Subcontractor Financial Readiness · Free Resource

How much your customer can hold back — and when you get it back — depends entirely on where the job is.

Tap the table below to see the public and private retainage caps, release timing, and interest rules that govern your cash in every state and DC.

Subcontractor Financial Readiness · Free Resource

Retainage by State

How much your customer can hold back — and when you get it back — depends entirely on where the job is. Tap your state to see the public and private retainage caps, release timing, and interest rules that govern your cash.

The full 50-state retainage table

"No statutory cap" means the percentage is whatever your contract says — so the number in your subcontract is the rule. Search filters the map and table together.

State	Public cap	Private cap	Release timing	Interest / escrow

On mobile, scroll the table sideways to see all columns.

Disclaimer. This page is general information, not financial or legal advice. Retainage statutes change frequently, vary by project type and contract value, and contain exceptions this summary does not capture. Figures reflect Breva's research as of June 2026 and should be confirmed against the current statute and qualified legal counsel before you act on any specific project. Breva is a financial operations platform — not a law firm or a lender. Cadence Financial Group, Inc. DBA Breva®.

Strategy Tips

Stop financing your customers for free.

Retainage is one piece of your work-to-cash cycle. A few operator moves turn it from a surprise into a planned line item.

Build retainage into your bid template

If the statute allows 10% on private work in your state, assume that cash is gone until closeout. Price the job, the mobilization, and your working-capital line as if retainage will not be released early.

Negotiate the release trigger before you sign

In states with no private cap, your subcontract is the only guardrail. Push for release at substantial completion of your scope — not the entire project — and get it in writing.

Use escrow or securities when you can

Several states let you substitute a bond or escrow account for withheld cash. It costs a small fee, but it keeps your working capital working instead of financing the owner for free.

Get retainage tracked across every job — in one auditable loop.

Breva keeps your pay apps clean, your cash visible, and your retainage tracked across every job. Book a 20-minute demo and we'll show you how a real contractor uses it end to end.

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The next pay app you submit could be the one that's approved on the first try.

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