Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Cost Plus Construction Contract

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT

THIS CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT (“Contract”), effective as of the date of the last party to sign below, is between , having an address at ("Contractor") and , having an address at ("Owner").

For valuable consideration the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. SCOPE OF WORK: Contractor shall provide all labor and materials, and perform all work necessary for the completion of the residence, structure, or improvements as described in the drawings and specifications signed by both Owner and Contractor (“Project”) and more particularly described as

Such drawings and specifications are hereby made a part of this Contract. Drawings and specifications shall contain a scale drawing showing the shape, size, and dimensions of the construction and equipment together with a description of the work to be done, materials to be used, and the equipment to be used or installed.

2. WORK SITE: The Project shall be constructed on the property of Owner located at and more particularly described as (hereafter "the Work Site").

Owner hereby authorizes Contractor to commence and complete the usual and customary excavation and grading on the Work Site as may be required in the judgment of the Contractor to complete the Project. Unless called for in the drawings or specifications, no landscaping, finish grading, filling or excavation is to be performed at the Work Site by the Contractor.

3. TIME OF COMPLETION: Contractor shall commence the work to be performed under this Contract on or before and shall substantially complete the work on or before .

Contractor shall not be liable for any delay due to circumstances beyond its control including strikes, casualty, acts of God, illness, injury, or general unavailability of materials.

4. PERMITS: Contractor shall apply for and obtain such permits and regulatory approvals as may be required by the local municipal/county government, the cost thereof shall be included as part of the Project price.

5. SOIL CONDITIONS: Contractor shall have no responsibility for the condition of the soils at the Work Site. Any excavation, filling or other work required by the Owner other than the usual and customary excavation and grading shall be agreed to in a Change Order for an amount in addition to the Contract Price. Contractor shall not be responsible for any damages suffered by Owner as a result of the soil conditions at the Work Site.

6. INSURANCE: Contractor shall maintain general liability, workers compensation and builder's risk insurance.

7. SURVEY AND TITLE: If the Project is near the Owner’s property boundary, Owner will point out property lines to the Contractor. If the Owner or Contractor has any doubt about the location of the property lines, Owner shall provide Contractor with boundary stakes through a licensed surveyor. In addition, Owner shall provide Contractor documentation that Owner has title to the Work Site and shall provide Contractor copies of any covenants, conditions, or restrictions that affect the Work Site.

8. CHANGES TO SCOPE OF WORK: Owner may make changes to the scope of the work, including changes to the drawings and specifications, from time to time during the construction of the Project. However, any such change or modification shall only be made by written "Change Order" signed by both parties. Such Change Orders shall become part of this Contract. Owner agrees to pay any increase in the cost of the Project as a result of a Change Order. In the event the cost of a Change Order is not known at the time a Change Order is executed, the Contractor shall estimate the cost thereof and Owner shall pay the actual cost whether or not it is in excess of the estimated cost.

9. CONTRACT PRICE:

{COST PLUS}

Owner agrees to pay Contractor the actual cost to Contractor of materials plus the sum of $ for performing the services set forth in the scope of the work. Contractor shall be paid as follows:

OR

{FIXED FEE}

Owner agrees to pay Contractor the sum of $ for performing the services set forth in the scope of the work. Contractor shall be paid as follows:

Contractor shall furnish Owner appropriate releases or waivers of lien for all work performed or materials provided at the time the next periodic payment shall be due.

10. LATE PAYMENT/DEFAULT: A failure to make payment for a period in excess of ten (10) days from the due date shall be deemed a material breach of this Contract. If payment is not made when due, Contractor may suspend work on the job until such time as all payments due have been made without breach of the Contract pending payment or resolution of any dispute. Owner agrees to pay a late charge of 1% of all payments that are more than ten (10) days late plus interest at the rate of 1% per month.

11. DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGE: If the Project is destroyed or damaged for any reason, except where such destruction or damage was caused by the sole negligence of the Contractor or its subcontractors, Owner shall pay Contractor for any additional work done by Contractor in rebuilding or restoring the Project to its condition prior to such destruction or damage. If the estimated cost of replacing work already accomplished by Contractor exceeds 20 percent of the Contract price, either the Contractor or Owner may terminate this Contract. Upon termination by either party, Contractor shall be excused from further performance under this Contract and Owner shall pay Contractor a percentage of the Contract price in proportion to the amount of work accomplished prior to the destruction or damage.

