What a general contractor receipt is for
Owners paying a GC over months, often from a loan, need a receipt for every payment with the running balance. Lenders and the owner's accountant ask for exactly that, and it keeps both sides agreed on the numbers through a long job. It also helps if a lien question ever comes up.
What to put on a general contractor receipt
- Amount, date and method.
- Milestone or draw paid.
- Payments to date and balance.
- Project address.
A worked example
The lender released the framing draw directly to the contractor.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear addition, per contract | 1 | each | Your price |
| Change order 1: upgraded windows | 1 | each | Your price |
Name the lender as the payer in the payment method box when the draw comes from them.
Line items general contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| General conditions | month | Supervision, temporary facilities, insurance and site costs for the job's duration. |
| Site work and excavation | each | Clearing, digging and grading. |
| Foundation | each | Footings, walls or slab per plan. |
| Framing | each | Walls, floors and roof structure. |
| Roofing | square | By subcontractor; material and warranty. |
| Windows and exterior doors | each | Allowance or specified models. |
| Plumbing, by licensed subcontractor | each | Rough and finish. |
| Electrical, by licensed subcontractor | each | Rough and finish. |
| HVAC, by licensed subcontractor | each | Equipment and ductwork. |
| Insulation and drywall | sq ft | R-values per code; finish level. |
| Interior finishes allowance | each | Flooring, trim, paint, fixtures. |
| Permits, plans and inspections | each | Building department fees and any engineering. |
| Dumpster and final cleaning | each | Debris removal and a clean handover. |
| Overhead and profit | each | Shown separately or built into the lines. |
Terms and deposit language for general contractor
- Deposit. A deposit at signing secures the schedule and covers early costs such as permits and engineering. Many states limit deposits and set contract requirements for home improvement work, so check yours.
- Payment. Progress payments tied to milestones or a schedule of values, with retainage if agreed, and final payment at substantial completion and punch list.
- Warranty. State your workmanship warranty period and how claims are made; subcontractor and product warranties pass through to the owner.
- Allowances: selections above the allowance are billed by change order.
- Hidden conditions and owner changes are priced by written change order before the work.
- Schedule depends on permits, inspections, weather and material lead times.
How to fill it in
- Fill in who paid and which job or invoice the payment is for.
- Check the lines; they show what the payment covers.
- Pick how they paid and add the check or reference number.
- Type the amount received, or leave it blank when it pays the whole total.
- Print it, download it, or hand it over as a PDF.
Free tools for general contractor
- Markup calculator
- Profit margin calculator
- Demolition cost calculator
- Foundation repair cost calculator
- Deck cost calculator
The same receipt for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.