Contractor Cuts

Fred Mancuso walked away from a successful career as a Chef and built FM Contracting in Chicago, IL. This interview is about how he moved from using a paint brush as a side job to running a real general contracting business with systems, subs, and large projects. We discuss his experience at our Annual Planning Retreat last year and how what he learned lead to doubling his revenue in just a year.

• moving from labor to lea...

We walk through real contractor dilemmas and show how to stop scope creep, protect profit, and keep clients happy without losing control. From Pinterest-driven changes to midnight texts, we share scripts, policies, and tools that set clear rules and smooth exits.

• explaining the cascade effect of late design changes
• using preconstruction to set rules for change orders
• writing the first small change order to se...

We break down the toughest leap for contractors: moving from swinging a hammer to running projects with foresight, systems, and steady cash flow. We share a practical plan for calendars, crews, invoicing, and client updates that lowers stress and raises profit.

• delayed gratification as the new mindset
• calendar as the core tool three to six weeks out
• weekly rhythm with Tuesday and Friday anchors
• energy-b...

We sit down with Grant Doubell to unpack how a South African contractor rebuilt in Georgia, blending commercial planning with residential service to cut years off the learning curve. We get honest about “coffee stains,” preconstruction discipline, and the financial habits that keep builders in business.

• origin story from development to GC
• early scrappy jobs and learning by doing
• moving to the US and translati...

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 date...

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 lever...

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

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

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...

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), insura...

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...

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 actua...

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 ...

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...

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, an...

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 rend...

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 ab...

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 s...

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...