12. ASSIGNMENT: Neither party may assign this Contract, or payments due under the Contract, without the other party’s written consent. Any such assignment shall be void and of no effect.

13. INTERPRETATION:

(a) Interpretation of Documents. The Contract, drawings, and specifications are intended to supplement one another. In the event of a conflict, the specifications shall control the drawings, and the Contract shall control both. If work is displayed on the drawings but not called for in the specifications, or if the work is called for in the specifications but not displayed on the drawings, Contractor shall be required to perform the work as though it were called for and displayed in both documents.

(b) Entire Agreement. This Contract constitutes the entire agreement of the parties. No other agreements, oral or written, pertaining to the work to be performed under this Contract exists between the parties. This Contract may only be modified only by a written agreement signed by both parties.

(c) Governing Law. This Contract shall be interpreted and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama.

14. ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS: If any party to this Contract brings a cause of action against the other party arising from or relating to this Contract, the prevailing party in such proceeding shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs.

15. PERFORMANCE:

(a) Contractor may, at its discretion, engage licensed subcontractors to perform work pursuant this Contract provided Contractor shall remain fully responsible for the proper completion of the Project.

(b) All work shall be completed in a workman-like manner and in compliance with all building codes and applicable laws. To the extent required by law, all work shall be performed by individuals duly licensed and authorized by law to perform said work.

(c) Contractor agrees to remove all debris and leave the premises in broom clean condition.

16. WARRANTY: Contractor's warranty shall be limited to defects in workmanship within the scope of work performed by Contractor and which arise and become known within one (1) year from the date hereof. All said defects arising after one (1) year and defects in material are not warranted by Contractor. Contractor hereby assigns to Owner all warranties on materials as provided by the manufacturer of such materials.

AGREED:

CONTRACTOR:

OWNER:

Enter text✕

What a Cost Plus Construction Contract Is

A Cost Plus Construction Contract is a written agreement in which the owner agrees to reimburse the contractor for actual project costs plus an additional fee or percentage for overhead and profit. The contract typically defines allowable cost categories (labor, materials, subcontractor fees, equipment, permits), the contractor's fee structure (fixed fee, percentage markup, or cost-plus-with-a-guaranteed-maximum), invoicing cadence, audit rights, and procedures for change orders and dispute resolution. This form supports projects with uncertain scope, phased work, or fast starts where fixed-price estimates are impractical, and it establishes responsibilities for documentation, recordkeeping, and payment.

Why Parties Choose a Cost Plus Contract

Cost plus contracts provide transparency and flexibility when project scope or site conditions are uncertain. Owners benefit from open-book accounting and audit rights; contractors reduce bid risk and recover actual costs. The model can accelerate project starts and make change orders simpler to manage while shifting some cost-variability back to the owner.

Why Parties Choose a Cost Plus Contract

Who Commonly Uses Cost Plus Contracts

Parties should confirm role-specific responsibilities (cost tracking, supporting documentation, insurance, bonding) in the contract before work begins.

  • Owners and developers who need schedule flexibility and transparency during design or site discovery.
  • General contractors managing multiple trades where final quantities are unknown at bid time.
  • Subcontractors or specialty trades performing variable scope work or early-phase procurement.

Core Elements to Include in a Professional Contract

A robust Cost Plus Construction Contract defines scope, cost rules, fee mechanics, documentation, change order procedures, and dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce future ambiguity.

Allowable Costs

List specific cost categories that are reimbursable (direct labor, materials, subcontractor invoices, equipment rental, permits) and exclude items such as owner-provided materials or contractor penalties.

Contractor Fee

Specify fee method (fixed amount, percentage of costs, or cost-plus with GMP), payment timing, and whether the fee applies to subcontractor pass-throughs or only direct costs.

Cost Documentation

Detail required backup (invoices, payroll records, receipts), accounting method, and acceptable formats to support reimbursement and audit rights.

Change Orders

Establish a written change order process including authorization, pricing method for changes, schedule impact evaluation, and record of approvals.

Audit and Access

Grant owner or third-party audit rights for a stated period; specify how disputes arising from audits will be resolved and cost adjustments handled.

Termination & Remedies

Define termination for convenience/default, payment upon termination (allowed costs plus fee), retainage, and dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation or arbitration.

