work, and your COI if it's not already on record.

Use milestones on larger jobs instead of waiting for a single lump-sum payment at the very end. Splitting a project into a deposit, progress payments, and a final payment keeps cash moving and gives you an early signal if something's off before the whole balance is at risk.

Finally, follow up like it's routine, not confrontational. A short, friendly check-in a few days after an invoice is due is normal business practice — most delays are administrative, not personal, and a quick nudge is usually all it takes.