The FIDIC Before You Sign That Contract: A Practical Subcontractor's Checklist for Spotting Risk, Protecting Cashflow, and Avoiding Costly Mistakes

Most subcontractors don’t lose money because they can’t do the work.
They lose it because of what they agreed to before they started.
Contracts arrive late.
You’re under pressure to sign.
The programme’s tight.
The job looks good.
So you scan it, pick up the obvious bits…
and trust the rest will be fine.
That’s where the problems start.
Because hidden inside most construction contracts are small pieces of wording that:
• delay your payment
• push risk onto you
• limit your ability to recover variations
• expose you to costs you never priced
And once you’ve signed it - you’re committed.
This book gives you a simple, part of The “Before You Sign” Series practical, way to stop that happening.
Built on over 40 years of real construction experience,
The FIDIC Before You Sign That Contract is a straight-talking guide for subcontractors who want to:

• spot risk before it becomes a problem
• understand what they’re actually agreeing to
• protect their cashflow and margin
• ask the right questions before signing

Covering the most commonly used FIDIC contracts - Red, Yellow, Silver, Gold, and hybrid “Rainbow” forms - this book breaks down what really matters, in plain English.
No legal jargon.
No theory.
Just practical insight you can use on every job.
Inside, you’ll find:
• simple checklists you can apply immediately
• real-world explanations of how contracts behave on site
• tools to help you review, question, and protect your position
• clear guidance on where subcontractors typically get caught out
If you price work, manage contracts, or sign subcontract agreements;
this is the book you read before you sign the next one.
Part of The “Before You Sign” Series:

• The NEC4 Before You Sign That Contract
• The JCT Before You Sign That Contract
• The NEC Short Form Before You Sign That Contract
• The FIDIC Before You Sign That Contract
• The Utilities and Framework Contracts Before You Sign That Contract

Because once the contract is signed…….the risk is yours.