The NEC4 Before You Sign That Contract: A Practical Subcontractor's Checklist for Spotting Risk, Protecting Cashflow, and Staying in Control

Most subcontractors don’t lose money on site.
They lose it before the job even starts; in the contract they signed without fully understanding the risk.
The NEC4 Before You Sign That Contract is part of the Before You Sign Series; a collection of straight-talking, practical guides designed to help subcontractors understand what they are really agreeing to before they put pen to paper.

NEC4 contracts are often described as clear, collaborative, and fair.
And they can be.
But in reality, they are rarely used in their pure form.
Z clauses are added.
Cost definitions are tightened.
Processes are enforced.
And risk is quietly pushed down the chain.

This book cuts through that.
Inside, you’ll find:

• Practical checklists for every NEC4 Option (A–F)
• Clear explanations of where risk actually sits
• Real-world examples of how subcontractors get caught out
• The exact questions you should be asking before signing

Written in plain English and based on over 40 years of construction experience, this is not a legal textbook.
It’s a working tool.
Whether you’re pricing a job, reviewing a subcontract, or protecting your margin, this book gives you a clear structure to follow, so you can spot problems early and deal with them properly.
Because in construction:

• The job doesn’t decide your profit
• The contract does

From the Before You Sign Series
Build your contract awareness across the full range:

• 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

Spot the Risk. Protect the Margin. Stay in Control.