GC Won't Pay · Collections Escalation · Lien Rights · National Lien Services
GC Won't Pay · Collections · Lien Rights · Mechanic's Lien · National Lien Services
When Your GC
Won't Pay.
A GC who won't pay is one of the most stressful situations a subcontractor faces. Most handle it reactively — a few phone calls, some emails, and then either absorbing the loss or filing a lien when it's almost too late. Here is the exact process to follow from the first missed payment to full enforcement — including when to bring in National Lien Services and Megan Shapiro, Esq.
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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
01
You Completed the Work and the GC Went Silent
You submitted the pay app, did the work, met the schedule — and the GC stopped responding. This happens more often than it should in commercial construction. Most subcontractors don't have a documented escalation process so they wing it, lose leverage, and either wait too long or take the wrong first step.
02
Your Lien Rights Are Expiring While You Wait
Mechanic's lien rights have strict deadlines — preliminary notice requirements, lien filing windows, and enforcement timelines that vary by state. While you're waiting for the GC to call back, the clock is running. Most subcontractors don't know their specific lien deadline until it's already passed.
03
You Don't Want to Damage the Relationship
Most subcontractors hesitate to escalate because they don't want to burn the GC relationship. This is understandable — but it's also how you end up absorbing losses on money you legitimately earned. The right escalation process is firm, professional, and documented — not aggressive, not personal.
How SPM Fixes It
The Four-Stage Escalation Process
Stage 1 — Days 1–15 past due: Written notice to GC project manager and accounting. Document every communication. Stage 2 — Days 15–30: Escalate to GC's senior leadership in writing. Reference contract payment terms and state prompt payment statute. Stage 3 — Days 30–45: Formal demand letter citing specific amounts, contract terms, and intent to exercise lien rights. Stage 4 — Day 45+: Engage National Lien Services. File preliminary notice if not already done. Lien filing if payment is not received.
National Lien Services and Megan Shapiro, Esq.
When collections reach Stage 3 or 4, SPM connects you directly to our National Lien Services partner. Their team — including Megan Shapiro, Esq. — handles preliminary notices, lien filings, and enforcement. The combination of a formal demand from a construction attorney and an imminent lien filing resolves most disputes without going to court. Additional cost — not included in the SPM monthly fee.
SPM Tracks AR to Prevent This From Happening
The best collections process is one you rarely need. SPM actively manages AR for all clients — tracking open invoices, flagging slow payers at 30, 45, and 60 days, and initiating the escalation process before leverage is lost. Most collection problems are prevented by consistent AR management, not resolved after the fact.
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
Most Popular
Tier 02
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.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
Payroll Integration Partners
Prevailing wage and regular payroll software partners integrated directly with ControlQore job costing.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
Bonding Partners
Surety relationships and bonding capacity support. We prepare the financials — our partners get you bonded.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
Lending Partners
Working capital lines and equipment financing through vetted lenders who understand construction.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
Reviewed Financials
CPA-level financial statement reviews for banking, bonding, and large contract requirements.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
CPA Coordination
We work alongside your existing CPA — not replacing them. Clean books and job costing make tax time easier.
Included — no extra cost
Common Questions
Straight answers.
What is a preliminary notice and do I need to send one?
A preliminary notice (also called a pre-lien notice or notice to owner) is a document sent early in the project that preserves your right to file a mechanic's lien later. Many states require it to be sent within a specific number of days of first furnishing labor or materials — often 20–30 days. If you miss the preliminary notice deadline, you may lose your lien rights entirely. National Lien Services handles preliminary notices as part of their service.
Will filing a lien damage my relationship with the GC?
It may create friction — but a GC who isn't paying you has already damaged the relationship. A lien is a legal tool to protect money you've earned. Most construction attorneys and experienced subcontractors view filing a lien as a business decision, not a personal attack. GCs who pay their subs on time rarely end up in lien situations.
How does National Lien Services work with SPM clients?
SPM makes the direct introduction to National Lien Services when AR escalation reaches the lien stage. We brief their team on the project details, invoice history, and communication record. Their services — preliminary notices, lien filings, enforcement — are billed separately at additional cost. SPM coordinates the handoff so nothing falls through the cracks.
What's included in Core Financial?
ControlQore setup, job costing aligned to your estimates, cost-to-complete tracking, full bookkeeping (minimum 30 min/week), ACH vendor payments (you approve, we initiate), AR management, bank reconciliations, transaction matching, controllership, and 1 monthly CFO meeting. Starts at $1,900/month.
What does Executive Financial add?
Everything in Core plus monthly WIP schedule, 13-week cash flow forecasting, CEO Report, and 3 CFO advisory meetings per month. Starts at $2,900/month. WIP, cash flow forecasting, and the CEO Report are Executive tier only.
Do you handle payroll?
No. We have vetted payroll software partners — including prevailing wage integrations — that connect directly with ControlQore. Those are separate engagements at additional cost.
How long does onboarding take?
60 days. We migrate your books to the start of your last taxable year, set up ControlQore, and build your job costing structure. Fully operational in two months.
What software do clients use?
ControlQore. All SPM clients run on ControlQore for job costing and WIP. We set it up and manage it — you don't have to learn it. Clients switching from QuickBooks, Sage, or other platforms migrate during onboarding.
Do you work alongside our CPA?
Yes. We work alongside your existing CPA — not replacing them. Clean books and accurate job costing make their job easier at tax time.
What happens when we grow past $12M?
We have a clear graduation path. We prepare your financials, systems, and team for the transition and connect you with the right firm for your next stage of growth.