Who this is for
For general contractors, subcontractors, and construction business owners who need working capital between buying materials, paying crews, and collecting on completed work.
When cash gets tight
Cash needs often rise in spring as crews ramp up, equipment is serviced, and materials are purchased ahead of busy schedules. Summer and early fall can bring heavier labor and subcontractor costs as more jobs run at once, while payment still follows each project's billing and approval cycle. In colder regions, winter weather can slow exterior work and push projects into later months; retainage and closeout payments may still be outstanding after field work winds down. Timing varies by trade, geography, project type, and customer.
The cash crunches
Where general contractors and construction feel the pinch.
01
Job costs come before the first draw
Materials, permits, mobilization, equipment delivery, and crew time can all be due before a project reaches its first scheduled draw. A signed contract may show future work, but it does not put cash in the operating account today.
02
Progress billing takes time to turn into cash
A contractor may submit a pay application after work is completed, then wait for review, approval, and payment processing. A disputed quantity, missing waiver, or incomplete backup can push the cash date out while payroll and suppliers still expect payment.
03
Retainage stays tied up until later
A portion of payment may be held until substantial completion, closeout, or correction of punch-list items. That can leave a business paying labor and vendors now while part of the job revenue remains unavailable.
04
Payroll and subcontractors follow the work calendar
Crews need steady pay even when weather, inspections, change-order approvals, or a general contractor's payment cycle shifts the schedule. Subcontractor deposits and specialty labor can also be due before the next customer payment clears.
05
Equipment repairs and seasonal slowdowns collide
A failed truck, excavator, lift, or jobsite tool can interrupt production and bring an unplanned repair or replacement cost. In regions with winter weather, outdoor work can slow while insurance, storage, and other overhead continue.
What owners fund
Say yes to the next move.
- Lumber, concrete, steel, roofing, and other materials for a job before the next draw
- Crew payroll and subcontractor deposits during a progress-billing gap
- A work truck, trailer, excavator, lift, or other revenue-producing equipment
- Equipment repair, replacement parts, and scheduled fleet maintenance
- Permits, inspections, mobilization, and jobsite setup costs
- Insurance, bonding, and license-related business expenses
- Tools, safety gear, and temporary jobsite needs for a new contract
- Operating cash while waiting on approved pay applications or retainage
Funding that tends to fit
Can provide access to working capital for recurring gaps between job expenses and customer payments. The owner should compare how draws, payments, and available credit work against the business's billing cycle.
May fit a planned purchase of a work truck or essential machinery when the equipment itself is central to the use of funds. Compare the payment schedule with expected job revenue and the asset's useful working life.
May be worth exploring when a business has eligible business-to-business invoices and needs to address a collection gap. Construction pay applications, disputed invoices, retainage, contract terms, and assignment restrictions can affect eligibility, so those details need review.
Example
A general contractor has a commercial renovation underway and needs to order materials, cover crew payroll, and keep a rented lift on site before the next progress payment arrives. The owner uses funding to cover those near-term job costs, then reviews the payment schedule against the project's billing dates and expected collections.
Why Goldhour
Every offer, in daylight.
- See each offer side by side in plain English, including cash that lands, every fee by name, total payback, payment, term, and exit terms before you sign.
- Use one application and speak with one company. Goldhour matches owners with funding partners, does not set terms, and does not sell or share your information.
- Work with the same named specialist before and after funding, with an Offer Decoder available to translate an offer you already received.
Have these ready
- Recent business bank statements and basic business details
- Current accounts receivable aging, unpaid invoices, and expected collection dates
- Signed contracts, approved pay applications, and a schedule of upcoming draws
- Project cost details, including payroll, subcontractor commitments, materials, and equipment needs
- Equipment quote or repair estimate if funds are for a truck, machinery, or tools
- Business license, insurance, and bonding information where relevant
See your options
Know what lands, what it costs, and how the terms fit your jobs before you sign.
How much are you looking for?
General contractors and construction: questions owners ask
Can a construction business explore funding while waiting on a progress payment?
Yes, owners can discuss options for a timing gap between job costs and an expected payment. Funding partners may review whether the pay application is approved, when payment is expected, and whether any amount is disputed or held as retainage.
Can I use funding for materials and payroll on an active job?
Those are common working-capital uses in construction. Be ready to explain the project schedule, upcoming material orders, payroll needs, and how expected customer payments fit the proposed payment schedule.
Can I use funding to buy or repair construction equipment?
Possibly. Equipment financing may fit a planned purchase, while other options may fit a repair or broader operating need. The right fit depends on the equipment, use of funds, business cash flow, and the terms a funding partner offers.
Does retainage count as cash I can use for a project?
Not until it is released and collected. Funding partners may treat retainage differently from approved, collectible invoices, so include the amount, release conditions, and expected timing when discussing your cash needs.
What should I compare before accepting a construction funding offer?
Review cash that lands, every fee by name, total payback, payment amount and frequency, term, and exit terms. Compare the schedule with payroll dates, supplier terms, project draws, and likely collection timing. Goldhour presents offer details side by side before you sign.
How does Goldhour work with construction businesses?
Goldhour is a New York business funding brokerage that matches owners with funding partners. You complete one application, speak with one company, and work with the same named specialist before and after funding. Funding partners set their own terms, and Goldhour does not sell or share your information.
Make the most of the light.
One short application. One company calls you. Every offer laid out in plain English before you sign.