Definition
What it means
Mobilisation is the cost of getting your equipment, crew, and supplies to site for the start of a project, plus any setup work needed before the billable work begins. On a small job mobilisation is rolled into the per-day rate. On larger or remote projects, it's quoted as its own line because the cost of getting a crane and 12 workers to a site 200km away is real money before anyone has done any work.
What mobilisation typically covers
Transporting equipment to site. Crew travel and accommodation if the site is remote. Site induction and safety briefings. Setting up the site office, fencing, and temporary services. The first day's setup activities that are not chargeable as work. Demobilisation at the end of the project is sometimes quoted separately for the same reasons.
When to quote mobilisation separately
On any remote site (more than 50km from your base). On any project with heavy or specialised equipment (cranes, excavators, generators). On commercial work where the quantity surveyor expects to see a mobilisation line. On government work where mobilisation is often a separate budget line.
How QuoteGenio handles mobilisation
Add a 'Mobilisation' line to the quote with the lump sum. Reconcile against actuals if mobilisation cost was less than expected. The invoice carries the same line so the customer matches it to the original bid.
Related terms
Other glossary entries you might want next
Closely related terms in the trades-finance vocabulary, with the same plain-English treatment.
Preliminaries (P&G)
Site setup costs that aren't billable as work itself: scaffold, fencing, signage, site office, water, power, supervision. Quoted as a separate lump sum.
Scope of Work
A precise list of what the quote covers and what it does not. Protects you from scope creep and protects the customer from surprise charges.
Day Rate
A fixed price for one day of your labour. Used when the scope is unclear, when work is exploratory, or for time-and-materials jobs.
Put it to work
Templates that use this concept
Free quote and invoice templates where this term naturally appears.
Testimonials
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Articles that go deeper on this topic
Long-form posts from the QuoteGenio blog that put this concept in real-world context.
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