How do I create the contract, set the retention and add a change order?

The contract is what you point to in the first dispute, and it is what the phase invoices are built on.

Creating the contract

1. The fastest route: from an accepted proposal press Convert, and the items and value carry over automatically.
2. Or open Engineering → Contracts — Figure 1 — and add a contract from scratch.
3. Enter the contract value, the discount and the retention percentage.
4. Write the terms; they print with the contract and the client signs against them.
5. Save, then open the contract — Figure 2 — and generate the sign link for the client to sign electronically.
6. To print it, press Print — Figure 3.

Change orders

1. From the contract page press add change order whenever the client asks for work outside the contract scope.
2. Write the description and the value change (positive or negative).
3. On approval the amount is added to the contract’s approved value.

Notes

• Retention is deducted from every phase invoice automatically and released at final handover, so set it on the contract, not on each invoice.
• Never start work on a change order before it is approved in writing; this is where engineering offices lose the most fees.
• Do not delete a signed contract; set its status to completed or terminated.