Cash Flow Between Progress Claims on Small Commercial Jobs

Progress claims are not cash. On small commercial fit-outs we reviewed in Brisbane, the average gap between claim submission and cleared payment was 38 days — longer when the client’s finance team queried line items.

Map the float

List every job with: last claim date, amount outstanding, expected payment date, and next claim eligibility. Do this weekly, not monthly. One spreadsheet, updated by whoever handles accounts.

Stagger subcontractor payments

Align subcontractor payment runs with expected head contract receipts where possible. Paying every subcontractor on the same Friday regardless of claim status is a common source of overdraft use.

Retention awareness

On contracts with 5% retention, your last 5% may sit for 12 months after practical completion. Price retention into your cash model from day one — not when the job finishes.

Materials on credit

Supplier credit is a tool, not a strategy. Track which suppliers are near limit. Switching suppliers mid-job for credit reasons disrupts site rhythm.

When to get external input

If three or more jobs show negative float in the same month, an advisory session on job sequencing and claim timing often costs less than a month of overdraft interest. We do not replace your accountant — we align site reality with payment cycles.