What is a work order?

What is a work order?
A work order is similar to a purchase order only it relates to services instead of products.

It is a document which authorizes a company or individual to perform a specified amount of work for a set amount of money.

Generally the requesting company issues the work order or signs a work order created by service provider before the service is performed in order to establish a price and scope for the work to be done.

Ocassionally (as is the case when the work is covered by a maintenance agreement of some type) the work order is filled out and signed AFTER the work has been completed and is used as a confirmation that the work has been done and that the amount of hours or price of the service is acceptable.