Field notes · SignTonight

Verbal extras vs signed T&M: what the office needs tonight

“Go ahead and do it” pays for zero invoices.

Subs hear verbal extras all day: add this, dig that, stay late. The crew does the work. Then the office asks for proof—and all you have is a text, a memory, or a ticket nobody signed.

Here’s the gap between what the field thinks is approved and what billing can actually send.

What the office needs the same evening

  1. What was done — labor, materials, equipment, short description.
  2. Who authorized it — a signature from someone who can bind the customer/GC on that job.
  3. A durable record — not a photo of a blurry triplicate in a group chat.

Verbal extras give you (1) at best. Signed T&M gives you (1)+(2)+(3).

Why texts and “they said yes” fail under pushback

When someone disputes extras, AR doesn’t want your recollection. They want a dated sign-off on the ticket. A thread that says “ok proceed” without scope, quantities, or a named authorized signer is weak support for an invoice—and it often means the invoice waits.

Field habit that protects the invoice

Before demob: get the T&M on screen, get the right person to sign, leave the office a signed ticket tonight. Price it in the office if you need to—but don’t leave authorization for tomorrow.

That’s the SignTonight wedge for subcontractors: screen signature on site so unsigned extras don’t become unpaid extras.

Electronic signatures on business T&M tickets are generally recognized under ESIGN/UETA; your contract and counsel still control job requirements. Not legal advice.

Next: for subcontractors · same-day invoice-ready · field T&M signature

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