Glossary term
Payroll Float
A payroll float is money set aside or advanced to cover wages before the site's own payment arrives. It bridges the gap between paying fundis on Friday and being paid for the work later.
Construction pays out long before it gets paid. Fundis are owed every Friday, but a valuation certificate can take weeks. A payroll float is the working capital that stops those two timelines from colliding.
Updated October 17, 2026 · Glossary
Why construction needs a float
Wages are a weekly, predictable cost. Site income is not. Interim certificates, valuations and client approvals arrive on their own schedule, often 30 to 60 days after the work. When the two run on different clocks, a solvent contractor can still run short on a Friday.
The 14-day payroll float
FundiPay offers a 14-day float advanced against verified wages. The muster roll is already locked and the amounts are known, so the advance is sized to the real payroll rather than a guess. You pay fundis on time, and the float is recovered as project money comes in.
Keeping the float healthy
A float is not a loan to lean on indefinitely. Keep the muster roll accurate, pay out what you can from current cash, and clear advances from the next valuation. The discipline is simple:
- Lock attendance before you draw
- Float only against verified wages
- Repay from the next valuation certificate
- Watch the cost of any float over time
Frequently asked questions
Is a payroll float the same as an overdraft?
No. An overdraft is general credit against your bank account. A payroll float is advanced against verified wages from a specific locked muster roll, so the amount is tied to real work rather than a limit.
How long do I have the float?
FundiPay's float runs for 14 days. That window is built to span the wait between paying fundis and receiving the next project payment.
Will a float fix a site that never gets paid?
No. A float bridges timing, not losses. If a client is not paying at all, the float only delays the problem. Float against work that is genuinely going to be paid.
Keep reading
Product
14-Day Payroll Float
A 14-day payroll float bridges the gap between Friday wages and the next valuation certificate — repaid when the certificate is paid.
Guides
Friday Payroll Cash-Flow Guide
How to keep Friday wage days funded while you wait on valuation certificates, using floats, verified payroll and simple cash-flow planning.
Solutions
FundiPay for Contractors
Run every site from one dashboard — geofenced muster rolls, direct M-Pesa B2C wages, payroll float and automated statutory deductions.