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Contractor Cuts

ProStruct360

164 episodes

16 hours ago

We share a simple plan to keep projects moving while you take real time off for the holidays. From mapping jobs to setting firm boundaries with crews and clients, we focus on clear expectations that protect schedule, margin, and your sanity. • mapping active, starting, and closing jobs over the break • building a quick timeline without a formal gantt • calling subs to confirm workdays, deliverables, and return dates • aligning homeowner permissions for on‑site holiday work • stocking materia...

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Entrepreneurship

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We share a simple plan to keep projects moving while you take real time off for the holidays. From mapping jobs to setting firm boundaries with crews and clients, we focus on clear expectations that protect schedule, margin, and your sanity. • mapping active, starting, and closing jobs over the break • building a quick timeline without a formal gantt • calling subs to confirm workdays, deliverables, and return dates • aligning homeowner permissions for on‑site holiday work • stocking materia...

Show more...

Entrepreneurship

Episodes (20/164)

Contractor Cuts

Holiday Prep For Contractors

We share a simple plan to keep projects moving while you take real time off for the holidays. From mapping jobs to setting firm boundaries with crews and clients, we focus on clear expectations that protect schedule, margin, and your sanity. • mapping active, starting, and closing jobs over the break • building a quick timeline without a formal gantt • calling subs to confirm workdays, deliverables, and return dates • aligning homeowner permissions for on‑site holiday work • stocking materia...

18 hours ago

11 minutes

Contractor Cuts

How to Handle Clients that Don't Want to Pay You

We break down a practical playbook for handling clients who refuse to pay, from front-end contracts that set expectations to exit strategies that protect cash and reputation. Clear steps, calm scripts, and legal anchors help you finish fast or walk away whole. • defining the client engagement agreement and expected scope • explaining a 15% cancellation fee for remaining work • using weekly invoicing to reduce leverage and surface issues • documenting progress with photos and job logs • offer...

1 week ago

25 minutes

Contractor Cuts

When the Dream Becomes a Grind

We unpack how a contracting career slips from dream to grind and lay out the systems, boundaries, and mindset shifts that restore time, profit, and peace. We share mistakes, hard-won lessons, and practical steps you can apply this week. • the trap of aimless growth and overwork • one-man job versus freestanding company • burnout, bad exits, and accountability gaps • why home life health predicts work health • boundaries that require advance planning • finance basics for profit clarity and sa...

2 weeks ago

57 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Part 2 - Pay Yourself Right: Buckets, Pay Types, and Staying Profitable with Profit First

We lay out a simple, construction-specific system for paying yourself with discipline using a three-account waterfall, then dive into owner pay, distributions, and the rules that keep taxes protected and jobs funding themselves. We share red flags to watch and a weekly cadence to build healthy reserves and reduce stress. • profit first adapted for construction cash flow • three core accounts with weekly sweep rhythm • strict rules for taxes, COGS, and personal pay • owner wages versus owner ...

3 weeks ago

58 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Part 1 - Pay Yourself Right: From Chaos Draws to a Real Owner’s Salary

We break down how contractors can stop mixing wages with profit, set a real project manager salary, and build cash reserves that make growth possible. A simple example shows how to allocate profit to taxes, owner distributions, and retained earnings without starving the business. • separating labor pay from company profit for solo operators • setting a fair PM salary while keeping profit in the business • targeting gross margin ranges by job size and risk • understanding revenue, gross profi...

4 weeks ago

41 minutes

Contractor Cuts

How Much Money Do I Need to Start a Construction Company?

Starting a contracting company doesn't require a huge nest egg—smart cash flow management and the right systems are more important than having six figures in the bank. • Commercial contracting requires significant cash reserves due to 30-60 day payment terms • Residential contracting has more flexible cash requirements, especially with weekly invoicing • Basic startup costs include licensing ($200-500), insurance ($1,500-3,000/year), and minimal marketing • Weekly invoicing strategy: bill fo...

1 month ago

36 minutes

Contractor Cuts

How to Survive a Contracting Company (as a Spouse)

Clark and Esther dive into the challenges of running a contracting business while trying to keep faith, family, and work in balance—and why protecting your marriage is just as important as growing your company. • How ignoring your spouse’s perspective can slowly erode connection • The hidden dangers of letting business stress spill over into your home life • Why transparency about financial struggles builds more trust than hiding them • The importance of scheduling recovery ...

1 month ago

51 minutes

Contractor Cuts

The Contractor’s Family Balance: Don’t Lose What You’re Building For

Clark and James explore how building a contracting business affects your family relationships and what you can do to protect the people who matter most. • The dangerous moving goalposts of promising "once I reach this milestone, then I'll have time for family" • How the transition from employee to owner creates new stress patterns in personal relationships • Why staying silent about work stress actually harms your marriage • The importance of working proactively on next week's jobs instead o...

1 month ago

46 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Firing Subcontractors Off a Jobsite: How to Save Your Reputation and Protect Yourself Legally

Clark Turner explores the delicate process of separating from subcontractors, completing a three-part series on subcontractor management with practical advice on how to handle difficult termination scenarios. • Creating exit strategies for subcontractors who aren't the right fit but produce decent work • Using thorough documentation to build a case when quality issues force termination • Taking specific legal steps when firing a subcontractor to protect your business • Preparing detailed ema...

