What does a general need working capital for?

Insurance, bond premiums, permits, deposits, payroll and early subcontractor invoices before the first owner payment.

When is the Texas franchise tax report due?

May 15, or the next business day if it falls on a weekend or holiday.

Is workers compensation required?

Private employers in Texas can choose to carry it according to the Texas Department of Insurance, but a contract or client may require it.

How much should I plan for a second project?

Roughly double the first project's outlay, with extra margin in case both draws are late.

Can a sole proprietor GC apply?

Yes. The application takes about 5 minutes with a soft credit pull.

Working Capital for Texas General Contractors

Follow the money from bid to first payment

Bid and award. Estimating costs time, and sometimes a bid bond or deposit.
Contract signing. Insurance certificates and sometimes a performance bond are required.
Mobilization. Permits, temporary facilities, and sub and supplier deposits.
First period of work. Payroll and sub invoices begin.
First pay application. Approved, then paid, often weeks after the work.

The gap between steps 2 and 5 is what working capital covers.

Outlay by phase

Phase	Main outlay	What to confirm
Pre-start	Insurance, bond premiums, permits	Due dates and amounts
Start	Deposits to subs and suppliers	Which are required up front
Month one	Payroll, early sub invoices	Pay cycle and sub terms
Month two	Continuing costs while the first draw clears	Owner's payment timeline

Compliance dates sit on the same calendar

Quarterly wage reports and unemployment taxes are due to the Texas Workforce Commission by the last day of the month after quarter end. The annual franchise tax report is due May 15, moving to the next business day when it falls on a weekend or holiday. Sales tax filers are assigned a monthly or quarterly schedule by the Comptroller. Private employers can choose whether to carry workers compensation, per the Texas Department of Insurance, though a client or contract may require it. Each of these dates falls whether or not an owner has paid.

Two jobs at once

Taking on a second project during the first one's payment gap can double the outlay. For illustration only: a general who needs $35,000 to carry one project to its first draw needs about $70,000 for two, and the first draws of both may arrive at the same time or weeks apart. These figures are invented to show the idea. They are not our terms or typical results.

Before taking the second job, check whether your plan survives both being late. If it does, you can say yes with confidence.

Funding details

We fund $25,000 to $5,000,000, funded in as little as 24 hours, with a 5-minute application and a soft credit pull. Sole proprietors can apply. Apply here with a job-by-job estimate.

This page concerns commercial and trade work. Residential remodeling is restricted by some funders and we do not promise funding for it. Ask any offer about total repayment and how repayment is collected, and size the amount to the draws you expect, with room for delay.