Unpaid Construction Invoices: A Guide for Contractors and Subcontractors
Sources reviewed October 21, 2026 · Published by RemitRight
A construction balance may involve a progress claim, approved variation, holdback or a disagreement about completion. Reconcile these before treating the entire amount as an overdue agreed invoice. The person directing the site may not control certification or payment.
Check progress billing and dispute holds before chasing a construction invoice
Use the invoice's actual status to decide what to do next. Start with the record below so that a reminder, letter or professional referral describes the right amount and customer.
- Signed contract and the named contracting party
- Progress claim, invoice submission date and proof of receipt
- Approved change orders, quantities and completion records
- Holdback, back-charge and deficiency correspondence
Ask which part of the claim is actually held
Request an itemized explanation of any deduction or disputed work. Keep the undisputed portion separate when discussing voluntary payment. Record who can approve the claim and the next required document; avoid resubmitting the same demand while approval is unresolved.
Protect time-sensitive remedies in parallel
Lien, bond, prompt-payment and adjudication rules differ by province and contract. Do not wait for a reminder sequence to finish before checking a deadline. A demand-letter draft does not register a lien, commence adjudication or preserve a claim.
A worked situation
Fictional example: a $9,000 progress invoice includes a $1,500 variation the project manager has not approved. Keep that issue explicit rather than representing the whole sum as undisputed or offering a plan that obscures the disagreement.
Choose the province and compare the cost
Read the relevant province guide before relying on a court process or a time-sensitive remedy. Compare owner time, service fees, any commission, payment charges and the ability to collect. There is no verified field-specific RemitRight recovery percentage to promise; measure actual cash, not just a reply or plan commitment.
Make a useful next step
For an agreed overdue balance, RemitRight helps with voluntary text follow-up, available payment plans and an owner-reviewed letter draft. The business software is free forever, with no subscription, setup fee or collection commission. Card processing fees apply; customers choosing installments see the total plan fee before agreeing.
Create a free demand-letter draftAn owner-sent template is different from a lawyer letter or a court process. Recovery is not guaranteed. This guide is general information, not legal advice.