A Rhode Island subcontractor agreement spells out the rights and responsibilities of a subcontractor who has been hired by a contractor to complete part of a larger project. The primary focus of the agreement is to clarify the work being subcontracted, outline terms for payment, and protect the parties in the event of disagreements and litigation. Additional features may be incorporated into the contract, such as a due date for completion, conflict resolution procedures, and a provision that would allow either party to end the agreement before its stated termination date.

Some agreements will authorize the subcontractor to reassign part or all of their service responsibilities to another subcontractor. In these cases, all subsequent subcontracting agreements must be approved in writing by the original contractor.