Most contractors take down payments and draws that ensure they are covered if you don't pay them at the end. Lots of people give them a shitload of money and they go out of business without doing much of anything. There are always stories on the news about things like that. That is another reason why I always buy my own materials and pay for the labor as we go or in most cases when they are done. These are always people we know so there is a greater level of trust that the cash will be there when they finish. I have paid guys in increments if I knew they were working paycheck to paycheck. That was really only a thing during the lull after the housing crash when skilled trades were mowing lawns to pay the light bill. They were happy to have my job to work on and I was happy to pay them well for doing it. Cash was just another bonus to them.