Change order template for subcontractors

The gap between 'sure, no problem' in the field and a signed change order is where subs lose the most money — not because the work wasn't real, but because nothing was written down before the GC had a chance to forget or dispute it.

“They do the work, tell the GC 'no problem,' and then send me a vague text or a blurry photo of a scribbled note 2 weeks later. By the time I write up the Change Order, the GC denies it because it wasn't documented in time.”
— a specialty sub on r/Construction

“I feel like we are bleeding cash on 'favors' that never get billed.”
— a specialty sub on r/Construction

How it works

Describe the change in plain language

What the field asked for, in your own words — no form-filling required.

Get a formal CO memo ready to send

Priced, scoped, and formatted for approval, not a text message that reads like a favor.

Send it the same day

While the GC still remembers agreeing to it — not two weeks later when the story has changed.

Next step

Free, runs in your browser, no signup.

Change Order MemoFree

Describe the change in plain language. Get a formal CO memo ready to send for approval.

Open →

Related terms

Change orderA change order is a signed, priced amendment to a construction contract that adds, removes, or modifies scope, cost, or schedule after work is already under contract.T&M ticketA T&M ticket (or daily ticket) is the field record of hours worked and materials used on a time-and-materials task, signed by the client or GC's representative on-site the same day.Back-chargeA back-charge is a deduction one party makes from another's payment to cover the cost of correcting deficient work, cleanup, or damage — without a signed change order authorizing it.

Beyond this page

The tool catches it on one bid. The T&M Leak Audit ($1,499 one-time) finds the pattern across your process.