# How do I assign a work order to a vendor instead of employees?

> Set the work order's "Performed by" field to Vendor, pick an approved vendor from the dropdown, optionally attach a purchase order with a budget, and set the expected date range. The vendor manages their own people — no employee assignment is needed.

- Product: WorkSkedge
- Section: Work Orders
- Canonical: https://workskedge.com/help/work-orders/assign-a-vendor-to-a-work-order
- Updated: 2026-08-29T21:34:24.305643+00:00
- Source: VENDORS-DETAILED.md — Work Order Assignment to Vendors
- Keywords: vendor assignment, subcontractor, purchase order, performed by, approved vendor

## Steps

1. Open the work order form and set Performed by to Vendor
2. Select an approved vendor (filter by trade specialty if needed)
3. Optionally add a purchase order with budget and not-to-exceed amounts
4. Set the expected start and end dates
5. Save the work order

## Assign a work order to a vendor

1. **Open the work order form** (create or edit) and set **Performed by** to **Vendor**.
2. **Select the vendor** from the dropdown. Only approved vendors appear; you can filter by trade specialty to match the work order type, and the list shows approval status and expiry warnings.
3. **Optionally create a purchase order**: enter the PO number, budget amount, not-to-exceed amount, and any notes or terms.
4. **Set the timeline** with expected start and end dates, coordinated with the vendor's availability.
5. **Save.** No employee assignment is needed — the vendor handles their own resources, and internal employees are not assigned.

## Vendor vs employee assignment

| Aspect | Employee assignment | Vendor assignment |
|---|---|---|
| Performed by | Employee | Vendor |
| Resource selection | Assign specific employees | Select the vendor from a list |
| People required | Specify count and skills | Not applicable |
| Timeline control | Detailed daily assignments | Expected date range only |
| Cost tracking | Internal labor costs | Purchase order with budget tracking |
| Conflict detection | Full conflict detection | None — the vendor manages their own resources |

## Screenshots

- Work order form showing the Performed By control with Internal Team and Assign To Vendor options: https://workskedge.com/api/public/help-image/app/wo-new-form.webp

## FAQ

### Why doesn't my vendor appear in the dropdown?

Only approved vendors are listed. Check the vendor's approval status — the list also flags approvals that are expired or expiring.

### Do I need to create a purchase order for vendor work?

No, it's optional — but a PO lets you track the budget and not-to-exceed amount against the vendor's work.

### Does WorkSkedge check vendor scheduling conflicts?

No. Conflict detection applies to employee assignments only; vendors manage their own resources.

### Can I assign both employees and a vendor to the same work order?

A work order's Performed by field is either Employee or Vendor. Vendor-assigned work orders do not take internal employee assignments.