What is a Payment Application?
A Payment Application—also referred to as a pay app, application for payment (AFP), draw request, certification for payment (CFP)—is a formal, documented request submitted by a contractor to an owner or general contractor to request payment for work completed during a defined billing period. Rather than sending a simple invoice, contractors submit a structured package that documents progress against the contract, formatted in a way that owners, architects, and lenders are expecting to see.
For a full introduction to Payment Applications and key terminology, visit Overview: What Are Payment Applications?