Guide · Payments · 6 min read
Stage payments without the arguments
Cash flow ends more small building businesses than bad workmanship does. A clear, evidence-led payment schedule protects the contractor and reassures the customer at the same time.
Define stages by works, not weeks
- Groundworks and foundations complete and inspected
- Superstructure and roof watertight
- First fix mechanical and electrical complete
- Plastering and second fix complete
- Practical completion, with snags agreed in writing
Supply evidence with every request
Attach dated photographs, inspection records and any certificates relevant to the stage. A payment request that arrives with proof is far harder to delay than an invoice on its own.
Consider independent verification for larger projects
Where both parties agree, Builder Standard can act as an independent verifier: the builder submits stage evidence, it is reviewed against the agreed scope, and the stage is recorded as verified so the customer can release payment with confidence.
Verification is a mutually agreed, evidence-based record. It is not a statutory inspection, a warranty, or a guarantee of workmanship, and Builder Standard is independent of any government body or scheme.
Find your gaps in two minutes
The free Builder Standard Assessment scores you out of 100 across contracts, payments, records, customer care and insurance, then shows exactly where you are losing marks. If documents or processes are missing, the £295 Professional Standards Audit helps you compile them.
This guidance is general information, not legal advice. Builder Standard is an independent platform and is not a government body, statutory regulator or government-endorsed scheme, and it cannot register or certify contractors for any government scheme.
Questions
Common questions
How large should a deposit be?
Keep deposits proportionate and explain in writing what they cover, such as materials ordered for the job. Large unexplained deposits are a common source of complaints.
What is independent milestone verification?
It is an evidence review both parties agree to. The builder submits stage evidence, Builder Standard reviews it against the agreed scope and records the stage as verified. It does not replace building control, statutory inspection or professional certification.
Keep reading
Related guides and checklists
Verification
Independent milestone verification, explained
How a mutually agreed, evidence-based stage review works — and the limits of what verification means.
Contracts
Written contracts and variations that hold up
Most domestic disputes are really contract disputes. What to include, how to handle extras and why text-message agreements cost money.
Records
Site evidence and photo records checklist
What to photograph, when to capture it, and how to store it so the record is still usable three years later.