Provisional sum

A provisional sum is an amount included in a contract or bill of quantities as an allowance for work that is not yet fully designed or defined when the contract is signed. It gives a figure to work with, which is later adjusted to the actual cost once the detail is known.

Because provisional sums are estimates, they need watching as the real cost firms up. Sync’s cost tracking keeps budgeted against actual figures in one view, so adjustments show up rather than landing as a surprise at final account.