Topic
Getting Paid
Deposits, progress billing, late payers and liens. The mechanics of turning finished work into money in the bank, and what to do when a customer will not pay.
20 articles · browse the full archive
GrowthCustomer Cancelled? How Much Deposit You Can Keep
Keep what the cancellation cost you, not what the invoice says. Inside a 3-day cooling-off window you refund everything within 10 business days.
15 min
Business SavingsBest Payment Processing for Contractors: 8 Compared
Compare 8 contractor payment processors on large-invoice fees, ACH caps and workflow. Check the full cost before switching, or request a free fee review.
9 min
GrowthHearth vs GreenSky: What the Rate Sheet Shows
A real GreenSky rate sheet runs 5.85% to 33.6% per loan. Hearth charges a flat $1,499 to $6,000 a year. Who pays what, when you get paid, and who wins.
21 min
GrowthCollect on a Judgment Against a Customer: 9 Steps
Winning is not getting paid. The 9-step order to collect a judgment from a customer: asset search, lien, bank levy, garnishment, bankruptcy and renewal.
24 min
Custom CRMShould I Get a Business Credit Card? 7 Checks
Construction firms revolve card balances more than almost any industry. Should you get a business credit card? 7 checks on liability, float and APR first.
24 min
GrowthShould I Take a Customer to Small Claims? 7 Tests
California caps business claims at $6,250 and bars unlicensed contractors from recovering at all. Seven tests to run before you sue a customer who won't pay.
21 min
GrowthShould I Use a Collections Agency? 6 Checks
Agencies keep 17% to 50% of what they recover, and a homeowner's invoice is consumer debt under federal law. Run six checks before you place an account.
22 min
Custom CRMHow to Collect Bids From Subcontractors: 7 Steps
Seven steps to collect subcontractor bids you can actually compare, plus the point where carrying a sub's number legally commits you to award them the work.
19 min
Lead GenerationContractor Financing Companies: 12 Reviewed (2026)
12 contractor financing companies reviewed: rate sheets put dealer fees at 0% to 26.6%, and contractor reviews show funding and approvals matter more.
20 min
Custom CRMHow to Get Paid Faster as a Contractor: 4 Clocks
Four clocks sit between finishing a job and banking the money. Three are negotiable, one is entirely yours, and it is usually the longest of the four.
19 min
GrowthHow to Handle a Chargeback From a Customer
A chargeback gives you about 7 days to respond, not 30. The deadlines, the evidence that wins, and why the standard 1% ratio advice is wrong for trades.
16 min
GrowthShould I Accept Credit Cards as a Contractor?
At a 10% net margin, a 3% card fee eats roughly 30% of the profit on the job. Here is the math, the rules in Canada and the US, and when to say no.
16 min
Lead GenerationShould I Offer Financing to Customers? 4 Numbers
Financing lifts close rates from 38% to 49%. A 25% dealer fee wipes out every dollar of that gain. Here is the break-even math to run before you sign.
17 min
GrowthWhen to File a Construction Lien: 2026 Deadlines
File while the clock runs: 30 to 60 days in Canada (60 in Ontario), 90 to 180 in most US states, counted from completion. Registering costs $200 to $500.
16 min
Custom CRMHow to Run Payroll for a Contracting Business
The 8 steps, plus the three things generic payroll guides skip: job-coded hours, workers comp payroll separation, and when certified payroll actually applies.
16 min
GrowthCustomer Short Paid the Final Invoice: 5 Moves
Before you chase the balance, decide whether to deposit the cheque. In the US, cashing one marked 'paid in full' can legally erase what you are owed.
16 min
GrowthProgress Payment Schedule: 6 Rules That Get Paid
Eight states cap what you can collect up front. California's limit is $1,000. How to build a draw schedule under your legal ceiling and stay cash positive.
15 min
GrowthHow to Collect a Contractor Deposit: 5 Rules
Make the deposit due 3 to 5 business days before the start date, size it to your upfront spend, and check state caps: California's is $1,000, not $10,000.
16 min
GrowthContractor Cash Flow: Why Profit Isn't Money
A contractor of twenty years fronted labour and materials with $200 left in his account, living in his van to cut costs. He had plenty of work. He had no cash.
11 min
GrowthWhat to Do When a Customer Won't Pay
Work finished, walkthrough done, thanked on the way out. Then silence. A contractor asked where the line is and got 121 replies. Everyone has been there.
12 min
Frequently asked questions
- What do Pavado's Getting Paid guides cover?
- Deposits, progress billing, late payers and liens. The mechanics of turning finished work into money in the bank, and what to do when a customer will not pay.
- What is the best starting point in the Getting Paid collection?
- Choose the guide that matches your business, platform and question. This collection includes Customer Cancelled? How Much Deposit You Can Keep; Best Payment Processing for Contractors: 8 Compared; Hearth vs GreenSky: What the Rate Sheet Shows. Check each article's examples and sources before applying it to your situation.