Payments should follow a clear plan.
Agree the stages before work begins so the client and trade understand when money becomes due.
On larger projects, staged payments can give both sides more clarity than one large payment at the beginning or end. The useful principle is simple: the payment schedule should be agreed, understandable and connected to the project.
Agree the schedule before the job starts.
The quote or agreement should show the intended payment stages and what triggers each one. Avoid vague milestones that could mean different things to the client and the trade.
Link stages to something identifiable.
A payment point might relate to an agreed project milestone, materials arrangement or defined phase of work. The appropriate structure will vary by job, so the important part is that both sides know what the stage means before accepting it.
When a payment stage is reached, the project history should show what stage was due, when it was requested and its status.
Changes need to feed into the payment record.
If an agreed variation changes the project price, the parties should also record whether it changes an existing payment stage or creates a separate amount. That prevents extras becoming an unexplained figure at the end.
Record:
Payment terms must be fair and transparent.
Consumer contracts and payment terms need to comply with applicable UK consumer law. Trust In Trade’s eventual templates and payment workflows will need appropriate legal review before being presented as standard contractual terms.
A visible payment history, not a separate conversation.
The Project Hub is intended to keep agreed payment stages alongside the scope, variations, messages and completion record. Payment protection or safeguarded-payment features are separate concepts and will only be offered if suitable providers and compliant arrangements are in place.