Templates
Construction Draw Schedule Template (with a Pool Payment Schedule Example)
November 3, 202610 min readBy the Ardovia team
A construction draw schedule lists the deposit and each progress payment, the milestone that triggers it, its share of the contract, and its dollar amount. Tie each draw to a completed phase of work, not a calendar date, so payments track the work. For a gunite pool, a typical schedule runs from a deposit at signing through draws after excavation and steel, shotcrete, plumbing and tile, decking, and plaster and start-up, then a final payment. Check your state's deposit rules before setting percentages.
Free template
Free construction draw schedule template
A fill-in payment schedule with the deposit and milestone draws, a gunite pool example, retainage, change-order tracking, lien waiver checkboxes, and signature lines.
What's included
- Deposit, five milestone draws, and a final payment
- Gunite pool example percentages
- Change-order log and current contract total
- Retainage and lien waiver options
- Excel version calculates each draw from the contract price and checks that percentages total 100%
No sign-up required. Free to use and edit for your business.
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What is a draw schedule?
A draw schedule (also called a construction payment schedule) is the part of the contract that says when the customer pays, and how much. Each payment is a draw. Each draw is released when a defined piece of work is done.
Draws keep your cash in step with your costs. You pay for excavation, steel, shotcrete, and tile as the job goes. Without draws, you finance the homeowner's pool until the end.
For the homeowner, draws are protection too. They pay for work they can see, not work that has not started.
Example
See it filled in
Here is the same template completed for a sample job, so you can see how much detail goes in each field before you fill out your own.
Three ways to schedule construction payments
Contractors use one of three approaches. Residential pool builders usually use fixed milestone draws.
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar-based | Payments due on set dates or monthly, regardless of progress | Rarely a good fit; payments drift ahead of or behind the work |
| Progress billing (percent complete) | Each period you bill the percent of each line item completed, against a schedule of values | Commercial and lender-funded work with formal pay applications |
| Fixed milestone draws | A set percentage is due when a named phase is complete | Residential pools, remodels, and other phase-based builds |
If a construction lender funds the project, the lender's draw process and inspections usually decide when money is released. Match your contract's draws to it.
Tie draws to completed phases, not dates
A draw due "on March 15" causes two problems. If weather slows the job, you are billing for work not done. If the job runs fast, you are carrying costs you have already earned.
A draw due "when shotcrete is applied" has an obvious trigger. Everyone can see it. Write each milestone as a finished, visible event: "excavation and steel complete," not "excavation begins."
Some states require this. In California, progress payments cannot exceed the value of the work performed, and the contract must include a detailed written payment schedule (CSLB).
Pool construction payment schedule: illustrative example
An example draw schedule for a gunite pool on a hypothetical $90,000 contract. The percentages are an illustration only, not a recommendation. Set your own based on your costs, cash flow, and state law.
| Payment | Due when this is complete | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Contract signed | 10% | $9,000 |
| Draw 1 | Excavation and steel complete | 20% | $18,000 |
| Draw 2 | Shotcrete (gunite) shell applied | 20% | $18,000 |
| Draw 3 | Plumbing, electrical, tile, and coping complete | 20% | $18,000 |
| Draw 4 | Decking complete | 15% | $13,500 |
| Draw 5 | Interior finish (plaster) applied and pool started up | 10% | $9,000 |
| Final | Final walkthrough and punch list complete | 5% | $4,500 |
| Total | 100% | $90,000 |
Illustrative example only. In states with deposit caps the deposit must be lower: in California, a $90,000 pool contract's down payment could not exceed $1,000.
How to set your draw percentages
Start from your costs, not round numbers. Each draw should roughly cover what you spend to reach that milestone, plus a share of margin. Front-loading too much invites pushback and, in some states, violates payment rules. Back-loading too much means you finance the job.
Keep the final payment meaningful but small enough that a punch-list disagreement does not hold up most of your profit. Look at your job costing by phase to see where the money really goes. Our guide on how to price a pool build walks through the cost categories.
- Match draws to phases in your pool construction schedule so every draw has a clear finish line.
- Put the biggest draws behind the phases with the biggest material and subcontractor bills, such as steel, shotcrete, and decking.
- State the payment terms: due within [X] days of the milestone, and work on the next phase starts after the draw is received.
- Check deposit limits and payment rules in your state before you finalize the schedule.
