General contractors
General contractor software for subs, change orders and job costs
A renovation runs on other people’s work. Keep every subcontractor’s quote, agreed changes, bills and holdback on the same project as your crew’s time, your receipts and your client’s invoices.
Basement renovation
Active| Subcontractor | Agreed | Held back |
|---|---|---|
| Example Electric · incl. 1 change | CA$9,800 | CA$980 |
| Example Plumbing | CA$6,400 | CA$640 |
| Example Drywall · quote sent | — | — |
Example Electric proposed a change: two extra circuits, CA$600.
Interactive project workspace · sample data
The problem
Where the work slips.
Most of the money on a GC job goes through other people’s invoices.
- A sub’s extra work is agreed on site and never makes it onto the client’s change order.
- Sub quotes, agreements and invoices sit in different email threads.
- Nobody knows how much holdback is owed, or when it is due for release.
- The job looks profitable until the last sub invoices arrive.
In Ordvero
How the work moves.
From the client’s estimate to the last holdback release, on one project.
- Step 1
Price the job for the client
Create the client, project and estimate. Send a secure link so the client can review and respond. Keep the agreed scope with the project.
- Step 2
Get quotes from your subs
Request a price from each subcontractor. They send their quote from their own portal, and the agreement records the scope and price you accept.
- Step 3
Run the site
Schedule your crew against the project, record their time and site receipts, and keep photos and instructions where everyone can find them.
- Step 4
Handle changes both ways
Review a sub’s proposed change before it is approved, and send the client a change order for the extra work so it gets billed.
- Step 5
Pay subs and close the job
Review sub invoices, hold back a percentage with a release date, and record payments made outside Ordvero. Compare all costs with what the client has been invoiced.
Worked example
One electrical sub on a basement renovation
The electrician’s agreement is CA$9,200. On site they propose two extra circuits for CA$600; you approve it and add a matching change order for the client.
Their invoice comes in at the new agreed amount. You hold back 10% with a release date, record the payment you make, and the project shows what is paid and what is still held.
Sample numbers. Holdback rates and release rules depend on your contract and province; Ordvero records them but doesn’t set them.
- Original agreement
- CA$9,200.00
- Approved change
- CA$600.00
- Agreed with the sub
- CA$9,800.00
- Held back (10%)
- CA$980.00
- Paid so far
- CA$8,820.00
Is it a fit?
Common questions
For small general contractors and renovation companies that run their own crew and hire subcontractors on most jobs. Not built for large commercial construction with formal bids, RFIs and drawings.
Do my subcontractors need an Ordvero account?
No paid seat. Subcontractors use their own portal to send quotes, review agreements, propose changes and submit invoices. They don’t count as users on your plan.
Can I track holdbacks?
Yes. Hold back a percentage of a subcontractor’s bill, set a release date and record the release when the work is accepted. Ordvero doesn’t calculate provincial lien or prompt-payment deadlines.
Does Ordvero pay my subcontractors?
No. You pay them as you do today and record the payment in Ordvero, so the project shows what is paid and what is still owed.
How do client change orders work?
Bill extra work on a change order invoice and send it to the client. If you want their agreement before doing the work, send an estimate for the extra work first; the client can accept it from the secure link.
Related
Keep the next part connected.
Start with your next job.
See how the project record fits your business, then choose a plan.