The Builder’s Edge - Mastering the Business Side of Building

Busy But Broke? Why Contractors Still Stress About Money

Why are so many contractors working harder than ever, bringing in more revenue, and still stressed about money? In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, Deanna Lucas sits down with Amanda Dilenno to uncover the hidden numbers behind profitable construction businesses. If you are a contractor, remodeler, landscaper, roofer, trades professional, or construction business owner who feels busy but broke, this conversation will help you understand why more work does not always mean more profit. You will learn how poor job costing, underbidding, unclear bookkeeping, hidden overhead expenses, payroll costs, fuel changes, supply price increases, and weak profit margin tracking can quietly drain your business. Amanda explains why looking at your bank balance is not enough, why revenue can be misleading, and why every contractor needs clean books, monthly reconciliation, and a clear system for pricing jobs. This episode is for contractors who want less stress, better cash flow, stronger margins, and a business that supports their family, future, and freedom instead of creating constant financial pressure. What You’ll Learn / HighlightsChapters You’ll learn why contractors can have strong revenue but still struggle with cash flow, especially when job costs, unpaid checks, auto-drafts, credit cards, payroll, and overhead are not being tracked clearly. Amanda breaks down why job costing matters and how separating each project’s labor, materials, supplies, indirect costs, and profit margin helps contractors know which jobs are actually worth repeating. You’ll hear why underbidding is so dangerous, especially for newer contractors who feel pressure to win every job, compete on price, or take cheap clients who do not understand value. This episode also explains how clean bookkeeping, monthly reconciliation, and reviewing actual numbers can reveal duplicate expenses, hidden profit leaks, missed deductions, and pricing problems before they damage the business. 00:00 Intro: Why contractors feel busy but broke01:12 Why more work does not always mean more profit03:10 Amanda’s accounting background and contractor focus06:25 Why tradespeople struggle with bookkeeping09:45 The problem with only checking your bank balance12:20 Why contractors stay busy but still feel broke15:05 Pricing, cheap clients, and knowing your value19:15 Warning signs of a profitability problem22:00 Revenue vs. profit: what contractors should track25:10 Why underbidding stops business growth28:30 Hidden expenses contractors forget to price in32:15 Payroll, fuel, supplies, and unexpected costs36:00 Job costing explained for construction businesses41:20 Why every project needs its own profit margin46:30 Marking up materials and explaining value to clients51:10 Payment structure and avoiding cash flow problems55:00 Amanda’s profit margin spreadsheet template01:02:30 First step: clean books and monthly reconciliation01:05:00 Free audit and final takeaways #ContractorBusiness#ConstructionBusiness#JobCosting#ProfitMargins#TheBuildersEdge Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard [https://www.ai-visibility-fix.com/] Builders Visibility Blueprint [https://blueprint.dnd-business-systems.com/signup-9599-7746] DND Website [https://dnd-business-systems.com/] DND Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@DND-Business-Systems] Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vl2HpZLDoXUWLW-tCdlvUFmx_3ECppZR_Q6omqkXAXw/edit?usp=sharing] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001060262292] Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1319027852505337] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-lucas-b30938303/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Simple Benefit That Helps Contractors Keep Good Crews

One accident can change everything for a contractor, an employee, and their family. In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, we talk with Yvette Kahn about how contractors can protect their crews with affordable supplemental insurance options that help cover out-of-pocket costs, accidents, illness, short-term disability, and the financial gaps traditional health insurance and workers’ comp may not fully solve. If you own a construction company, painting business, moving company, remodeling company, or any trade-based business, this conversation is for you. Hiring good workers is hard, but keeping them is even harder when employees do not feel protected or supported. Yvette explains how benefits like accident insurance, cancer coverage, critical care, and short-term disability can help contractors build stronger teams, improve employee retention, reduce stress after injuries, and create a culture where workers feel valued. You will hear how supplemental insurance works, why it can be surprisingly affordable, how it pays employees directly, and why small contractors with as few as three employees may be able to offer better protection without adding heavy overhead. In this episode, you’ll learn:  → How supplemental insurance helps contractors close the financial gap when employees get hurt on or off the job → Why workers’ comp alone may not be enough to protect your crew or your business → How offering benefits can help attract better employees, improve retention, and show your team that you care about their future → How accident plans, cancer plans, critical care coverage, and short-term disability can support workers when life happens Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard [https://www.ai-visibility-fix.com/] Builders Visibility Blueprint [https://blueprint.dnd-business-systems.com/signup-9599-7746] DND Website [https://dnd-business-systems.com/] DND Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@DND-Business-Systems] Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vl2HpZLDoXUWLW-tCdlvUFmx_3ECppZR_Q6omqkXAXw/edit?usp=sharing] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001060262292] Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1319027852505337] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-lucas-b30938303/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

