How MCAs Disguise Their Harmful Business Practices
We’re all pretty familiar with MCAs and how they can lead to a cycle of high-interest debt where the only way to repay your loan is to take out a new one. But what you may not know is that MCAs are really good at hiding in plain sight. They lean on deceptive terminology to […]
How To Get Every Dollar You Deserve From Change Order Negotiation
Change orders have always been a hub of disputes and delays for subcontractors. At any given moment, subs can have hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid change orders hanging in the balance. Sharpening your negotiation skills can help address these tricky situations and achieve better outcomes. That’s why Billd gathered a panel of construction […]
Subcontractors Need to Request the Prime Contract on Every Project. Here’s Why.
Plenty of subs sign their contracts without ever seeing the GC’s prime contract. It’s not common practice among subs to ask for it, but here’s the thing: it needs to be. Maegan Spivey, a Contracts Manager in the construction industry, is on a mission to get subcontractors in the habit of requesting it any time […]
Construction Contract Negotiation Part 2: How to Protect Your Right to Make a Claim
In part 1, we went over attorney James Carney’s negotiation best practices and high-risk contract areas that can often lead to litigation. In part 2, we’ll explore the passive and active waivers that will determine whether or not you can make important claims on a construction project. How to Maintain Your Right to Make a […]
Hiring vs. Contracting Labor: The Pros and Cons of Each
Amid a massive labor shortage, subcontractors are forced to be more strategic about their workforce than ever. They have a choice between hiring their employees (provided they can find good candidates), or subcontracting with a labor company. Striking a good balance between hired and contract workers can help you run your business more efficiently. There […]
5 Ways to Make Retainage Less Painful for Subcontractors
Retainage has been called a necessary evil in the construction industry. It can be a massive setback because of how much it could delay your full project payment. But having a firm grasp of retainage is extremely beneficial to subcontractors. Anything that affects your payment speed is ultimately going to affect your cash flow. That’s […]
7 Contract Clauses That Other Subs Have Negotiated Successfully
A contract clause can be a bit like a shield, guarding against every nasty “what if” that could crop up on a construction project. It’s a weapon against having your rights trampled on as a sub. It’s a lifesaver for situations you once thought were inevitable. And you can get creative with them. Billd recently […]
Why Construction Projects Are More Risky for Subcontractors than Anyone Else
In 2022, we launched the first of its kind, the Billd Roundtable, a video series that brought together a GC, a subcontractor, and a supplier to discuss the real issues that matter to construction professionals. The three episodes featured Russ Briscoe, VP of Sales of Billd, mediating discussions between Jason Beiter, VP of JE Dunn […]
Banks as a Financial Option for Subcontractors: Billd’s Take
Softcore mayhem descended on America’s banking system in March 2023, when two big whig banks abruptly closed. Economists like AGC’s Ken Simonson were uneasy, fearing the uncertainty in financial markets could spill into the construction industry. With a lot of folks casting a critical eye on banks, Billd believes that now is a good time […]
