When should a closing contractor stop accepting new work?
- Reading time
- 3 minutes
- Last reviewed
On this page
Stop accepting new work when the business cannot credibly support the proposed job alongside its existing commitments and closure arrangements. The decision needs more than an empty space in the diary. Check the actual capability through completion and the follow-up the job may require.
This is a contractor’s job-acceptance review. It does not determine the owner’s retirement date, set a price or establish a right to withdraw an offer already made.
Test the proposed job against what is already promised
Put the enquiry beside the live-project map. Identify the people, materials, plant and management attention it would take from existing work. A short new task can still conflict with a long-standing promise if both need the same person on the same day.
Use a final-job decision sheet with six answers:
- What has the customer actually requested, including timing and any follow-up?
- Who has confirmed the competent people and supervision needed for that scope?
- Which materials, plant, vehicles and site services are confirmed available?
- Which existing commitment would be affected, and who has reviewed that effect?
- Who will deal with the job’s records, customer questions and agreed aftercare after the planned last site day?
- Who has authority to approve acceptance, decline the enquiry or require further advice?
Keep any unconfirmed answer visible. “The subcontractor normally helps us” is not confirmed availability for this job.
Include the work that follows the visible task
For a fictional example, a two-day installation fits the last week of site work. Its completion documents, customer demonstration and one agreed follow-up visit do not. Accepting it without retaining those functions would create work beyond the capacity shown in the diary.
Ask whether the whole scope is supportable. Do not offer a reduced or transferred service until the appropriate customer, provider and internal decisions have been made. The snagging capability review helps expose residual tasks that can be easy to overlook when releasing tools and vehicles.
Keep safety, contractual and insurance questions with the relevant competent people and advisers. A commercial acceptance sheet is not permission to undertake unfamiliar work or an answer to those questions.
Give staff a clear decision rule
State who receives late enquiries and what staff may say before approval. A useful holding reply is: “We are reviewing our remaining capacity. We have not accepted this work and will confirm our response through [contact].” Adapt it to the actual position; do not use it to contradict an existing commitment.
Review outstanding tenders and promised quotations separately. A policy for tomorrow’s enquiries does not resolve bids already submitted.
Tell UK Auction Group when an authorised new commitment changes plant or vehicle availability. Update the specific release condition before it becomes part of a sale discussion. Recording that consequence in the job decision helps the owner see the full effect of accepting one more project.
Sources
This guide is general information and education only. Legal, tax, employment and safety decisions may need a qualified adviser who knows your situation. Read the disclaimer.