How to Complete the Contract, Step by Step

Follow these sequential steps to prepare an enforceable Cost Plus Construction Contract and reduce ambiguity before work begins.

  • 01
    Review Scope: Confirm project boundaries, phasing, exclusions, and baseline assumptions in writing.
  • 02
    Define Costs: List allowable cost categories, accounting methods, and required supporting documents.
  • 03
    Set Fee & Terms: Choose fee formula, payment schedule, retainage, and invoicing cadence.
  • 04
    Agree Change Orders: Document the change order approval workflow, pricing approach, and time impact procedures.

Typical Cost Plus Workflow from Execution to Closeout

A clear workflow ties contract language to on-site practice, invoicing, review, and final accounting.

  • Contract Execution: Parties sign finalized agreement and exchange insurance certificates and bonds if required.
  • Cost Tracking: Contractor records costs daily and categorizes them per the contract's definitions.
  • Invoicing & Review: Contractor submits periodic invoices with supporting docs; owner reviews and requests clarifications.
  • Audit & Closeout: Owner or auditor verifies records; final payment adjusts for any disallowed costs or agreed changes.

Online Workflow Settings to Configure for Cost Tracking

When using a digital platform, enable controls that mirror contract requirements and preserve auditability.

Field Configuration
Signer Authentication Use email+SMS or higher assurance for owner approvers
Document Templates Include cost schedules, change order forms, and invoice templates
Conditional Fields Show cost-breakdown fields only to contractor role
Archive & Retention Export signed PDFs and store with versioning and audit trail

Technical and Integration Considerations for eSigning and Records

Ensure the platform you use supports export of signed records and retains metadata (timestamps, IP, signer attribution) for audits and compliance.

  • Integrations: Procore, NetSuite, and Google Workspace supported
  • File Formats: Accepts PDF, DOCX, and Excel exports
  • Authentication: Offers SMS, email, and advanced methods

Security and Compliance Essentials for Signed Contracts

In-Transit Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3
At-Rest Encryption: AES-256
Audit Trail: Comprehensive signing metadata
Regulatory Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001
Health Data: HIPAA compliant (BAA required)
eSignature Law: ESIGN and UETA support

Key Risks and Contractual Exposure

Cost Overruns: Owner bears variable costs
Disallowed Costs: Poor definitions invite disputes
Audit Adjustments: Insufficient backup can reduce payments
Delay Claims: Ambiguous schedules create claims
Tax Consequences: Incorrect classification affects deductions
Termination Exposure: Termination payments can be contentious

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using vague cost language that leaves room for inconsistent billing and later audit disputes.
  • Failing to require original invoices and payroll records, which weakens auditability and may trigger disallowed costs.
  • Neglecting to define the fee base clearly (e.g., whether subcontractor pass-throughs are fee-bearing).
  • Skipping a documented change-order approval process, which creates retrospective approval disputes and payment delays.

Real-World Use Cases

Examples illustrate how parties adapt Cost Plus contracts to practical project conditions.

Early-Phase Renovation

A developer hires a contractor on cost-plus to begin demolition before design completion

  • This rewards transparency with monthly invoicing
  • The owner retains audit rights and a negotiated fee cap to limit exposure while enabling fast mobilization.

Public Utility Repair

A municipality uses a cost-plus contract for urgent infrastructure repair

  • Contractor documents time and materials daily
  • The contract requires government audit access and federal compliance clauses for prevailing wages and bonding, speeding emergency repairs with oversight.

Key Timing and Processing Expectations

Establish and track payment, invoice submission, and audit timeframes in the contract to avoid disputes and statutory penalties.

Invoice Submission:

Specify monthly or milestone invoice dates and required backup documentation

Owner Review Period:

Set a firm review window (e.g., 14–30 days) for disputes or objections

Final Accounting:

Define the closeout period for final audit and adjustments after project completion

Statutory Notices:

Observe state preliminary notice or lien deadlines that affect rights

Record Retention:

Maintain records per retention timeline and jurisdictional requirements

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Signing and Tracking Contracts

Compare typical vendor starting prices and feature availability for document signing and secure recordkeeping. signNow appears first per platform comparison conventions.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Frequently Asked Questions About Cost Plus Construction Contracts

Answers to common legal, administrative, and eSigning questions encountered when preparing and managing cost-plus agreements.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users