Contractor Cuts

In this episode of Contractor Cuts, we dive into a common issue faced by contractors: working with friends and family. While these jobs may seem like the easiest to land, they often turn out to be the hardest to manage. Early on in the growth of your company, it may be necessary to take these jobs to keep money coming in, but it can put a strain on your relationships and lead to misguided expectat...

In this week's episode of Contractor Cuts, we delve into the importance of maintaining strong relationships with quality subcontractors. As the pool of available workers continues to shrink, it's vital to keep good subcontractors happy and motivated to ensure growth for your company. However, many issues can arise if you're not treating your subcontractors with respect and fairness....

As a contracting company owner or GM, you wear many hats and perform a variety of tasks to keep your business running smoothly. But while tasks like financial management, payment collection, and communication are essential to your company's success, they don't directly relate to your job site. That's why it's crucial to delegate these responsibilities to an office manager. When...

This week on Contractor Cuts Podcast, we dive into a critical aspect of running a contracting business: how to pay your labor. The guys discuss why relying on daily/hourly labor can be a recipe for disaster, especially as you scale your company. While paying this way might work when you're closely supervising your subcontractors on job sites, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage as you...

Starting a construction company can be exciting, but it's also important to think ahead to future growth. When you're first starting out, it may seem like you can handle everything on your own. But as soon as you bring on your first employee, you'll need to have systems in place to ensure everything runs smoothly. That's why it's crucial to start implementing processes tha...

In this episode of Contractor Cuts, we dive deeper into our series on estimates with a focus on using your desk estimate to create an efficient site estimate and provide a great experience for your client. With a solid outline of what the client is expecting for their job, you can concentrate on building a relationship with them, rather than just taking notes. This approach has proven to be a game...

In this two-part series of Contractor Cuts, the guys dive into the intricacies of the estimating process. With over 16 years of experience running a general contracting company, they share their proven method for creating winning estimates that impress clients and streamline the process for project managers. In Part 1, we'll cover the critical first steps of the estimating process, starting w...

Leadership as a contractor extends beyond just managing your employees. It also involves leading your subcontractors and clients on job sites. To gauge the effectiveness of your leadership, take a look at your company culture. If you struggle with a positive and motivated work environment, it could be due to three common issues: a lack of clear business structure, an unclear vision, or a lack of s...

"Nightmare Clients" are a common challenge in the contractor industry, but it's important to remember that there are two sides to every story. As a contractor business owner, your reputation and financial success is on the line in these situations. Don't let a difficult client jeopardize your hard-earned reputation and profits. In this week's episode of Contractor Cuts, ou...

In this week's episode of the podcast, we tackle a topic that many business owners face at some point: borrowing money. While it's generally best to avoid debt, there may be situations where taking on a loan or credit is necessary to secure more work or bail out your company. If you do find yourself in this position, it's crucial to be fully informed about the type of loan or credit...

Looking to secure a comfortable retirement as a contractor? Join us on this week's episode of Contractor Cuts, where we explore three proven methods to achieve this goal: saving up enough cash, selling your company, and building a business that runs without you. While saving up cash is the most common method, it is also the riskiest. On the other hand, the second and third methods offer more...

In this episode of Contractor Cuts, the guys dive into the reasons why many contracting companies don't succeed with ProStruct360. Over the years, they have coached countless businesses, and they've noticed a pattern among the unsuccessful ones: they're looking for a quick fix instead of committing to the hard work of changing their approach. Implementing and customizing ProStruct36...

In this episode of Contractor Cuts, we delve into the all-too-common issue of risky hires. It's not uncommon for contractors to overlook potential flaws in a new hire, lured by the promise of increased profits. But if you don't have proper training processes in place, or a systematic approach to interviewing candidates, you're setting both your company and the hire up for failure. E...

In this episode of Contractor Cuts, we're discussing how being highly detailed in everything you do can help increase your reputation and money as a contractor. Whether it's writing accurate estimates, composing thorough client emails, or creating comprehensive work orders, being detail-oriented is essential for success in the industry. By sending a well-detailed email after your site es...

The past few years have brought challenges for contractors, including material inflation caused by the global pandemic and conflict. It can be tough to estimate job costs months in advance only to find that prices have risen significantly by the time work is ready to start. But don't worry, there's a strategy that can help limit frustration for both you and your clients. Join us for this...

Ready to take your business to the next level by stepping out of the labor and into strictly project management? This week's episode of Contractor Cuts is for you! We'll cover the key steps you need to take to make this important transition, including maintaining clear financials, being willing to let go of control, landing more jobs, and effectively managing your employees. Our expert h...

In this episode of Contractor Cuts, we tackle a common challenge faced by contractors: dealing with difficult clients. We've all experienced angry, demanding, or unreasonable clients, but there is a simple solution to diffuse these situations before they escalate. The solution is the "Closed Loop Theory," which states that when a client has a question or expectation about their job,...

In this episode of Contractor Cuts, we delve into the various options for who should be responsible for purchasing materials for a project. With the three main options being the contractor, the client, and the subcontractor, it can be challenging to know what the best choice is. That's why we've put together a comprehensive analysis of the pros and cons of each option. Our expert hosts w...

Are you tired of dealing with confused clients and frustrated crews on job sites? Want to improve your job satisfaction and client happiness? Look no further! Setting clear expectations through a Client Engagement Agreement (CEA) is the solution you've been searching for. A CEA is a document that sets the expectations of you, your client, and your crews, before a project even starts. By estab...

Are you looking to take your business to the next level? Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or managing a growing team, it's essential to act the size you want to be. This means being on top of your accounting, processes, and presentation. In this episode of Contractor Cuts, we dive into the bare essentials of what you need to be doing to ensure your company's growth and to be prepa...

Tired of feeling overwhelmed and lacking the time to work on your business? You're not alone! Many contractors struggle with finding the time to create processes, manage their finances, and set goals. But, the most successful companies always find a way to make it happen. In this episode of Contractor Cuts, we show you how to shift your mindset and find the time to work on your business. We&a...

Are you an entrepreneurial contractor constantly searching for new ways to make money on the side? While this drive is commendable, it can also lead to spreading yourself too thin and sacrificing time that could be better spent growing your business. In this week's episode of Contractor Cuts, we dive into the importance of prioritizing your time as a business owner. Don't let your passio...

In the last episode of Contractor Cuts, we identified reputation and money as the two most crucial factors for growth. But how do you protect both? This week, we dive deep and give you the insider scoop on the best practices to keep both your money and reputation intact. Money and reputation are two sides of the same coin. You can't afford to sacrifice one to protect the other. That's wh...

Are you looking to take your contracting business to the next level? Then you won't want to miss part one of our series! We dive into the two qualities that set successful companies apart in this industry: money and reputation. Everyone knows that quality is key, but it's not enough to just have good workmanship. To truly thrive in this industry, you need to protect your financial stabil...

Ready for a stress-free holiday season? This episode of Contractor Cuts is a must-listen! It's a common problem for contractors to struggle with taking time off and keeping their business running smoothly during the holidays. But the good news is, it doesn't have to be this way. In this episode, our expert hosts dive into the best strategies for preparing your clients and crews for the h...