The Professional Standard: Understanding Final Plan Approval and Payment

In the realm of professional services—whether it be architecture, engineering, law, or medicine—there is a fundamental principle that governs payment: a professional’s work is considered complete when they, as qualified experts, determine it is done. This is not a unique or arbitrary stance but a long-standing and well-accepted standard across multiple disciplines.

Final Invoice and the Definition of “Ready to Deliver”

In our contract, it is explicitly stated that the final invoice is due and payable “when the construction or other valuable documents are completed and ready to be delivered to you.” The phrase “ready to deliver” is determined solely at our discretion as licensed professionals. This is a necessary provision because no profession operates on a basis where the client’s subjective approval dictates when the work is done.

Take a moment to consider other professional fields:

  • Doctors are not paid only if their patients approve of their procedural methods.
  • Attorneys do not require client sign-off on legal strategies before being compensated.
  • Mechanics are paid upon completion of a repair, not after the customer independently evaluates their entire process.

The expectation is that a professional provides work that is correct, competent, and based on expertise, training, and experience. Any questioning of that work, when it arises, is properly done after an issue emerges and is reviewed by qualified peers within the profession—not by a layperson evaluating a trade they are not trained in.

The Subjectivity of Professional Judgment

All professional work exists within a spectrum of correctness rather than an absolute measure of right or wrong. In architecture and engineering, as in law, medicine, and many other fields, there is no singular “perfect” way to produce a given result.

This is because:

  • Every project has unique variables.
  • Different professionals may take different but equally valid approaches.
  • All designs, documents, and plans are influenced by practical considerations, experience, and professional judgment.

Human nature leans toward critique—especially when one is in a position to evaluate work after the fact. This effects Contractors and even our “helpful” friend. However, it’s important to approach their evaluations of professional work with caution, as various methods and approaches can be equally valid within the same field. This is why most professions are recognized as both a science and an art.

Plans Are Done When We Say They Are Done

When our company completes a set of plans, it is not just our arbitrary decision—it is the based on a culmination of:

  • Education
  • Experience
  • Technical expertise
  • Industry standards
  • Regulatory compliance

If a professional review is necessary, it should be conducted by another equally qualified professional—and only if a significant issue arises that warrants legal scrutiny. Even then, such evaluations are paid engagements, just as an independent medical opinion or legal review would be.

Final Payment and Delivery of Plans

Once we have determined that the plans are complete, they are finalized. While we may, at our discretion, accommodate post-issuance comments as a courtesy, no set of plans is ever “perfect”—perfection is an asymptotic goal, never a reality.

Our contract makes it clear:

✅ The final invoice is due when the plans are complete.
✅ Completion is determined by the professional—not the client.
✅ Payment is required before the plans are delivered.

This is a well-established principle across professional industries. When you hire a licensed professional, you are placing trust in their expertise—not micromanaging their process or delaying compensation based on subjective preferences.

Conclusion

Professional integrity and accountability are built into the very foundation of our work. Clients rely on professionals for their knowledge, experience, and judgment. That trust is the basis of our contractual agreement.

As such, our final invoice is due when we have determined the plans are done. Any subsequent modifications or revisions will be considered at our discretion, and only when deemed necessary.

This is the professional standard, and it is fair, reasonable, and non-negotiable.