Unit Billing Projects
Unit Billing lets you bill for measurable work based on the quantity completed and an agreed price per unit. Examples include linear feet of piping, square yards of material, cubic yards of concrete, labor hours, or installed items.
Instead of entering one fixed contract amount, you define the project using:
Quantity
Unit of measure
Unit price
BuildOps uses these values to calculate the contract value and the amount billed on each Pay Application.
When to use Unit Billing
Use Unit Billing when your contract is based on measurable quantities and a set price for each unit.
For example:
Contract quantity: 200 linear feet
Unit of measure: LF
Unit price: $50 per LF
Contract value: $10,000
Unit Billing may not be the best fit when your contract is a single fixed amount with no quantity-based pricing. In that case, use a Quoted project.
Before you begin
Make sure you have:
The customer and property set up in BuildOps
The agreed quantities and unit prices from the contract
The unit of measure for each type of work
The project billing contacts
The accounting and project information required by your company
Unit Billing must be enabled for your company before you can select it during project creation. If you do not see the Unit Price option, your Customer Success Manager or our BuildOps Support team can help turn this feature on.
Create a Unit Billing project
Step 1: Start the project
Go to Projects and select Project Management.
Select Add Project.
Complete the project information, customer, property, dates, and contacts.
In the billing type field, select Unit Price.
Select Next Step to continue.
If Unit Price is not available, your company may not have Unit Billing enabled.
Step 2: Add the Schedule of Values
The Schedule of Values, or SOV, lists the work that can be billed on the project. Each SOV line represents a type of work or material.
Select Add SOV Item.
Enter a clear Description of Work.
Enter the Unit of Measure, such as LF, hours, each, square feet, or cubic yards.
Enter the contracted Quantity.
Enter the Unit Price.
Review the calculated Contract Value.
Add retainage or holdback information if it applies to the project.
Repeat these steps for each type of work.
For a Unit Billing project, the contract value is calculated from the quantity and unit price: Quantity × Unit Price = Contract Value
Example: 200 LF × $50/LF = $10,000
Review each SOV line carefully before continuing. The quantities, units, and prices should match the signed contract.
Step 3: Complete the remaining project setup
Continue through the remaining project setup steps, such as:
Project phases
Cost codes
Project budget
Complete the required fields, then save the project.
Create a Pay Application
Pay Applications allow you to bill for progress made during a billing period.
Open the Unit Billing project.
Go to Finance and select Pay Applications.
Select Generate Pay Application.
Complete the Pay Application details, including the billing period and application date.
Review the SOV lines included in the Pay Application.
Enter the quantity being billed for each line.
Review the calculated dollar amount, retainage, and balance to finish.
Select Add Pay Application to save it.
For Unit Billing projects, the amount is calculated from the quantity being billed and the unit price.
Example:
Quantity billed this period: 50 LF
Unit price: $50/LF
Amount billed before retainage: $2,500
50 LF × $50/LF = $2,500
The quantity remaining for future billing is based on the contract quantity and the quantities already billed.
Review, share, and post the Pay Application
After creating the Pay Application, you can:
Review or preview it
Add attachments
Email it to the appropriate customer or project contact
View the invoice created from the Pay Application
Post the invoice when it is ready
A Pay Application creates an invoice with the same billing lines in BuildOps. To find the invoice, open the project's Invoices tab.
Best practices
Use the same unit of measure throughout the project. For example, do not use LF on one line and feet on another unless they represent different billing units.
Confirm that each unit price matches the signed contract.
Use separate SOV lines for different types of work or different unit prices.
Review quantities before saving a Pay Application.
Confirm the billing period and application date before generating the Pay Application.
Keep supporting documentation, such as measurements or progress records, with the Pay Application when needed.
Review the SOV before creating the first Pay Application. After billing begins, SOV changes may be restricted to protect billing accuracy.
Troubleshooting
I do not see the Unit Price billing type
Unit Billing must be enabled for your company. Contact your Customer Success Manager, or Support team to confirm availability.
The contract value is not what I expected
Check the following values on the SOV line:
Quantity
Unit of measure
Unit price
The contract value is based on quantity multiplied by unit price. Make sure the unit price is entered for one unit, not for the entire line total.
The Pay Application amount is incorrect
Confirm the quantity being billed and the unit price on the SOV line. Also review retainage or holdback, stored materials, and any approved change orders that may affect the total.
I cannot create a Pay Application
Confirm that:
The project setup has been saved.
The Pay Application date falls within the project and phase dates.
The project contains SOV lines.
Required project and accounting information is complete.
I need to change an SOV line after billing has started
SOV changes may be restricted after a Pay Application has been created. Do not change the quantity or unit price without first confirming the correct process with your BuildOps administrator or Support team.
I need unit-level details on a Pay Application PDF
The available Pay Application format may depend on your company’s setup. Contact your Customer Success Manager or Support team if you need a detailed unit-based format.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Unit Billing the same as a Quoted project?
No. A Quoted project generally uses fixed contract amounts. A Unit Billing project calculates contract value and billing from quantities and unit prices.
Q: Can I use different units on the same project?
Yes. A project can contain separate SOV lines with different units, such as LF for piping and each for equipment, as long as each line has its own quantity and unit price.
Q: Does BuildOps calculate the dollar amount for me?
Yes. BuildOps calculates the contract value and Pay Application amount from the quantity and unit price entered for the SOV line.
Q: What happens when I bill only part of the contracted quantity?
The quantity billed is applied to the current Pay Application, and the remaining quantity stays available for future billing.
Q: Can I bill more than the original quantity?
Additional work may require an approved change order or another contract update. Follow your company’s approval process before billing quantities above the original contract.