T&M backup
Time and materials tag: the field backup behind extra work.
A time and materials tag records the labor, materials, and approval for work that cannot be fully priced upfront. On larger jobs, a signed T&M tag can be stronger than a loose text thread.
Direct answer
A T&M tag should capture who authorized the work, what labor and materials were used, photos or receipts when available, and a signature or written approval.
01Workflow
How to capture T&M work cleanly
- 1
Document the site condition before starting the extra scope.
- 2
Record labor hours and material quantities.
- 3
Attach receipts or photos when possible.
- 4
Get customer, owner, or GC approval.
- 5
Save the tag beside the final invoice or change order.
02Practical notes
What matters in the field.
T&M is about backup, not just billing.
The tag should answer two questions: was the work authorized, and was the work completed?
Photos help prove existing conditions.
Before photos make it harder to argue that the issue was caused by the contractor.
Mobile tickets work well for small teams.
If you do not run a heavy construction platform, a mobile approval PDF can capture most of the same field evidence.
03Checklist
T&M tag checklist
Work description
Labor hours
Material quantities
Rate or cost basis
Photo evidence
Signature or written authorization
Example
T&M note example
Extra electrical labor required after cabinet installation changed outlet height.
Labor: 2.5 hours. Materials: boxes, wire, plates, drywall patch materials.
Customer approved before added work continued.
04FAQ
Common questions.
Is a T&M tag the same as a change order?
They overlap. A T&M tag is often the field backup for labor and materials. A change order is the customer-facing approval record that may reference that backup.
Who should sign a T&M tag?
Whoever has authority to approve the added work: homeowner, owner representative, GC, property manager, or authorized customer contact.
See what the approval record looks like.
Open the sample PDF first, then download SiteTicket AI if this is close to how you handle added work, customer approval, and invoice backup.
Related guides
Change order with signature: what to capture before extra work starts.
When a contractor needs a signed change order, what to include, when to collect the signature, and how to keep a clean approval record.
Extra work approval text: wording to send before continuing.
Copy-ready wording contractors can send when a customer asks for extra work while the job is already underway.
Contractor change order template for small extra work.
A practical contractor change order template for extra work, added cost, customer approval, and invoice handoff.