# Create a work order

> Add a work order to an approved project, fill in the timeline, resources and scope, then move it to Ready so it can be scheduled.

- Product: WorkSkedge
- Section: Work Orders
- Canonical: https://workskedge.com/help/work-orders/create-a-work-order
- Updated: 2026-09-16T20:04:50.206851+00:00
- Keywords: create work order, add work order, work order status, ready status, work order prerequisites, who can create work orders, work order required fields

## Steps

1. Confirm the project is set up and in the correct status (approved in Advanced Mode, active in Simple Mode).
2. Open the project detail view.
3. Click Add Work Order.
4. Fill in basic info: name and number.
5. Set the timeline — expected dates and times.
6. Enter resource requirements, scope of work, and the materials and equipment needed.
7. Set the status to Created and save the work order.
8. When the details are settled, update the status to Ready so it can be scheduled.

Work orders are the units of work inside a project: each one carries its own scope, timeline, resource requirements and status, and only work orders — never projects — get scheduled to crews. You create them from the project detail view using **Add Work Order**.

Administrators, Managers, Schedulers, Project Managers and Safety Managers can create work orders. Office Admins, Finance Coordinators, Site Leads and Site Workers cannot.

## Before you start

The [project must already be set up](/help/projects/set-up-a-project-before-creating-work-orders) — customer linked, job-site location set, and at least one project contact (ideally one marked primary) — and in the right status:

- **Advanced Status Mode** — the project must be `approved` or `active`. Work order creation is blocked on `lead`, `estimating`, `pending_approval`, `complete`, `closed` and `job_lost` projects.
- **Simple Status Mode** — the project must be `active`.

> Creating a work order automatically flips the parent project to `active`, whatever its current status. In Advanced Mode that bypasses the sales/estimating pipeline and fires lifecycle notifications out of order. Never use work order creation as a shortcut to activate a project — walk the project through its statuses from the project header actions menu instead.

## What to fill in

**Minimum requirements**

- Phase name (the work order title)
- Parent project
- Expected start date
- Expected end date

**Optional but recommended**

- Work order number, for tracking
- Priority level
- Expected start and end times
- **Performed by** — Employee or Vendor (see [assigning a vendor](/help/work-orders/assign-a-vendor-to-a-work-order))
- Department — the team that owns the work
- People required, and days/hours required
- Scope of work, materials and equipment
- **Travel required** (`Decide automatically` / `Yes` / `No`) and **Nights away**

## Status flow

Save the work order in **Created** while you are still filling in scope. Move it to **Ready** when the details are settled — that is the status that enables scheduling. From there [scheduling](/help/scheduling/schedule-a-work-order-with-the-schedule-wizard) takes it to **assigned**, and it becomes **active** once work starts. The full list is in [work order statuses and lifecycle](/help/work-orders/work-order-statuses-and-lifecycle).

## Notes and limits

- Travel handling: an explicit **Travel required = Yes/No** always wins. Any night away makes it away work automatically. Left on *Decide automatically*, the company travel rules decide based on distance from home base and scheduled day length (defaults: auto-travel on, 300 km, 8 hours).
- Every edit after the first save is captured — see [work order version history](/help/work-orders/track-changes-with-work-order-version-history).
- Deleting a work order is restricted to Administrators and Managers.

## Common errors

- **"Add Work Order" is unavailable or blocked** — the project is in a status that does not allow work orders (`lead`, `estimating`, `pending_approval`, `complete`, `closed`, `job_lost` in Advanced Mode). Advance the project first.
- **The work order cannot be scheduled** — its status is still **Created**. Set it to **Ready**.
- **You can create but not schedule** — Project Managers have create and edit permission but no scheduling permission. Ask an Administrator, Manager, Scheduler or Safety Manager.
- **A closed project reopened unexpectedly** — in Simple Mode, creating a work order on a `closed` project reverts it to `active`. Re-open projects deliberately rather than through work order creation.

Planning multi-crew work? Compare the [live dispatch board and advanced scheduling](/help/scheduling/dispatch-board-vs-advanced-scheduling), or see how WorkSkedge handles [scheduling and dispatch](/scheduling).

Also useful: [add a scope of work checklist](/help/work-orders/build-a-work-order-scope-of-work), [progress and completion reports](/help/work-orders/submit-progress-and-completion-reports) and [find, filter and export work orders](/help/work-orders/filter-and-export-the-work-orders-list).

## Screenshots

- Create New Work Order form in WorkSkedge showing work order name, priority, department, Performed By and requested dates: https://workskedge.com/api/public/help-image/app/v2/wo-new-form.webp

## FAQ

### Why can I not schedule my new work order?

Scheduling is enabled once the work order status is Ready. A work order still in Created is treated as a draft.

### Where do I create a work order from?

From the project detail view, using the Add Work Order action. Work orders always belong to a project.

### Does creating a work order change the project?

Yes — it flips the parent project to active. That is why the project should already be walked through its statuses before you add work orders.

### Who can create a work order?

Administrators, Managers, Schedulers, Project Managers and Safety Managers can create and edit work orders. Office Admins, Finance Coordinators, Site Leads and Site Workers cannot. Note that Project Managers can create work orders but cannot schedule them — scheduling is limited to Administrators, Managers, Schedulers and Safety Managers.

### What is the minimum information a work order needs?

A name (phase name), the parent project, an expected start date and an expected end date. Everything else — work order number, priority, times, Performed by, department, people required, days/hours required, travel required and nights away — is optional but recommended.