Retention, tracked both ways
See what your clients are holding from you and what you're holding from your subcontractors. Each rate and release date is held against the job, and every retention movement is invoiced and synced to your accounts.
| Contract | Direction | Rate | Held | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main contract · Client | Held by client | 5% | £48,200 | cl. 4.20 · p.34 |
| Mercer Groundworks Ltd | Held by you | 5% | £9,200 | Subcontract cl. 4.9 |
| Hadley Mechanical Ltd | Held by you | 3% | £6,300 | Subcontract cl. 4.9 |
Do you know how much retention you're owed?
Retention held by clients builds up over years and across jobs, and nobody has the total until someone asks for it.
Different sections, packages or amendments carry different rates. A single percentage on the valuation gets it wrong.
What you've held back from your supply chain is a liability. It's rarely reconciled against what your client is holding from you.
See how growing contractors are using Coreloops to track retention both ways.
Retention held by your client
Every valuation deducts retention at your contract rate and cap, then adds it to a running total per job and across the business. Both release tranches are recorded with their trigger dates.
| Job | Rate | Held | Next release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Depot Ph2 | 5% | £48,200 | 50% at PC |
| Hartley Primary School | 3% | £31,900 | Making good |
| Canal Street Offices | 5% | £62,450 | 50% at PC |
| Northgate Retail Unit | 2.5% | £9,800 | 12 months after PC |
| Total held by clients | £152,350 |
| Section | Rate | Held |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 5% | £9,400 |
| Measured Works | 5% | £36,300 |
| Day Works | 0% | £0 |
| Variations | 5% | £2,500 |
| Total held | £48,200 |
Multiple retention rates on one contract
Set rates at project, section or line level. Each is applied automatically on the valuation and shown with the clause it came from.
Retention you hold against subcontractors
Hold each subcontractor's rate and cap on their order. Retention is deducted on every payment, so you can see what you owe and when it falls due.
| Subcontractor | Rate | Held | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Groundworks Ltd | 5% | £9,200 | 14/11/26 |
| Hadley Mechanical Ltd | 3% | £6,300 | 14/11/26 |
| Kestrel Roofing | 5% | £4,150 | 26/03/27 |
| Arden Electrical | 2.5% | £2,000 | 26/03/27 |
| Total you hold | £21,650 |
Retention in your balance sheet
Retention is invoiced correctly and synced to your accounting system. Amounts held by clients post as an asset, and amounts you hold against subcontractors post as a liability. Your balance sheet matches the job.
What the industry is saying
How contractors are taking control of their costs and contracts with Coreloops.
We had CEs there with our approval attached to it. There was no way for the client to dispute it.
Samuel Maddison
Director, Project Safe
One platform for costs and contracts
Book a discovery call
We'll learn about your current setup and show you how Coreloops could help you track retention both ways and keep it right in your accounts.
