BuildWellPurchase order
A purchase order (PO) is a document a buyer issues to a supplier or subcontractor authorizing a purchase at stated quantities, prices and terms.
For a contractor, POs work in two directions. You issue them to suppliers and subs to lock in what you’re buying and at what price. Commercial clients and property managers issue them to you, and often won’t pay an invoice that doesn’t show their PO number.
A PO lists the items or work, quantities, unit prices, the delivery date and location, the job it’s for and payment terms. When the supplier’s invoice arrives, compare it with the PO and with what was actually delivered before you pay. That three-way match catches wrong prices, short shipments and double billing.
Put a job number on every PO. That makes job costing straightforward, because each material cost is tagged to a job when it’s ordered.
When a client sends you a PO, check that its amount and scope match your estimate or contract. Work beyond the PO amount may need a new or revised PO before the client can pay for it, so ask before you do it.
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- AI estimates priced for your area
- Estimates, invoices, clients and projects
- Clients sign on any phone
- Card and bank payments, no extra BuildWell fee
- iPhone, Android and the web
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