Subcontractor Contracts

Working with subcontractors means managing a separate set of agreements alongside your client contracts. BuilderMate keeps these organized in their own dedicated space, with a signing workflow that routes through the Subcontractor Portal instead of the Client Hub.

Who Can Access This

• Admin and Team Member — Full access to create, view, send, and countersign subcontractor contracts.
• Field Users — Cannot access subcontractor contracts.
• Subcontractors — Sign via the Subcontractor Portal.

Where to Find Subcontractor Contracts

1. Navigate to Contracts from the sidebar.
2. Click the Subcontractor Contracts tab.

This tab shows all your subcontractor agreements separate from your client contracts, making it easy to manage both without confusion.

Creating a Subcontractor Contract

1. From the Subcontractor Contracts tab, click "New Contract".
2. Select a contract template to use as your starting point (these are the same templates you manage in Settings > Templates > Contracts).
3. Link the contract to a project and a subcontractor.
4. Fill in company fields — the same process as with client contracts. Review and complete any details that need your input, such as scope of work, payment terms, and project-specific information.
5. Click Save to create the contract as a draft.

Pro Tip: Create a dedicated contract template named something like "Subcontractor Agreement" or "Sub Trade Contract" with terms specific to your sub relationships — insurance requirements, lien waiver clauses, payment schedules, and scope expectations. This saves significant time when onboarding new subs.

Sending to the Subcontractor

1. Open the subcontractor contract.
2. Click "Send".
3. The contract is emailed to the subcontractor.
4. The subcontractor receives a link that takes them to the Subcontractor Portal — not the Client Hub.

The Signing Process

Subcontractor Signs First

1. The subcontractor opens the link from their email.
2. They land in the Subcontractor Portal, where they can review the full contract.
3. They sign using either method:
   • Draw — Finger on mobile or mouse on desktop
   • Type — Enter their name and select a font style
4. BuilderMate records the signature, IP address, and timestamp.

You Countersign

1. Back in BuilderMate, open the contract from the Subcontractor Contracts tab.
2. Provide your countersignature (draw or type).
3. BuilderMate records your signature, IP address, and timestamp.
4. The contract is now fully executed.

How Subcontractor Contracts Differ from Client Contracts

While the process is similar, there are a few key differences to be aware of:

| Feature | Client Contracts | Subcontractor Contracts | |---|---|---| | Location | Main Contracts tab | Subcontractor Contracts tab | | Sent to | Clients | Subcontractors | | Signing portal | Client Hub | Subcontractor Portal | | Visible to Field Users | Yes (view only) | No |

Good to Know: Even though both contract types can use the same templates, they live in completely separate tabs. This separation keeps your client-facing agreements and vendor agreements neatly organized and easy to audit independently.

Managing Subcontractor Contracts

• View any contract by clicking on it from the list.
• Edit contracts that haven't been fully signed.
• Track status — contracts follow the same status progression: Draft, Sent, Partially Signed, Completed.
• Download the fully signed PDF once all signatures are in place.

Related Articles

• Creating and Sending Contracts
• The Subcontractor Portal
• Managing Subcontractors and Vendors