Invoicing for General Contractors Made Easy - The Payment Platform Built for General Contractors

Unlike traditional payment processors that treat you like a "high-risk" business, Nickel was built specifically for trade professionals who handle large invoice-based transactions. We understand that:

• $150,000 commercial construction project payments are normal business, not suspicious activity
• Multi-phase billing creates payment surges throughout project lifecycles that banks often flag as unusual
• You need reliable processing during peak construction seasons when cash flow is most critical
• Your cash flow depends on predictable payment timing from both clients and to subcontractors, not arbitrary holds that can paralyze your entire operation

Result: No surprise account holds, no "business verification" delays, no risk department calls that can freeze your working capital when you need it most.

The general contracting industry faces a complex web of financial challenges that generic payment processors simply don't understand. With over 35,000 general contractors managing projects in a $2.2 trillion construction market, contractors are caught between demanding clients, complex subcontractor payment schedules, and banks that don't understand construction cash flow patterns.

Multi-Tier Payment Complexity:

General contractors operate as the financial hub of construction projects, collecting payments from property owners while simultaneously managing payments to multiple subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors. A typical commercial project might involve 15-25 different payment relationships, from electrical and plumbing subs to material suppliers and equipment rentals. Each relationship has different payment terms, creating a complex cash flow puzzle that traditional banks see as high-risk activity rather than standard business operations.

Extended Payment Cycles with Immediate Obligations:

While general contractors often face 30-60 day payment terms from clients, they're responsible for meeting weekly payroll, paying subcontractors on completion milestones, and covering material deliveries immediately upon receipt. Recent industry data shows that subcontractors wait an average of 56 days for payment, while general contractors believe they're paying in 30 days. This disconnect creates constant pressure to finance the gap between project expenses and client payments.

Retainage and Progress Payment Challenges:

Construction projects typically involve retainage - withholding 5-10% of payments until project completion - which can tie up hundreds of thousands of dollars for months or even years. A $2 million commercial project with 10% retainage means $200,000 in earned revenue sitting in escrow while the contractor still faces full material and labor costs. When banks see large, irregular payments followed by months of smaller progress payments, they often interpret this as suspicious rather than standard construction billing practices.

Subcontractor Management and Cash Flow:

With 84% of construction businesses struggling with cash flow issues, general contractors face intense pressure from subcontractors for faster payment while waiting for their own collections. The industry's common "pay-when-paid" terms create cascading delays where tier-two and tier-three subs might wait 90+ days for payment. This creates relationship strain and can impact future project availability when subs choose to work with contractors offering better payment terms.