--- title: What is a prime contract? description: A Prime Contract is the financial agreement that defines what and how billing will happen. In Beam, invoices are created off of a Prime Contract. --- [Skip to content](https://faq.trybeam.com/what-is-a-prime-contract#main-content) ![Beam Dark Logo](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Beam%20Dark%20Logo.png?width=80&height=28&name=Beam%20Dark%20Logo.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [app.trybeam.com](https://app.trybeam.com/) [app.trybeam.com](https://app.trybeam.com/) How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Beam Help Center](https://faq.trybeam.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Invoicing & Accounts Receivables](https://faq.trybeam.com/invoicing-accounts-receivables?hsLang=en) 3. [Contracts & Record-Keeping](https://faq.trybeam.com/invoicing-accounts-receivables?hsLang=en#contracts-record-keeping) # What is a prime contract? ## Learn how the Prime Contract defines project billing and serves as the basis for invoices in Beam. The **Prime Contract** is the financial agreement that defines what you’re billing for and how billing will happen over the life of a project. In Beam, invoices are created off of a Prime Contract. There are three major contract types in Beam: progress, milestone, and cost-plus. Learn more about them [here](https://faq.trybeam.com/how-should-i-choose-the-contract-type-for-the-prime-contract?hsLang=en).   - [Getting started](https://faq.trybeam.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Account Setup](https://faq.trybeam.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#account-setup) - [Plans & Subscription](https://faq.trybeam.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#plans-subscription) - [Team Management & Access](https://faq.trybeam.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#team-management-access) - [Platform Basics & Support](https://faq.trybeam.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#platform-basics-support) - [Estimates & Proposals](https://faq.trybeam.com/estimates-proposals?hsLang=en#main-content) - [AI Estimating Assistant](https://faq.trybeam.com/estimates-proposals?hsLang=en#ai-estimating-assistant) - [Creating & Editing Estimates](https://faq.trybeam.com/estimates-proposals?hsLang=en#creating-editing-estimates) - [Pricing & Financial Settings](https://faq.trybeam.com/estimates-proposals?hsLang=en#pricing-financial-settings) - [Design & Customization](https://faq.trybeam.com/estimates-proposals?hsLang=en#design-customization) - [Collaboration, Communication, Approval](https://faq.trybeam.com/estimates-proposals?hsLang=en#collaboration-communication-approval) - [Bill Payment](https://faq.trybeam.com/bill-payment?hsLang=en) - [Integrations](https://faq.trybeam.com/integrations?hsLang=en) - [Configuration](https://faq.trybeam.com/configuration?hsLang=en) - [Invoicing & Accounts Receivables](https://faq.trybeam.com/invoicing-accounts-receivables?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Creating & Managing Invoices](https://faq.trybeam.com/invoicing-accounts-receivables?hsLang=en#creating-managing-invoices) - [Contracts & Record-Keeping](https://faq.trybeam.com/invoicing-accounts-receivables?hsLang=en#contracts-record-keeping) - [Payments & Fees](https://faq.trybeam.com/invoicing-accounts-receivables?hsLang=en#payments-fees) - [Payouts & Notifications](https://faq.trybeam.com/invoicing-accounts-receivables?hsLang=en#payouts-notifications) - [Compliance](https://faq.trybeam.com/compliance?hsLang=en) - [Beam Card](https://faq.trybeam.com/beam-card?hsLang=en) - [General](https://faq.trybeam.com/general?hsLang=en) - [Account & Settings](https://faq.trybeam.com/account-settings?hsLang=en) - [Client & Vendor Portals](https://faq.trybeam.com/client-vendor-portals?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Vendor Portal](https://faq.trybeam.com/client-vendor-portals?hsLang=en#vendor-portal) [![Beam Dark Logo](https://faq.trybeam.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Beam%20Dark%20Logo.png?width=90&height=31&name=Beam%20Dark%20Logo.png "Beam Dark Logo")](http://usebeam.co) Beam Help Center © 2026, Beam Finance Inc.