Subcontracting out hardscaping jobs - anyone else getting screwed on payments?

Man, I've been subcontracting for a general landscaper out here in Arizona the past couple years, mostly doing retaining walls and paver patios with Belgard blocks, and it's starting to feel like a crapshoot every time. Last job was a 2000 sq ft patio install, and the GC stiffed me on the final $4500 after I had my crew busting ass in 110 degree heat. We use Jobber for scheduling to keep things straight, but these guys just ghost you when it's time to pay. I saw a similar rant in the Landscaping Professionals Facebook group last week, and a bunch of guys said it's the same everywhere. Subcontracting the irrigation side too with Rain Bird drip systems, but honestly, at this point I'm thinking of going direct to homeowners more. Anyone got tips on contracts that actually hold up?

GCs are the WORST, always finding excuses to withhold that last check like it's their bonus.

Put everything in a solid contract upfront, spell out payment milestones tied to inspections. Use AIA forms if you can, they've saved my ass on a few patio jobs.

Haha, yeah, my sub for a mulch install last summer vanished after I paid half, left me explaining to the client why the yard looked like a half-eaten pizza.

Switch to direct clients, way less headache. I started quoting my own retaining wall projects after getting burned twice.

Same here, Arizona heat makes every delayed payment feel like theft.

Frustrated as hell with subs who lowball estimates then demand more mid-job. Paver install went over by 20% because they screwed up the base prep.

Echo that, been getting shorted on irrigation subs too. Rain Bird parts ain't cheap.

Out here it's all about the drought clauses now, but GCs ignore em.

Subs are flaky, but GCs are sharks. Always get 50% upfront for materials like pavers.

I feel you, brother. Lost $2k on a wall job last month.

Those Facebook groups are full of this BS, but yeah, collective rage is real.

Haha, my sub for a tree planting gig showed up with the wrong species, client pissed, I footed the bill.

Proud of ditching subs entirely, now my crew handles all hardscaping in-house. Margins way up.

One time a sub wrecked a client's sprinkler system during patio work, cost me $800 to fix. Never again.

Watched Stanley Dirt Monkey's video on subcontractor red flags, spot on for avoiding this mess.

Controversial take: Just don't sub out anything over $5k, do it yourself or walk.

GCs banding together to screw us small guys, it's bullshit.

Everyone's getting hit, saw it on r/landscaping too.

Yeah, the whole system's rigged against us landscapers.

Rage is building, time for a union or something lol.