Act on the result
Plan funding before the peak gap and confirm release milestones in the contract.
Educational only: Business decision support, not accounting, tax or legal advice.
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Update policy: Reviewed when formulas or official dependencies change.
Scope: Market-neutral small-business planning using your own assumptions.
What this planner helps you decide
Best for
Construction businesses planning the cash effect of retention withholding and release timing.
Outputs
Retention withheld and released, expected final release date, actual receipts, project outflows and peak funding gap.
Start here
Align certified work, payment receipts and cost outflows to the same project window.
Use a different tool when: Do not use this to align milestone billing with cost timing and retention; use Progress Billing Cash Planner for that decision. Use this tool to model construction retention withholding, release timing and project cash exposure.
Quote & capacity
Construction Retention: receipts and project outflows
Retention withheld and released, expected final release date, actual receipts, project outflows and peak funding gap.
Amounts use the same currency as your inputs. No currency conversion is performed.
Your industry scenario
Reconcile certified construction work, retention withheld and released, prior certification and cash already received.
Your numbers stay in this browser
Rate withheld under the entered contract assumption.
Maximum retention balance allowed under the entered contract assumptions. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Whole days from the last claim date to expected final retention release.
Cash available to fund the two claim periods.
Enter the first claim date as eight digits in YYYYMMDD format.
Work certified in the first claim period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
All customer cash actually received in the first claim period, including any payment arising from released retention. The separate release field updates the retention ledger and is not added to cash again. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Retention released during the first claim period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Labour, supplier and subcontractor cash paid in the first period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Enter the later claim date as eight digits in YYYYMMDD format.
Work certified in the second claim period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
All customer cash actually received in the second claim period, including any payment arising from released retention. The separate release field updates the retention ledger and is not added to cash again. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Retention released during the second claim period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Labour, supplier and subcontractor cash paid in the second period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Industry decision result
See the current claim, cash due now and cumulative cash position without treating held retention as received cash. Review every output on the same entered business basis.
- Total certified work
- 210,000.00
- Total retention withheld
- 10,500.00
- Total retention released
- 0.00
- Retention still held
- 10,500.00
- Total collectible amount
- 199,500.00
- Total cash received
- 170,000.00
- Cash still due
- 29,500.00
- Project cost outflow
- 200,000.00
- Closing project cash
- -15,000.00
- Peak project funding gap
- 15,000.00
- First shortfall date
- 2026-02-28
- Expected final retention release date
- 2026-04-29
Scenario comparison
Each row names the assumption axis changed from the baseline.
ScenarioResultDifference
Current industry scenario15,000.00Baseline
Lower First claim cash received22,000.007,000.00
Higher First claim cash received8,000.00-7,000.00
Save these results, change an input, then compare the updated figures with this baseline.
The baseline is temporary in this tab and is not added to shared scenario links or generated reports.
Calculation details
View calculation detailsView the formulas and inputs used for these results.
Total certified work
Total certified work
sum of certified work across claim periods210,000 , ex taxResult210,000.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Total certified workRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Total certified workRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Total certified workExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Total certified workOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Total certified workFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Total certified workFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Total certified workFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Total certified workFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total certified workFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Total certified workSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Total certified workSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Total certified workSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Total certified workSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total certified workSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Total retention withheld
Total retention withheld
sum of claim retention subject to the cap10,500 , ex taxResult10,500.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Total retention withheldRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Total retention withheldRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Total retention withheldExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Total retention withheldOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Total retention withheldFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Total retention withheldFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Total retention withheldFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Total retention withheldFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total retention withheldFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Total retention withheldSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Total retention withheldSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Total retention withheldSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Total retention withheldSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total retention withheldSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Total retention released
Total retention released
sum of released retention across claim periods0 , ex taxResult0.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Total retention releasedRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Total retention releasedRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Total retention releasedExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Total retention releasedOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Total retention releasedFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Total retention releasedFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Total retention releasedFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Total retention releasedFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total retention releasedFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Total retention releasedSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Total retention releasedSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Total retention releasedSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Total retention releasedSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total retention releasedSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Retention still held
Retention still held
retention withheld - retention released10,500 , ex taxResult10,500.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Retention still heldRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Retention still heldRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Retention still heldExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Retention still heldOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Retention still heldFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Retention still heldFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Retention still heldFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Retention still heldFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Retention still heldFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Retention still heldSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Retention still heldSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Retention still heldSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Retention still heldSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Retention still heldSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Total collectible amount
Total collectible amount
certified work - retention withheld + retention released199,500 , ex taxResult199,500.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Total collectible amountRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Total collectible amountRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Total collectible amountExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Total collectible amountOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Total collectible amountFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Total collectible amountFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Total collectible amountFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Total collectible amountFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total collectible amountFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Total collectible amountSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Total collectible amountSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Total collectible amountSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Total collectible amountSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total collectible amountSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Total cash received
