Contractor Success Forum

Business EN ↓ 294 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.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.contractorsuccessforum.com

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Contractor Success Forum

Episodes

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...

Simple Math, Huge Results: What's Your Profit Improvement Potential? 20.01.2026 22:01

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 Discover the Profit Improvement Potential hiding in your construction business! Wade reveals the simple math that shows why chasing revenue kills profits and how sma...

Backlog Doesn't Equal Growth: What Contractors Get Wrong About Risk Management 13.01.2026 19:26

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 Every contractor thinks growth is about backlog, but it's actually about how much damage your business can take without folding. Wade Carpenter and Stephen Brow...

Why Most Construction M&A Deals Fail: Avoid These Common Pitfalls 06.01.2026 20:38

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 Construction M&A deals often fail after closing due to unknown risks and misrepresented warranties. Wade Carpenter and Stephen Brown reveal how Representations &...

The Surprising Secret to Scaling Your Construction Business 30.12.2025 18:56

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 to stop being the bottleneck in your own business? In this final episode of our scaling series, Wade and Stephen reveal the 6-step blueprint to transform from o...

From Stuck to Scaling: Which 10 Founder Habits Are Killing Your Profits? 23.12.2025 20:12

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 Feeling like your construction company is stuck in second gear? You might be the problem. Wade and Stephen reveal the top 10 ways construction founders accidentally...

From Grit to Growth: How to Scale Your Construction Biz Without the Chaos 16.12.2025 13:32

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 Every construction contractor hits the same wall—they become the bottleneck. You can build a $2M business on grit, but you can't scale to $10M on caffeine and ch...

The Secret to Winning More Construction Work in 2026 09.12.2025 21:07

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 Most contractors still rely on dropping off donuts and hoping for callbacks, but today's buyers research you online before they ever return your call. Wade Carp...

Why Your Construction Business Isn't Making Money: Avoid These Pitfalls! 02.12.2025 21:49

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 Feeling like your construction business is growing but your bank account isn't? You've hit the growth gap - that predictable wall between $2-10 million wher...