Draw schedule
A draw schedule breaks the contract price into payments tied to milestones: deposit, rough-in complete, drywall closed, substantial completion, final. It keeps the contractor funded for work performed and the client protected against paying far ahead of progress.
State law adds a legal layer: deposit rules and lien law differ by state and shape what a compliant schedule looks like, and a clean draw schedule printed on the proposal prevents most payment disputes before they start.
What makes a draw schedule fair?
Draws that track completed value. If a draw comes due, the work it represents should be inspectable on site. Front-loaded schedules that collect most of the money before most of the work signal risk to the client; back-loaded ones starve the contractor's cash flow. Milestones both parties can verify keep it honest.
Price your next job from the same cost data these figures come from, adjusted for where the job is. You set your markup and approve every line before you bid.
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