Contractor Portal

The Contractor Portal is a focused view of Baulit designed for subcontractors and trade partners. You see only the tasks assigned to you, with the tools you need to update your progress and submit work for approval. No clutter, no features you do not need.

This guide covers everything you need to know as a contractor: accepting your invitation, viewing your tasks, updating statuses, uploading photos, and understanding what happens after you submit work for review.

Accepting an Invitation

When a general contractor or project manager adds you to a project in Baulit, you receive an email invitation with a link to join.

Open the invitation email. Look for an email from Baulit with the project name in the subject line. Click the invitation link.

Create your account or sign in. If this is your first time using Baulit, create a free account with your email and a password. If you already have a Baulit account from another project, just sign in.

View your assigned tasks. After signing in, you land on the project and see only the tasks that have been assigned to you. This is your workspace for this project.

Always free: Contractor accounts are free. You will never be charged for using Baulit, regardless of how many projects you are invited to. The general contractor pays for their subscription. You pay nothing.

What You See When You Log In

Your view of Baulit is streamlined to show only what matters for your work. When you open a project, you see your assigned tasks with their names, statuses, and any notes from the project manager.

You do not see budget data, other contractors' tasks, project settings, reports, or AI features. The interface is intentionally simple so you can focus on your scope of work without distractions.

If you are invited to multiple projects, your dashboard shows all of them. Click any project to view your assigned tasks for that specific job.

Updating Task Status

Keeping your task statuses current is the most important thing you can do in Baulit. Accurate statuses let the GC know where things stand without a phone call or text message.

The contractor status workflow

Not Started to In Progress. When you arrive on site and begin work on a task, change its status to In Progress. Click the status badge on the task row and select In Progress from the dropdown. This tells the project manager that work is underway.

In Progress to Pending Approval. When you finish the work and it is ready for review, change the status to Pending Approval. This signals that your scope is complete and you are waiting for the GC to inspect and sign off.

Wait for the review. The admin or manager reviews your work and either approves it (moves to Complete) or rejects it with a note explaining what needs to be fixed (moves back to In Progress).

If rejected, fix and resubmit. Read the rejection note to understand what needs to be addressed. Make the corrections on site, then change the status back to Pending Approval when the rework is done.

Important: You cannot mark a task as Complete yourself. Only the admin or manager can approve work to the Complete status. This ensures every completed task has been reviewed and signed off by the project lead.

Uploading Photos for Approval

When you change a task to Pending Approval, Baulit prompts you to attach photos of the finished work. While optional, photos are strongly recommended because they speed up the approval process significantly.

Finish the work. Complete the scope for the task as described by the project manager.

Take photos. Photograph the completed work from multiple angles. Include close-ups of critical details like connections, fasteners, and alignment that the GC would inspect in person.

Change status to Pending Approval. Click the status badge and select Pending Approval.

Upload photos. Use the file upload area on the task to attach your photos. You can upload multiple images at once from your phone or computer.

Add a note (optional). Type a brief note about what was done, any issues encountered, or anything the project manager should know during review.

Tip: Good photos can cut your approval turnaround from days to hours. The GC can review and approve your work from their office instead of driving to the site. Photograph rough-in work (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) before the next trade covers it with drywall. These photos are your proof of quality if questions come up later.

What Happens After You Submit

After you change a task to Pending Approval, the following happens:

The admin or manager receives a notification that your task is ready for review
The task appears with a yellow Pending Approval badge on their dashboard
They review your work and any attached photos
They approve (task moves to Complete) or reject with a note (task moves back to In Progress)
You receive an email notification with the result

If rejected, the email includes the manager's note explaining what needs to be corrected. Address every item in the note before resubmitting to avoid multiple rejection cycles.

Notifications You Receive

As a contractor, you receive email notifications when:

You are invited to a new project
A new task is assigned to you
Your submitted work is approved (task moved to Complete)
Your submitted work is rejected (with the reason and corrective notes)
A task's status is changed by the project manager

Check your email regularly so you stay informed about approvals, rejections, and new assignments without needing to log into the app.

What You Can Do vs. What You Cannot Do

The contractor role is intentionally limited to keep the interface focused and protect sensitive project data. Here is a clear breakdown:

What You Can Do	What You Cannot Do
View tasks assigned to you	View other contractors' tasks
Change status: Not Started, In Progress, Pending Approval	Mark tasks as Complete (admin/manager only)
Upload photos and files to your tasks	View or modify the project budget
View notes and attachments on your tasks	Create new projects or add tasks
Receive email notifications for assignments and approvals	Invite or manage team members
Access multiple projects you are invited to	Access reports or analytics
	Use AI features
	Access project settings or billing
	View the Gantt chart or schedule details
	Create or manage change orders

This restricted access is by design. It keeps the interface simple for field workers and protects sensitive project financial data. If you need access to additional features, talk to your project manager about changing your role.

Tips for Contractors

Update statuses the same day. When you start a task, mark it In Progress immediately. When you finish, mark it Pending Approval before you leave the site. Real-time updates eliminate status-check phone calls from the GC.
Always upload photos when requesting approval. Photos are the fastest path to getting approved. A two-minute photo session saves days of waiting for a site visit.
Read rejection notes carefully. When work is rejected, the note tells you exactly what the GC wants corrected. Address every item before resubmitting to avoid multiple back-and-forth cycles.
Check for new assignments regularly. Log in at the start of each workday or check your email for new task assignment notifications. Priorities can shift, and staying current helps you plan your day.
Keep your contact information current. Make sure the email address on your Baulit account is one you check regularly. All notifications go to that address.

Need help? If you have questions about a specific task or the expectations for your work, reach out to the project manager who invited you. They can update your assignments, add notes to tasks, or clarify what is needed.