This One Business Leak Could Cost You $100K a Year

Most contractors are working harder than ever, but still watching profit disappear every month. One reason? Hidden payment processing fees from platforms like Stripe, Square, PayPal, and outdated merchant systems may be quietly draining thousands from your business without you realizing it. In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, we sit down with Gannon Young, entrepreneur, business owner, and payment processing consultant, to talk about how contractors, HVAC companies, pest control businesses, gyms, restaurants, and service-based businesses can reduce unnecessary payment fees, improve cash flow, and simplify the way they get paid. If you accept credit cards, send invoices, use recurring billing, or rely on online payments, this conversation could help you uncover money leaks hiding inside your business. Gannon explains how merchant statement reviews work, why many business owners are shocked when they finally see their numbers, and how options like dual pricing, surcharging, automated invoicing, text-to-pay, and better payment workflows can help contractors keep more of what they earn. You’ll also learn why customer service matters in payment processing and how faster funding can make a major difference in your cash flow. You’ll learn: → How payment processing fees affect contractor profits → Why Stripe and Square may not be the best fit for growing businesses → How merchant statement analysis can reveal hidden fees → How smarter invoicing and automation can help you get paid faster without chasing customers manually Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard [https://www.ai-visibility-fix.com/] Builders Visibility Blueprint [https://blueprint.dnd-business-systems.com/signup-9599-7746] DND Website [https://dnd-business-systems.com/] DND Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@DND-Business-Systems] Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vl2HpZLDoXUWLW-tCdlvUFmx_3ECppZR_Q6omqkXAXw/edit?usp=sharing] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001060262292] Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1319027852505337] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-lucas-b30938303/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Stop Chasing Leads Until You Fix This First

Are you getting leads but still not seeing the growth, profit, or cash flow your business should have? In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, Deanna Lucas talks with business growth expert Mickey Lyles about why more marketing is not always the answer and how business owners can uncover hidden revenue, fix operational leaks, improve leadership, and build scalable systems behind the scenes. If you own a construction company, home service business, contracting business, plumbing company, HVAC company, pest control company, remodeling business, or trade-based company, this conversation will show you how to stop staying busy and start building a real business. Mickey breaks down how to identify revenue leaks, understand your market cap, improve your average ticket, raise prices with confidence, track KPIs, build stronger teams, and create systems that support real growth.  Before you spend more money on lead generation, SEO, ads, or marketing, you need to make sure your business can actually handle and maximize the opportunity. Highlights: → You’ll learn why many business owners are leaving money on the table after the lead comes in. → How revenue harvesting can increase profit without adding more customers. → Why leadership and culture set the ceiling for growth. → How better data, pricing, and operational structure can help you scale smarter. → Mickey also shares real examples, including how one pest control company grew from $5.5 million to $21 million, how plumbing companies can increase average ticket size, and why contractors must understand cash flow, labor, pricing, and efficiency if they want to grow. Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard [https://www.ai-visibility-fix.com/] Builders Visibility Blueprint [https://blueprint.dnd-business-systems.com/signup-9599-7746] DND Website [https://dnd-business-systems.com/] DND Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@DND-Business-Systems] Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vl2HpZLDoXUWLW-tCdlvUFmx_3ECppZR_Q6omqkXAXw/edit?usp=sharing] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001060262292] Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1319027852505337] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-lucas-b30938303/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How Contractors Can Stay Profitable as Costs Rise

Rising material costs, labor costs, fuel prices, banking fees, and unpredictable market shifts are squeezing contractors harder than ever. If you run a construction business, remodeling company, HVAC company, roofing company, landscaping business, or any trade-based service, this episode is about protecting your profit before rising costs eat it alive. In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, we sit down with Mike Milligan of One Oak Financial to talk about how contractors can stay profitable, manage cash flow, fix financial leaks, price jobs smarter, and build long-term wealth without just working more hours. We break down why so many contractors confuse cash flow with profit, why old quotes can destroy margins, how banking and insurance relationships may be costing you thousands, and why business owners need better systems, strategy, and key performance indicators. This conversation is for contractors who are tired of being busy but still stressed about money. Learn how to stop owning a paycheck and start building a real business that creates freedom, stability, and long-term wealth. You’ll learn: → Why honoring outdated bids can quietly drain profit → How contractors can adjust pricing when material costs keep changing → Why cash in the bank does not always mean the business is healthy → How weekly financial check-ins can help you take control without getting buried in spreadsheets → How contractors can use AI, smarter partnerships, and better systems → Wealth-building habits to create more freedom outside the job site. Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard [https://www.ai-visibility-fix.com/] Builders Visibility Blueprint [https://blueprint.dnd-business-systems.com/signup-9599-7746] DND Website [https://dnd-business-systems.com/] DND Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@DND-Business-Systems] Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vl2HpZLDoXUWLW-tCdlvUFmx_3ECppZR_Q6omqkXAXw/edit?usp=sharing] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001060262292] Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1319027852505337] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-lucas-b30938303/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]