Contractor Success Forum

Business EN ↓ 277 episodes

Tips and advice to run a successful construction business from two long-term industry professionals: Wade Carpenter, a construction CPA, and Stephen Brown, a construction bond agent. Each host has unique, but complementary views and advice from each of their 30+ years in the contracting industry. Their goal is to promote healthy, thought-provoking discussions and tips for running a better, more profitable, and successful company. Subscribe for new insights and discussion every week. Visit ContractorSuccessForum.com to view all episodes and find out more.

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Contractor Success Forum

Episodes

Bond Agent Secrets: Make Surety Your Secret Weapon! 07.07.2026 23:24

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Your bond agent and surety company are more than a bonding requirement. They're one of your most underutilized...

Why Your Favorite Project Manager Might Be Losing You Money! 30.06.2026 20:03

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Your most beloved project manager might be your biggest profit leak. In this episode, Wade Carpenter and Stephen Br...

Unlocking Contractor Wealth: Employee Ownership Trusts Explained 23.06.2026 24:18

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE After 30 years building your company, do you know how you'll exit? In this episode, Wade Carpenter and Stephen...

Why Successful Contractors Say No More Often 16.06.2026 20:48

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Discover why the most profitable contractors don't chase every job opportunity. Wade Carpenter and Stephen Bro...

7 Costly Mistakes Contractors Make After a Great Year! 09.06.2026 19:55

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Having your best year ever? Don't celebrate too early! Wade and Stephen reveal the 7 dangerous traps that turn...

The Hidden Chaos Tax Eroding Contractor Profits 02.06.2026 23:08

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Feeling like you're constantly busy but barely profitable? You might be paying the hidden tax of disorganizatio...

Stop Wasteful Software Spending With These AI Adoption Secrets 26.05.2026 25:55

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Every contractor has a software graveyard: tools bought with good intentions that nobody uses. Wade shares his jour...

Hidden Insurance Gaps: What Contractors Need to Know! 19.05.2026 23:24

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Discover the hidden insurance gaps that cost contractors thousands! Wade and Stephen reveal what's actually co...

How to Supercharge Your Construction Business with AI (Game-Changing Tips!) 11.05.2026 26:28

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Discover how AI can actually transform your construction business operations—not just in theory, but with real resul...

The Subscription Trap: How AI Can Set Your Business Free 05.05.2026 18:25

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Tired of paying for countless software subscriptions that don't talk to each other? Wade and Stephen explore ho...

The Five Numbers Contractors Get Wrong (+ Free Tools to Fix Them) 28.04.2026 16:53

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Get the Five FREE calculators! Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Stop running your construction business with broken financial tools. Wade and Stephe...

Funds Control: Is This The Key to Bigger Jobs? 21.04.2026 19:38

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Struggling to get bonded for bigger jobs? Funds control might be your ticket to landing contracts you never thought...

Top 4 Mistakes That Bankrupt Contractors (Avoid Them!) 14.04.2026 20:45

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Most contractors don't fail from one bad job—they go broke slowly over time. Liberty Mutual's claims analy...

The Cash Flow MRI: Diagnose & Cure Your Contractor Cash Problems 07.04.2026 24:25

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Tired of big payments coming in only to worry about payroll two weeks later? Wade reveals his revolutionary Cash Flo...

5 Years of Contractor Success: Lessons from the Forum's Founders [BONUS Episode!] 01.04.2026 36:42

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Celebrating 5 years and 263 episodes! Wade Carpenter, Stephen Brown, and returning co-host Rob Williams share the most impactful episodes, b...

4 Ways to Grow Your Construction Company (That Actually Work!) 31.03.2026 24:21

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Tired of working harder but seeing less profit? You're pulling the wrong levers. Wade and Stephen break down the four proven ways to grow your construction business...

The True Cost of 'Writing It Off': Avoid a Construction Cash Flow Spiral! 24.03.2026 28:27

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Discover the shocking math behind equipment purchases that contractors never see. Wade and Stephen reveal how the common advice to 'just buy it and write it off&apo...

The Write-Off Trap: How Misguided Tax Advice Can Ruin Contractors 17.03.2026 24:18

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Your insurance premiums don't have to feel like surprise change orders. Wade Carpenter (CPA) and Stephen Brown (bonding/insurance expert) reveal actionable strategi...

Contractor Insurance Secrets: How to Cut Costs in 2026 10.03.2026 27:17

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Your insurance premiums don't have to feel like surprise change orders. Wade Carpenter (CPA) and Stephen Brown (bonding/insurance expert) reveal actionable strategi...

Why Your Bids Miss the Mark: Markup vs. Margin Secrets 03.03.2026 19:49

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Think markup and margin are the same? This costly mistake could be draining $100K+ from your annual profits. Wade breaks down the math with real contractor examples, sh...

The Data Center Boom: Contractor Secrets to Navigating New Risks & Rewards 24.02.2026 23:38

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Email Stephen to get his Data Center Job Risk Checklist Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Data center construction is exploding with $3 trillion in global investment by 2030. Wade and Stephen break down...

From Confusion to Clarity: Unlocking the Power of WIP Reports 17.02.2026 32:38

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Get the free guide: The Contractor’s Guide to Work in Progress Reports Email Stephen to get his WIP schedule Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Stop the confusion between your accountant saying you owe ta...

Why Bigger Isn't Always Better: The Truth About Job Margins 10.02.2026 23:33

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Get the free guide: How to Improve the Profitability of Your Construction Company Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Discover why that big, high-margin job might actually hurt your bottom line. Wade and...

Contractor Wake-Up Call: What's Draining Your Revenue? 03.02.2026 25:31

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page at for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE You can't fix what you can't see. Most contractors know their overall margin but have no idea which parts of their business actually make money. Wade Carpe...

The Secret to Contractor Success: The Simple Math That Boosts Your Bottom Line 27.01.2026 24:57

Send us Fan Mail 🔗 LINKS Visit the episode page at for more details and a transcript of the show. Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW! Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live. ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Ready for the construction-specific math that transforms your bottom line? In part 2, Wade reveals how different job types, pricing strategies, and cash flow cycles...