How do I manage sub-consultant contracts and their invoices?

Many offices sub-contract surveying, laboratory work or MEP design to another firm, and that is a cost that comes straight out of the project’s profit.

Steps

1. From the project page open Sub-consultants, or go to Engineering → Sub-consultants — Figure 1.
2. Add a contract: pick the contact, and enter the scope, the contract value, the currency and the start and end dates.
3. When their invoice arrives, add it under the contract with its number, date and amount.
4. Review the work, then approve the invoice, and record the payment when you pay it.
5. The invoice status moves: pending → approved → partially paid → paid.

Notes

• Do not approve a sub-consultant’s invoice before you have received and reviewed their deliverables; approval is your acknowledgement of receipt.
• Sub-consultant cost feeds the project profitability report; ignoring it makes your profit imaginary.
• Do not pay the sub-consultant before you have been paid by the client, unless the contract obliges you to.