Disputed Invoices · GC Disputes · Collections Escalation · Lien Rights

Disputed Invoice · GC Dispute · Collections · Lien Rights · Construction AR Management

Disputed Invoice
Process.

A GC who disputes your invoice is telling you something — either there's a legitimate deficiency you need to address, or they're using a dispute to delay payment they know they owe. Knowing how to tell the difference, how to respond correctly, and when to escalate is the difference between collecting what you're owed and absorbing a loss.

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SPM vs. Other CFO Firms

Most CFO Firms Serving This Trade

High revenue minimums — most won't serve under $5M
Advisory only — no bookkeeping, no implementation
No job costing setup or ControlQore management
No monthly WIP as standard deliverable
No pricing published — discovery call required
No vetted partner network for bonding, lending, or liens
No prevailing wage specialty

The Construction CFO — SPM

Serves $1M–$12M — starts at $1,900/month
Full implementation — bookkeeping, job costing, CFO advisory
ControlQore setup and managed for you every month
Monthly WIP standard in Executive tier
Full pricing published — no discovery call to find out costs
Vetted partners for bonding, lending, lien services, payroll
Prevailing wage and Davis-Bacon specialty

What We See in This Business

You Don't Know If the Dispute Is Legitimate

GC invoice disputes fall into two categories — legitimate (incomplete work, defective work, billing error) and tactical (slow payment strategy, cash flow management, relationship leverage). Responding the same way to both is a mistake. Legitimate disputes require resolution. Tactical disputes require documentation and escalation.

You Accept Partial Payment Without Protecting Your Rights

Accepting a partial payment without the right documentation can waive your right to collect the balance. A check marked 'paid in full' or a joint check with a release provision can extinguish your right to the disputed amount — even if you never agreed to the reduction.

The Dispute Drags On Until Your Lien Rights Expire

GCs sometimes use dispute processes to run out the clock on lien filing deadlines. While you're exchanging emails trying to resolve the dispute amicably, the lien window closes. When you finally realize the dispute won't resolve, your most powerful collection tool is gone.

How SPM Fixes It

Responding to a Disputed Invoice — The Correct Process

Step 1: Request the dispute in writing — specific amounts disputed, specific reasons. Step 2: Respond in writing within 7 days — address each disputed item with documentation. Step 3: Continue work on undisputed items — do not stop work based on a disputed invoice unless the contract allows it. Step 4: Protect lien rights immediately — file preliminary notice if not already done. Step 5: Escalate at day 30 with a formal demand. Step 6: Engage National Lien Services at day 45 if unresolved.

Documentation That Wins Disputes

The disputes you win are the ones with documentation. Signed pay app approvals. Inspection records. GC correspondence approving the work. Photos of completed work. Change order approvals. SPM implements documentation procedures tied to your job cost so every billing event has supporting documentation before the invoice goes out — not assembled after a dispute arises.

Escalation to National Lien Services and Megan Shapiro, Esq.

When a disputed invoice reaches day 45 without resolution, SPM connects you to our National Lien Services partner — including Megan Shapiro, Esq. — for formal demand and lien enforcement. The combination of attorney demand and imminent lien filing resolves most invoice disputes that informal escalation could not. Additional cost — not included in the SPM monthly fee.

Service Tiers

Tier 01

Core Financial

Starts at $1,900 / month

ControlQore setup and management
Job costing aligned to your estimate structure
Cost-to-complete tracking — updated monthly
Full-service bookkeeping — minimum 30 min/week
Vendor payments via ACH (you approve, we initiate)
Accounts receivable management
Bank reconciliations and transaction matching
Controllership
1 monthly CFO meeting
60-day onboarding — books migrated to last taxable year

Executive Financial

Starts at $2,900 / month

Everything in Core Financial
Monthly WIP schedule — delivered every month, standard
13-week cash flow forecasting
CEO Report — monthly financial dashboard
3 CFO advisory meetings per month
Strategic accountability and actionable to-dos
Direct access to Josh Luebker

Pricing by Revenue

Revenue Range (Last 12 Months)	Core Financial Monthly	Executive Financial Monthly
Under $1M	$1,900	$2,900
$1M – $3M	$2,600	$3,600
$4M – $6M	$3,800	$5,500
$7M – $9M	$5,100	$6,900
$10M – $12M	$6,100	$8,500
$13M+	Quoted	Quoted

Vetted Partner Network

National Lien Services

When AR gets too long, we connect you directly to our lien services partner to protect what you've earned.