Custom software for subcontractor contracts in construction
Appfront builds software for main contractors who want to manage their subcontracts from the office. Every contract sits with the project, with its terms, milestones and variations. Progress statements are checked against actual progress, payments follow the agreements, and what is needed for chain liability is kept on file. What happens on site, such as the labour register and reporting variations, is described on the app's page.
What is subcontract contract software in construction?
A main contractor subcontracts a large part of a project to specialist firms: groundworks, installations, finishing, façades. Each contract has a scope, a price, terms and a payment schedule. During the project, progress statements, additional work and omitted work come in. And under chain liability, the main contractor can be held liable for payroll taxes and contributions that a subcontractor fails to pay, which calls for agreements and documents.
In practice, contracts sit in a folder or in email, progress statements in the accounts, and variations in the site manager's spreadsheet. Whether a progress statement matches actual progress is judged by feel. A certificate on a subcontractor's payment record has lapsed without anyone noticing. And per project, it is not visible at a glance what is still owed to subcontractors.
We build custom software because construction firms differ: which contract terms you use, how progress is assessed, how you handle chain liability, and which systems you run. What you need to arrange for chain liability, you agree with your tax adviser or accountant; the software ensures the agreements and documents are there.
Contracts in one place
Every contract with the project, with scope, price, terms and payment schedule.
Deadlines monitored
Progress statements checked against actual progress, and payments made according to the agreements.
Liability sorted
Documents with expiry dates, and payments as agreed, so you can show them.
How we build subcontract management software for construction
We start with your subcontracting: how many contracts per project, which terms, how payment applications are assessed, and how you currently handle chain liability. If your site managers already use the site app, or are about to, progress, man-hours and variations come from there, so the office assesses on what has actually happened.
Your contracts, terms, payment schedules, chain liability and systems.
Contracts per project, with payment schedules and terms.
Payment applications checked against progress, variations and payments.
Documents with expiry dates, overviews, and ongoing management.
What subcontract management software for construction actually does
The components below come up on almost every main contractor's projects. Which ones you need depends on your projects.
Contracts
Scope, price, terms and duration.
Deadlines
Payment schedule and payment applications.
Additional work
Additional and reduced work, with approval.
Payments
As agreed, including blocked accounts.
Documents
For chain liability, with expiry dates.
Assessment
Subcontractors assessed per project.
Who we build subcontract management software for construction for
The software is designed for main contractors who outsource a lot of work.
Main contractors
Many subcontractors per project. The overview is the core.
Infrastructure firms
Large contracts with milestones. Assessment matters most.
Installers
Work outsourced to specialists. Variations are what matter.
Project office
Payment schedules and payments. The documents are the core.
Test your idea first: a working prototype in 1 day
With OneDayBuild, we turn your idea into something tangible in one day for €1,150, so you can see whether further development is worth the investment. Decide to go ahead with the full build? Then we credit the full cost.
Explore OneDayBuild →Technology and integrations
This page covers subcontractor contracts in the office. For the work on the construction site, see our page on an app for subcontractor contracts in construction; for onboarding new subcontractors, our page on a supplier portal for subcontractors; and for screening labour providers, our page on supplier screening of labour providers. You can read about our approach at building software.
Why Appfront for your subcontract management software for construction?
A payment application paid on gut feeling, or a certificate that quietly expires, costs a main contractor money. That is what we build around: contracts in one place, payment schedules that are checked, and chain liability that is demonstrably in order.
Not overpaid
Payment schedules checked against progress.
Risk reduced
Documents renewed on time.
Overview
What remains open, per project.
Security and privacy in subcontract management software for construction
The software holds subcontractors' contracts, prices, payments and documents. Access is set up by role and by project, and within the portal a subcontractor sees only their own contracts and payment schedules.
The software runs in a European data centre, with encrypted storage, daily back-ups and sign-in with a second factor.
Frequently asked questions about subcontract management software for construction
Questions main contractors ask before getting started.
It manages contracts per project with scope, price, terms and payment schedule, checks payment applications against progress, processes additional and reduced work, monitors payments and the documents needed for chain liability, and shows what remains open per project.
The app is for the site: viewing the contract and payment schedule, documents with expiry dates, the man-hours register and variations from the site. This software is for the office: contract management, assessment of payment applications, payments and chain liability.
A arrangement under which a principal contractor can be held liable for payroll taxes and contributions that a subcontractor fails to pay over. There are measures to limit that risk. Which of them suit you is something to agree with your tax adviser or accountant; the software helps you record them.
The software sets a progress statement alongside the payment schedule and the progress recorded on site. If the two diverge, the assessor sees it straight away. The assessment and the decision are recorded.
Yes. Variations reported and approved in the app on site feed through to the contract in the office, and can be included in the next payment stage.
Yes, provided it has an interface. Progress statements and payments go to accounting, and projects come from project administration.
Check this first. Many construction packages already cover procurement and payment stages, and that may be enough. Custom development makes sense when contracts are currently scattered, when payment stages are judged on instinct, or when documents for chain liability are not being monitored.
Subcontracting that's all in order in the office?
Tell us how many subcontractors you have per project, which terms you use and how you currently assess payment stages. We'll show you what the contracts, payment stages and documents look like.