1 month ago

19 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Surviving the First Job: Managing New Crews

We continue our series on vendor management by focusing on how to effectively manage crews from their first job through establishing a long-term relationship. • Horror stories about bad crews illustrate what can go wrong without proper management • Red flags during interviews include claiming to "do everything" while green flags include transparency about specialized skills • Requesting photos of previous work helps assess quality and attention to detail • Building a "bullpen" of vetted crew...

2 months ago

41 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Mastering Subcontractor Onboarding

Successful contracting businesses need strong partnerships with subcontractors and vendors, which starts with a proper onboarding process designed to create long-term, profitable relationships for everyone involved. • Two main categories: day-to-day crews (smaller operations handling labor) and larger vendors (established companies with their own processes) • Large vendors require basic information collection, W-9s, and Certificates of Insurance with your company listed as a holder • Smaller...

2 months ago

27 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Beyond the Basics: 10 Critical Estimate Items Contractors Forget

Clark Turner reveals the top 10 critical items contractors forget to include in their estimates, resulting in lost profits and awkward change order conversations. He shares practical strategies for building comprehensive estimates that protect your margins and enhance client relationships. • Due diligence line item covers pre-construction work like Gantt charts, selection workbooks, and MEP walks • Design fees for renderings, layouts, or interior designer consultation should always be includ...

2 months ago

19 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Estimating for Profit: Pricing Projects the Right Way

Clark and James tackle the challenges of estimating for profit in the contracting business, exploring strategies to price jobs appropriately while competing with lowballers and maintaining healthy margins. • Detailed estimates showcase expertise and help filter out price-focused clients • The "cream rises" philosophy: focus on attracting clients who value quality over price • Communicate transparently about potential issues competitors might not mention • Three-phase estimation: desk e...

2 months ago

58 minutes

Contractor Cuts

The Difference Between Busy and Booked: Planning Your Pipeline

Proper projection planning is the key difference between struggling contractors and those who build consistently profitable businesses. We share how planning out your work calendar for the coming months transforms both client satisfaction and profitability. • Most contractors operate job-to-job, causing poor client experiences and lost business • Laying out detailed project timelines with realistic durations prevents schedule problems • Scheduling critical path items (like shower glass and c...

3 months ago

40 minutes

Contractor Cuts

The Art of Pricing: Tailoring Your Strategy to Different Lead Sources

Strategic pricing based on lead sources and client types can dramatically improve your contracting business's profitability and success rate. We explore how to tailor your approach and pricing for homeowners, investors, and agent referrals to win more jobs and maximize your margins. • Three main types of residential clients: homeowners (focused on quality and experience), investors (driven by price and ROI), and agent referrals (reputation-focused) • Homeowner clients need guidance on the "c...

3 months ago

16 minutes

Contractor Cuts

The Art of Saying No in Contracting

Contractors often accept every job that comes their way, leading to poor customer experiences and damaged reputations. We explore strategies for wisely selecting projects and communicating effectively with clients to protect your business. • Understand the "Fruit Bowl Metaphor" – taking on too many jobs without capacity to service them leads to spoilage • Frame declinations around customer benefit rather than your convenience • Two types of "no" in contracting: jobs outside your expertise an...

3 months ago

28 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Why Your Contracting Business Needs a Work Order System | Coaching Cuts

We deliver essential insights on implementing a work order system that creates financial accountability and sets clear expectations between contractors and subcontractors. This system eliminates the costly "expectation gap" that occurs when client promises don't precisely match subcontractor instructions. • Work orders transform verbal agreements into documented commitments • Creating work orders directly from approved client estimates ensures perfect alignment • The system locks in labor co...

3 months ago

15 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Staying Motivated and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in the lonely world of Contracting

Clark and James tackle the pervasive feelings of isolation and imposter syndrome that plague many contracting business owners, offering practical advice for breaking free from these destructive patterns. • Text messages and emails from struggling contractors reveal the emotional toll of the business • Constant criticism from customers, vendors, and sometimes family members creates a uniquely isolating environment • Most contractors "fall backwards" into the industry rather than choosing it a...

3 months ago

44 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Time is Money: Mastering Project Timelines

Time slippage is a hidden money drain that costs contracting companies thousands of dollars in lost profit. We reveal how making simple adjustments to project timelines can dramatically increase your bottom line without requiring more work. • Timeline management is critical for three main reasons: customer satisfaction, crew retention, and company profitability • Poor timeline control can reduce a contractor's take-home pay from $100,000 to just $40,000 annually on $1 million in revenue • Ef...

4 months ago

45 minutes

Contractor Cuts

Finding and Managing the Perfect Subcontractors

We explore the controversial world of managing subcontractors effectively, revealing how the right payment structure and relationship management can dramatically improve your contracting business's profitability and operations. • Avoiding the pitfalls of the traditional daily/hourly labor model for subcontractors • Why a work order system that ties payment to completed work rather than time spent creates fairer partnerships • The difference between general crews (kept busy 5 days/week) and s...

4 months ago

33 minutes