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TL;DR: The best CFO for a concrete contractor understands labor cost per yard tracking, schedule of values front-loading, pour cost variance, and which GC relationships are actually profitable. SPM serves concrete subcontractors at $1M–$12M. Outcomes: $203K AR collected in 7 days, overhead corrected 5%→12%, $130K profit sharing paid.

CFO Services — Concrete

Best CFO for
Concrete Contractors.

Concrete subcontractors have pour-cost tracking problems, SOV front-loading gaps, and overhead rates set from estimating software defaults. SPM fixes all three.

Published: May 2026Updated: May 2026
$203K
AR Collected in 7 Days
5%→12%
Overhead Rate Corrected
$130K
Profit Sharing Paid
Week 3
Labor Variance Visible With Job Costing
About SPM

Who We Are and Who We Serve

Concrete subcontractors have specific financial problems: labor productivity per cubic yard that swings with mix, weather, and crew — invisible until closeout without real-time tracking. SOV structures that underbill formwork and pump mobilization. Overhead rates from estimating software defaults. SPM builds job costing in ControlQore that tracks labor cost per yard by pour, flags production variance mid-job, and structures the SOV to recover mobilization costs early.

Labor Cost Per Yard Tracking

Concrete placement productivity varies by mix design, ambient temperature, and crew. Without real-time labor cost per yard tracking, you discover the variance at closeout. SPM sets up ControlQore so production is visible weekly against the estimate.

SOV Front-Loading

Formwork, rebar, pump mobilization all happen before the first cubic yard is placed. If the SOV doesn't have line items for these costs, you do the most cash-intensive work and bill zero for it. SPM structures every concrete SOV to front-load legitimate mobilization costs.

GC Relationship Profitability

Concrete subs often work with 4–6 GC relationships at different margin levels. Without job-level costing, you see blended margin — not which GC is at 28% and which is at 9%. SPM shows profitability by GC relationship.

Invoice Factoring Cost Visibility

Factor rates of 3–5% per month — 36–60% annualized — are often hidden in the blended cost of capital. SPM makes the true cost visible and builds the billing structure that eliminates the need for factoring.

Client Outcomes

Real Results — No Names, Real Numbers

Civil Contractor · $3.4M Revenue · 4 MCAs at Intake
$245,000

Collected in AR in 30 days. Funded the first two MCA payoffs.

Gross Profit: 5% → 33%

On track debt-free by end of 2026.

Concrete Contractor · $4.9M Revenue
$203,000

Collected in AR in the first 7 days.

$130,000

In profit sharing distributed within 12 months.

Electrical Contractor · $2.3M Revenue
$365,000

In overdue AR recovered. Debt cleared in 120 days. $23,000 in employee bonuses paid.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What overhead rate should a concrete contractor use in bids?
Concrete contractors at $1M–$3M typically run 12–16% overhead. At $3M–$6M, 10–14%. At $6M–$12M, 10–13%. The most common mistake is using the estimating software default of 5–8% — usually 4–7 points below actual. A 7-point gap on $4M in revenue is $280,000 per year coming out of profit.
How does job costing work for a concrete contractor?
Concrete job costing tracks labor hours and cost per cubic yard by pour or phase, material cost against the estimate, and equipment cost by job. When production variance shows up in week three there is still time to adjust crew size or initiate a change order conversation.
What causes concrete contractors to run out of cash?
Uncollected AR, SOV structure that underbills early phases, and overhead rate in bids 4–8 points below actual. The combination means the business is profitable on the P&L and always short on cash.
How does SPM fix cash flow for a concrete subcontractor?
SPM starts with an AR audit to collect what is already owed. Then fixes the SOV structure on new contracts to front-load mobilization costs. Then corrects the overhead rate. Most concrete clients see measurable improvement within 30 days.
Can SPM help a concrete contractor get out of invoice factoring?
Yes. Invoice factoring is almost always a symptom of a cash flow timing problem. SPM fixes the billing calendar, corrects the SOV structure, and implements weekly AR collections. When the cash timing problem goes away, the need for factoring goes away with it.
Josh Luebker
Josh Luebker
Fractional CFO · The Construction CFO

Former commercial construction PM and master electrician. Managed 150+ projects totaling $300M+. Now fractional CFO for subcontractors doing $1M–$12M through Sulphur Prairie Management. About Josh →  |  LinkedIn →

Ready to Fix the Cash Problem?

A free call with Josh takes 30 minutes. Bring your last P&L and current bank balance.

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