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Project Statuses Explained
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Project Statuses Explained

Understanding project statuses: Draft, Active, On Hold, Substantial Completion, and Closed

5 minLast updated: 2025-01-15
statuslifecycleactiveclosedsubstantial completion

Project status indicates where a project is in its lifecycle. Each status affects what actions are available and how the project appears in your lists.

Status Overview

StatusDescriptionBillingEditing
ActiveNormal operationAllowedFull access
On HoldTemporarily pausedBlockedLimited
CompleteProject finishedFinal onlyRead-only
ArchivedHidden from listsNoneRead-only

Active Status

The default status for new projects. Active projects have full functionality:

  • Create and submit pay applications
  • Add and modify change orders (Pro and Scale plans)
  • Generate lien waivers
  • Edit SOV line items
  • Update project settings
  • Sync with accounting software

Most of your projects will be in Active status during construction.

Active Project Limits

Your plan determines how many active projects you can have: Starter (5 projects), Pro (20 projects), or Scale (unlimited). Completed and archived projects still count toward this limit.

On Hold Status

Use On Hold when a project is temporarily paused but not finished. Common reasons:

  • Construction delays (weather, permits, materials)
  • Contract disputes being resolved
  • Owner financing issues
  • Seasonal work stoppage

What Happens When On Hold

  • Cannot create new pay applications
  • Existing drafts can be completed but not new ones started
  • Change orders can be viewed but not created
  • SOV is locked from changes
  • Project appears with "On Hold" badge in lists

Returning to Active

Simply change the status back to Active to resume normal operations. All previous data and settings are preserved.

Complete Status

Mark a project as Complete when construction is substantially finished and you've submitted your final billing.

Before Marking Complete

Verify that:

  • All work is 100% complete
  • Final pay application has been submitted
  • All change orders are approved
  • Final lien waivers have been generated
  • Retainage release has been requested or received

What Happens When Complete

  • Project becomes mostly read-only
  • Can still mark payments as received
  • Can still generate final lien waivers
  • Can still record retainage release (Pro and Scale plans)
  • Cannot create new progress pay apps
  • Cannot add new change orders
  • Project shows with "Complete" badge

Retainage Tracking

Complete projects can still track retainage (Pro and Scale plans). When the GC releases retained funds, you can record the payment in RIVET.

Archived Status

Archived projects are hidden from your normal project lists but all data is preserved. Use archiving for:

  • Old completed projects you don't need to see regularly
  • Cancelled projects that didn't proceed
  • Proposals that weren't awarded
  • Reducing clutter in your project list

What Happens When Archived

  • Project doesn't appear in main project list
  • Can be found via search or "Show Archived" filter
  • All data is preserved and viewable
  • No new actions can be taken
  • Can be unarchived to restore to previous status

Project Limits

Archived projects still count toward your subscription limits (Starter: 5, Pro: 20, Scale: unlimited). If you need to free up project slots, archived projects must be deleted.

Changing Project Status

To change a project's status:

  1. Open the project
  2. Click Settings (gear icon)
  3. Find "Project Status" section
  4. Select the new status from the dropdown
  5. Confirm the change if prompted

Status Transitions

FromToRequires Confirmation
ActiveOn HoldNo
ActiveCompleteYes
ActiveArchivedYes
On HoldActiveNo
CompleteActiveNo
ArchivedActiveNo

Dashboard Impact

Project status affects how projects appear on your dashboard:

  • Active - Appears in main project list and counts toward active project metrics
  • On Hold - Shown with warning indicator, excluded from some reports
  • Complete - Shown in completed section, included in historical reports
  • Archived - Hidden by default, must toggle "Show Archived"

Status and Reports

Project status affects which projects appear in reports:

  • AR Aging - Active, On Hold, and Complete with outstanding balances
  • Retainage Summary - All non-archived with retainage balances (Pro and Scale plans)
  • Cash Flow - Active projects only by default
  • Billing Summary - Configurable, all statuses available

Need Help?

If you have questions about project statuses or need assistance managing your projects, contact our support team at support@slpwlk.io.

Related Articles

projectsCreating a New ProjectStep-by-step guide to creating a project with contract details and GC informationRead moreprojectsProject Settings & ConfigurationConfigure project-specific settings like retainage percentage and billing preferencesRead moreprojectsManaging GC InformationAdd and update General Contractor and Architect contact informationRead more
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