Force Majeure
Force majeure is a delay caused by something outside your control — weather, a late part, or another trade who has not finished. It changes how you explain a delay, not whether you still owe the client a plan.
What it means
A late job usually falls into one of two groups: something you could have planned around, and something you genuinely could not. Force majeure names the second group — bad weather that stops outdoor work, a supplier who misses a delivery date, or another trade on the same job who has not cleared the way for you to start. None of it is your fault, but the client is still waiting on a date.
Naming the cause plainly does not replace naming a new time. Terms that mention force majeure usually excuse a fee for the delay itself, not the need to tell the client early and offer a fixed next step.
A fence job is booked for Tuesday, but heavy rain makes the ground unsafe to dig. You call the client Monday evening, explain the weather has stopped the job, and offer Thursday instead of leaving them to find out on the day.
Treating "it was the weather" as the whole message, with no new date attached — the client still needs a plan, not just a reason.
General information, not legal or tax advice — rates and rules vary by place; check yours. See our terms for the full version of this note.
See also
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