Free Tool
Is Your Subcontractor Heading for Default? Subcontractor default is one of the most expensive mid-project crises a GC can face — and it almost always comes with warning signs weeks earlier. Score your subs against 14 proven default indicators.
Average cost of mid-project sub default: $180K–$500K+ Most defaults show 3+ warning signs 30–60 days prior Surety bonds cover less than you think — document everything Free web tool — no login required. Score up to 5 subcontractors.
Step 1 — Project ContextEnter project details first. Amplifiers later adjust weighting based on job conditions.
Step 2 — Score Your SubcontractorsStart with your highest-value or most schedule-critical subs. Evaluate them based on the last 30 days of performance.
Subcontractor 1 Trade $0
Financial Health 1. Payment Behavior to Sub-Tier 0: Paying promptly 2: Minor delays 4: Consistent late payments 7: Sub-tier threatening liens 9: Material deliveries held COD demands
2. Invoice & Pay App Quality 0: Clean accurate 1: Minor errors 3: Frequent errors overbilling 5: Erratic catch-up billings
3. Change Order Behavior 0: Reasonable 1: Slightly aggressive 3: Consistently inflated 5: Refusing to proceed unsigned COs 7: Filing inflated claims
4. Admin Staff Changes 0: No changes 1: Minor turnover 3: Key personnel departed 4: Ownership/management changes 6: Office understaffed
Field Performance 5. Manpower vs Schedule 0: Fully staffed 2: Slightly under 10-20% 4: Consistently under 20-40% 7: Severely undermanned 10: Crew essentially absent
6. Schedule Performance 0: On schedule 1: Minor delays within float 3: Behind affecting other trades 6: Significantly behind driving delay 9: Critical path impact
7. Material Procurement 0: Arriving as scheduled 1: Minor delays 4: Frequent shortages work stopping 7: Critical materials not ordered 9: Job box empty
8. Quality & Rework 0: Quality minimal rework 1: Occasional rework 3: Above-average super flagging 5: Architect/inspector rejections 7: Systemic failure
9. Site Supervision 0: Foreman daily experienced 1: Present most days 3: Foreman sporadic unsupervised 5: No competent supervision 7: Site essentially unsupervised
Communication & Relationship 10. Response Time 0: Responds promptly 1: Occasional delays same day 2: Slow 24-48hrs 4: Difficult unreachable 6: Communication broken
11. Meeting Attendance 0: Attends all OAC 1: Occasional no-shows sends rep 3: Frequent absences 5: Stopped attending
12. Dispute & Claims 0: No disputes 1: Minor resolved quickly 4: Attorney letters beginning 7: Formal claims notices 10: Litigation threatened
External Signals 13. Lien Activity 0: No liens 2: One minor lien resolved 5: Multiple liens this project 8: Liens on multiple GC projects 10: Mechanic's lien foreclosure
14. Industry Reputation 0: Strong 1: Generally positive minor concerns 3: Mixed some red flags 6: Poor multiple GCs reporting 9: Known troubled sub bonding concerns
Step 3 — Project-Level Risk AmplifiersGenerate My Risk Report → 