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  4. How to add a subcontract variation/change order
Updated on September 8, 2025

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How to add a subcontract variation/change order

Estimated reading: 2 minutes

Depending on your language settings, Planyard will show either variations (UK/AU) or change orders (US). The functionality is the same.

How to add a variation/change order to a subcontract

  1. Open your project.
  2. Go to Subcontracts and select the subcontract where you want to add the variation.
  3. Scroll down and click Add variation.
  4. A new variation row appears on the same screen.

Step 1: Enter variation details

  • Variation name: Give the variation a name (e.g. “VO1 – Extra demolition”).

Step 2: Connect the variation to your budget

In the Line item column, click the dropdown. You have three options:

  1. Add new line-item – creates a new item in the budget just for this variation.
  2. Add new change order / variation – creates a new client change order/variation. You’ll be asked to enter:
    • Line item name
    • Cost code
    • Estimated sales price to the client
    • Target cost
    • Then click Add change order. This creates a client change order that will be visible in the budget.
  3. Select from existing line-items – connects the subcontract variation to an existing budget line item. Use the dropdown or the table view for easier selection.

Step 3: Add contract details

Fill in the remaining columns:

  • Contracted quantity – the number of units.
  • Con. unit – the unit of measurement.
  • Con. price – the unit price.
  • Contracted cost – calculated automatically.

Step 4: Break down the variation (optional)

If you need a detailed scope breakdown:

  • Click the blue three-lines + button at the end of the row.
  • Add sub-lines under the variation (e.g. materials, labor).
  • All sub-lines roll up into the total cost of the connected budget item.

How variations affect costs

When a variation is added, both the contracted amount of the subcontract and the committed cost in the budget are updated automatically to reflect the new value.

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