Retainage, lien waivers, and change orders
Retainage is a share of each payment, often around 5% to 10% on commercial jobs, held back until the project is complete. It is uncommon on residential pool contracts, where a small final payment does the same job. Some states limit retainage on certain projects, so check before using it.
Lien waivers are signed statements that a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier has been paid and gives up lien rights for that amount. Homeowners and lenders often ask for them with each draw. Conditional waivers take effect once the payment clears; unconditional waivers take effect when signed. Some states require specific statutory waiver forms, so use the one your state requires.
Change orders add to the payment schedule. Decide up front whether each change order is billed on its own (due on signature or on completion) or added to the next draw, and say so in the contract. Our change order template has the payment terms built in.
Step by step
How to build your draw schedule template
- 1
List your phases in build order
Write down every phase of a typical job, from excavation to start-up. Group them into five to seven billable milestones the customer can see.
- 2
Set the deposit
Check your state's deposit rules first. Then set the deposit as a percentage or flat amount that fits within them.
- 3
Assign a percentage to each draw
Base each percentage on the cost of reaching that milestone. Confirm the deposit and draws add up to 100% of the contract.
- 4
Write the milestone language
Use finished, visible events: "shotcrete shell applied," not "shotcrete scheduled." Add payment terms and what happens when a draw is late.
- 5
Put it in the contract
The draw schedule belongs in the signed contract, with the contract total and every draw amount shown. See our pool construction contract template and construction proposal template.
Not legal advice
This draw schedule template is general guidance, not legal advice. Deposit limits, progress payment rules, retainage, and lien waiver requirements vary by state. Have a licensed attorney in your state review your payment terms.
Running draws in pool builder software
A spreadsheet draw schedule is easy to write and hard to enforce. The crew moves on to tile while Draw 2 is still unpaid, and nobody notices until the office reconciles. Pool builder software ties each draw to the work.
In Ardovia, the pricing template sets the deposit and up to six draws, so every proposal produces its payment schedule from the contract total. When the customer signs by e-signature link, the job is created with draft deposit and draw invoices.
Deposit
Due at signing
Draw 1
Excavation
Draw 2
Gunite / Shotcrete
Draw 3
Tile & Deck
Final
Completion
Payment gates on the construction schedule
Each draw on Ardovia's construction schedule can carry a payment gate. Set it to Block to hold the work after the draw until the invoice is paid, or Warn to keep work moving while the job is flagged and the right people are emailed. Payment items can email the draw invoice to the customer automatically when the phase that earns it is done, or assign a teammate to request it.
Change orders are priced from the sold template and added to the project total, and financials show every invoice and payment on the job. Ardovia works on web, iOS, and Android, and there is a 14-day free trial. Customers receive invoices by email, invoices and payments sync to QuickBooks Online, and online payments through Bill.com are coming soon.
Held by Draw 2 payment
Tile & the phases after it stay blocked until the Draw 2 invoice is paid.
When a phase fires, it triggers…
Free template
Free construction draw schedule template
No sign-up required. Free to use and edit for your business.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a construction draw schedule?
A construction draw schedule is the part of a construction contract that lists the deposit and each progress payment, the milestone that triggers each payment, its percentage of the contract, and its dollar amount. Each payment is released when the defined phase of work is complete.
What is a typical payment schedule for building a pool?
A typical pool construction payment schedule has a deposit at signing, then draws after excavation and steel, after the shotcrete shell, after plumbing, electrical, tile and coping, after decking, at plaster and start-up, and a small final payment. Percentages vary by builder and region, and some states cap the deposit, so treat any example as illustrative only.
Should draws be tied to dates or to completed work?
Draws should be tied to completed phases of work, not calendar dates. A milestone such as shotcrete shell applied is easy for everyone to verify, keeps payments in step with the work, and fits state rules that say progress payments cannot exceed the value of work performed.
How much deposit can a contractor require on a pool?
It depends on the state. Some states cap deposits on home improvement contracts; in California, the down payment on a home improvement or swimming pool contract cannot exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. Check your state's contractor licensing board or an attorney before setting a deposit.
What is retainage in a draw schedule?
Retainage is a portion of each progress payment, often around 5% to 10% on commercial projects, that the owner holds back until the work is complete. It is uncommon on residential pool contracts, which usually use a small final payment instead, and some states limit retainage on certain projects.
How do change orders affect the draw schedule?
A signed change order increases or decreases the contract total, so it adds to the payment schedule. Contractors either bill each change order as its own invoice, due on signature or on completion, or add it to the next draw. The contract should state which approach is used.
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