The Contractor Commute

In this episode of The Contractor Commute, Ben and Drew discuss the benefits of investing and establishing a proposal creation process.  Here are just a few! -Sell your business -Showcase your expertise -Keep clients informed Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The Contractor Commute crew: Website for Estimating and Takeoff Software: Construction Sales, Takeoff, and Estimating Softwar...

Drew got the chance to sit down with Mark Olson, who owns and operates SWI Fence and The Successful Contractor. Mark has a passion to lift up the constructin industry with business tips, life stories, and hard lessons that he learned and showcases them on his Youtube and Tiktok accounts. Mark has valuable insight into how to run a contracting business, how to build a construction business in a new...

Drew and Ben continue their conversation from the last episode on a five-step winning sales process and how estimates factor into it. The five-step process:  Qualify Scope Items and Measurements Estimate Proposal This episode covers steps 4 and 5, which is the estimate creation and the proposal steps. They also take into consideration how you can appear professional and get paid like a professiona...

Every successful sale should be built around an accurate estimate with excellent customer service. Drew and Ben talk about what a winning sales process looks like and how you can implement it in your construction business. In Part One, they talk about qualifying potential clients, determining project scope, and solidifying items/materials. If you're a contractor who hasn't solidified or...

Drew and Ben take this episode to start off our Building Accurate Estimate series as they talk about what pricing models are available to contractors to use when they are building estimates.  Every pricing model has pros and cons, so expect to hear their victories, their defeats, and more stories about each. In this episode, we primarily cover the Cost Plus, Fixed Price, and Time/Material pricing...

In this episode of The Contractor Commute, Ben and Drew take some time to discuss how they have handled conflict in the past. If you work with people, especially in construction, you'll run up against conflict. Take some time on your commute to job the site and back to get better equipped for conflict when it rears its head. Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The Contractor Comm...

Staying organized on the job site and beyond will help make you a more successful contractor! Drew and Ben talk about how you can get organized in your business, client communication, team building, and site management. You can cover up a disorganized business when it is just you, but you will need to get organized if you ever gain a business partner, more clients, or employees! Stay connected wit...

Loyal contractors and team members will help make you and your business more successful. In this episode, Drew and Ben talk through some things that you can do today to start building a reliable team or lean on the one that might be around you already.  Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The Contractor Commute crew: Website for Estimating and Takeoff Software: Construction Sales, Tak...

Mastering finances is a skill set that every business owner needs. The economy will always have ups and downs, but there are steps that you can take while the economy and your business are thriving that will help set you up for success. In this episode, Drew and Ben discuss ways to prepare yourself and your business to thrive, even in changing market conditions. Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, an...

The unfortunate reality about most self-operated businesses is that you can't do everything yourself. In ways large and small, construction professionals need someone to help fill in the gaps in their business, and this often showcases itself in the finances of a business. This episode, Drew and Ben discuss what an accountant COULD do for your business, and why you might want to start conside...

Ben and Drew take this episode to cover four qualities and traits that contractors need to be successful. Many of these are easier said than done, but they are important for every contractor to keep in mind. Focusing on these traits will have clients view you in a more professional light, ultimately leaving a positive impact on your business. 4 Key Traits: -Communication -Site setup and organizati...

Drew and Ben have a tough, but fun, discussion about the mistakes they've made as business owners and leaders in construction. They share stories of hiring the wrong person, poor financial decisions, and the lessons that can be learned from sometimes painful situations. If you're in for a laugh and a quick connect with other construction leaders, this is the episode for you! If you'...

In our last episode, Ben and Drew talked about what a healthy sales pipeline for construction would look like. In this episode, they go a step further and discuss the practical steps and practices that you can begin to build out a full and healthy pipeline. With a client pipeline prepared, your construction business can begin to thrive at a pace that you can manage. Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben...

In this episode, Drew and Ben talk about the need for a healthy sales pipeline in every construction business. Over the course of their discussion, they share what makes a healthy sales pipeline, what makes an unhealthy one, and points of consideration for every job and customer. This is part one of two in our Healthy Sales Pipeline mini-series. Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The...

What does it take to run a financially healthy contracting business?  In this episode of The Contractor Commute, Drew and Ben discuss key mindsets, leadership tips, and business practices that will help you build a business that will survive for years to come. Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The Contractor Commute crew: Website for Estimating and Takeoff Software: Construction Sal...

In this episode of The Contractor Commute, Ben and Drew discuss a few ways to be a better leader for yourself, your family, and your teams. While becoming your own leader in the construction space can provide a lot of freedom, there are also challenges to overcome and some helpful mindsets that will help set you apart. Let's take a look! Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The Co...

In this episode, Drew and Ben are continuing in the series "Why Good Guys Fail" to discuss why so many construction and contractor professionals that are good at what they can do can fail. Join them as they discuss the impact of your overhead, how to prepare a margin, and what making a profit looks like. Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The Contractor Commute crew: Websit...

In this episode of The Contractor Commute, Ben and Drew discuss why good contractors can run businesses that fail. One of the root causes of business failures is unset and unmet expectations. Together, they talk about business practices and steps that will help you begin to set realistic expectations for yourself, your team, and your clients. Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The Co...

In this episode of The Contractor Commute, Drew and Ben discuss pitfalls, benefits, leadership thoughts, and business principles that will help you prepare yourself to take the leap and start your own construction company. Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The Contractor Commute crew: Website for Estimating and Takeoff Software: Construction Sales, Takeoff, and Estimating Software |...

In our first episode of The Contractor Commute, Drew Williams interviews ConGenius CEO and Founder, Ben Walsh, on his construction journey so far and how that influenced him to create a new preconstruction software. Join us for stories of success, failure, laughs, and business-owning lessons that are invaluable. Stay connected with Kinsey, Ben, and the rest of The Contractor Commute crew: Website...