Change orders
Change order software that makes sure extra work gets paid
Price the extra work, send it for approval, and track it until it's billed. No more "we'll sort it out at the end of the job."
No credit card required. Then $25 per user per month (2-user minimum).
Where subcontractors lose money
Unbilled extra work is one of the biggest profit leaks for specialty contractors. It usually happens the same way:
- The foreman does the extra work on a verbal OK from the super
- Nobody prices it until weeks later, when the details are fuzzy
- The change order sits in someone's inbox with no follow-up
- Approved changes never make it onto the next pay application
- At closeout it turns into an argument instead of an invoice
The Sub-Office change order workflow
- 1Document it. Record the change against the project, with the RFI or directive it came from.
- 2Price it. Build the cost from line items and send a clean, professional change order.
- 3Track approval. See where every change order stands on every job.
- 4Bill it. Approved change orders update the contract value and carry into your pay applications.
A change order your GC can approve quickly
The faster a change order is understood, the faster it's signed. A good one covers three things:
Scope
Cost
Time
Need one today? Use the free change order form. For tips on getting changes approved, read change orders for subcontractors.
Connected to the rest of the job
| Step | What Sub-Office does |
|---|---|
| Proposal | Your accepted proposal becomes the project and the starting contract value. |
| Change orders | Each approved change updates the contract value, so you always know the real number. |
| Pay applications | Bill base contract and change order work on the same application. |
| Reports | Contract value, billed to date and what's left to collect, across every job. |
Frequently asked questions
What is a change order in construction?
A change order is a written agreement that changes the scope, price or schedule of the original contract. For a subcontractor, it is the document that turns extra work into money you can bill.
Should I start extra work before the change order is signed?
Check your subcontract. Many contracts say unapproved extra work may not be paid. When the field can't wait, get written direction from the GC (an email or a signed field ticket) and submit the priced change order as fast as possible.
What should a change order include?
A clear description of the change and why it is needed, the reference (RFI, bulletin, drawing or directive), a cost breakdown of labor, material, equipment and subcontractors, your markup, the schedule impact, and signature lines for approval.
How do approved change orders get billed?
Approved change orders adjust the contract sum. On a progress billing pay application they are usually added as separate lines on the schedule of values and billed as the work is completed.
Is there a free change order form?
Yes. The free change order form on this site calculates labor, material, equipment and markup and prints to PDF. When you want to track every change order across jobs, start a 30-day free trial of Sub-Office.
Spend less time on paperwork and more time building.
Try Sub-Office free for 30 days. No credit card required, cancel anytime. Then $25 per user per month.