Total cash received
sum of cash receipts across claim periods170,000 , ex taxResult170,000.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Total cash receivedRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Total cash receivedRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Total cash receivedExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Total cash receivedOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Total cash receivedFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Total cash receivedFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Total cash receivedFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Total cash receivedFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total cash receivedFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Total cash receivedSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Total cash receivedSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Total cash receivedSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Total cash receivedSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Total cash receivedSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Cash still due
Cash still due
total collectible amount - total cash received29,500 , ex taxResult29,500.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Cash still dueRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Cash still dueRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Cash still dueExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Cash still dueOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Cash still dueFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Cash still dueFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Cash still dueFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Cash still dueFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Cash still dueFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Cash still dueSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Cash still dueSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Cash still dueSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Cash still dueSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Cash still dueSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Project cost outflow
Project cost outflow
sum of project cost cash outflows200,000 , ex taxResult200,000.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Project cost outflowRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Project cost outflowRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Project cost outflowExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Project cost outflowOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Project cost outflowFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Project cost outflowFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Project cost outflowFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Project cost outflowFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Project cost outflowFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Project cost outflowSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Project cost outflowSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Project cost outflowSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Project cost outflowSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Project cost outflowSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Closing project cash
Closing project cash
opening cash + receipts - project cost outflows-15,000 , ex taxResult-15,000.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Closing project cashRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Closing project cashRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Closing project cashExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Closing project cashOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Closing project cashFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Closing project cashFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Closing project cashFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Closing project cashFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Closing project cashFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Closing project cashSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Closing project cashSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Closing project cashSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Closing project cashSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Closing project cashSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Peak project funding gap
Peak project funding gap
largest shortfall below zero cash across claim periods15,000 , ex taxResult15,000.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Peak project funding gapRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Peak project funding gapRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Peak project funding gapExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Peak project funding gapOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Peak project funding gapFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Peak project funding gapFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Peak project funding gapFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Peak project funding gapFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Peak project funding gapFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Peak project funding gapSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Peak project funding gapSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Peak project funding gapSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Peak project funding gapSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Peak project funding gapSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
First shortfall date
First shortfall date
first chronological claim date with closing cash below zero2026-02-28Result2026-02-28
Uses the named industry records and reports this output in ISO calendar date. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- First shortfall dateRetention Rate
- 0.05
- First shortfall dateRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- First shortfall dateExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- First shortfall dateOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- First shortfall dateFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- First shortfall dateFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- First shortfall dateFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- First shortfall dateFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- First shortfall dateFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- First shortfall dateSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- First shortfall dateSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- First shortfall dateSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- First shortfall dateSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- First shortfall dateSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Expected final retention release date
Expected final retention release date
last claim date + expected release delay when retention remains held2026-04-29Result2026-04-29
Uses the named industry records and reports this output in ISO calendar date. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Construction Retention Cash-flow Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Expected final retention release dateRetention Rate
- 0.05
- Expected final retention release dateRetention Cap Ex Tax
- 30,000
- Expected final retention release dateExpected Release Delay Days
- 60
- Expected final retention release dateOpening Project Cash Ex Tax
- 15,000
- Expected final retention release dateFirst Claim Date Code
- 20,260,131
- Expected final retention release dateFirst Certified Work Ex Tax
- 90,000
- Expected final retention release dateFirst Cash Received Ex Tax
- 70,000
- Expected final retention release dateFirst Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Expected final retention release dateFirst Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 82,000
- Expected final retention release dateSecond Claim Date Code
- 20,260,228
- Expected final retention release dateSecond Certified Work Ex Tax
- 120,000
- Expected final retention release dateSecond Cash Received Ex Tax
- 100,000
- Expected final retention release dateSecond Retention Released Ex Tax
- 0
- Expected final retention release dateSecond Project Cost Outflow Ex Tax
- 118,000
Inputs used
- Contract retention rate (decimal fraction of certified work withheld)
- 0.05
- Contract retention cap (/project retention balance, ex tax)
- 30,000
- Expected release delay (whole days from last claim to final release)
- 60
- Opening project cash (/project before first claim, ex tax)
- 15,000
- First claim date (YYYYMMDD date code for first claim)
- 20,260,131
- First claim certified work (/first claim, ex tax)
- 90,000
- First claim cash received (/first claim period, ex tax)
- 70,000
- First claim retention released (/first claim period, ex tax)
- 0
- First claim project cost outflow (/first claim period, ex tax)
- 82,000
- Second claim date (YYYYMMDD date code for second claim)
- 20,260,228
- Second claim certified work (/second claim, ex tax)
- 120,000
- Second claim cash received (/second claim period, ex tax)
- 100,000
- Second claim retention released (/second claim period, ex tax)
- 0
- Second claim project cost outflow (/second claim period, ex tax)
- 118,000
Open this calculator with preset values
This calculator supports documented, shareable scenario URLs. Compatible assistants and applications can construct links using the parameters below.
Scenario links contain only allowlisted numeric and closed-choice inputs shown in the URL; Margin101 excludes free text and identifying fields. Anyone you share the URL with can read those numbers, so do not include private or identifying data.
| Parameter | Meaning | Unit | Allowed values | Presence | Default |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| expectedReleaseDelayDays | Whole days from the last claim date to expected final retention release. | whole days from last claim to final release | 0 to 3650 | Required | 60 |
| firstCashReceivedExTax | All customer cash actually received in the first claim period, including any payment arising from released retention. The separate release field updates the retention ledger and is not added to cash again. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/first claim period, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 70000 |
| firstCertifiedWorkExTax | Work certified in the first claim period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/first claim, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 90000 |
| firstClaimDateCode | Enter the first claim date as eight digits in YYYYMMDD format. | YYYYMMDD date code for first claim | 10000101 to 99991231 | Required | 20260131 |
| firstProjectCostOutflowExTax | Labour, supplier and subcontractor cash paid in the first period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/first claim period, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 82000 |
| firstRetentionReleasedExTax | Retention released during the first claim period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/first claim period, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 0 |
| openingProjectCashExTax | Cash available to fund the two claim periods. | currency units/project before first claim, ex tax | -100000000 to 100000000 | Required | 15000 |
| retentionCapExTax | Maximum retention balance allowed under the entered contract assumptions. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/project retention balance, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 30000 |
| retentionRate | Rate withheld under the entered contract assumption. | decimal fraction of certified work withheld | 0 to 1 | Required | 0.05 |
| secondCashReceivedExTax | All customer cash actually received in the second claim period, including any payment arising from released retention. The separate release field updates the retention ledger and is not added to cash again. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/second claim period, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 100000 |
| secondCertifiedWorkExTax | Work certified in the second claim period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/second claim, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 120000 |
| secondClaimDateCode | Enter the later claim date as eight digits in YYYYMMDD format. | YYYYMMDD date code for second claim | 10000101 to 99991231 | Required | 20260228 |
| secondProjectCostOutflowExTax | Labour, supplier and subcontractor cash paid in the second period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/second claim period, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 118000 |
| secondRetentionReleasedExTax | Retention released during the second claim period. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/second claim period, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 0 |
Construction Retention: receipts and project outflows
Retention is a timing exposure: project profit and project cash can move differently.
Formula summary
- Primary formula
- largest shortfall below zero cash across claim periods
Data used here
- The estimate uses your inputs and the general business formula documented in the methodology.
Decision checks
Stress-test the decision
Retest slower receipts and a longer expected release delay.
When this estimate can be misleading
- Industry costs, tax, contract terms, capacity and targets are entered by the user; no market benchmark is embedded.
- Use records from one consistent period and one ex-tax currency basis where money applies.
- This is educational business decision support, not accounting, tax, legal or financial advice.
- Retention is a timing exposure: project profit and project cash can move differently.
Educational estimate, not advice. See all assumptions & limitations →
Related reading
Guides to interpret the decision and its assumptions.
- Progress Billing and Cash Timing for Project Businesses
Design observable billing milestones and model invoice and receipt dates separately from project profit.
Read guide
Frequently asked questions
How do I model construction retention withholding, release timing and project cash exposure?
Plan funding before the peak gap and confirm release milestones in the contract.
Which planning assumptions should I stress-test?
Compare a plausible alternative scenario and verify the decision-critical assumption that changes the plan most.