Business Partner · Equity Buy-In · Construction Business · Financial Structure
Business Partner · Equity Buy-In · Valuation · Construction · Partnership Agreement
Bringing In a
Business Partner.
Bringing a business partner into your construction company is one of the most significant financial decisions you'll make. Get the structure right upfront and it accelerates the business. Get it wrong and it creates disputes that can cost more than the partnership was worth. Here's what to think through financially — and what to document before they come on board.
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SPM vs. Other CFO Firms
Most CFO Firms Serving This Trade
- High revenue minimums — most won't serve under $5M
- Advisory only — no bookkeeping, no implementation
- No job costing setup or ControlQore management
- No monthly WIP as standard deliverable
- No pricing published — discovery call required
- No vetted partner network for bonding, lending, or liens
- No prevailing wage specialty
The Construction CFO — SPM
- Serves $1M–$12M — starts at $1,900/month
- Full implementation — bookkeeping, job costing, CFO advisory
- ControlQore setup and managed for you every month
- Monthly WIP standard in Executive tier
- Full pricing published — no discovery call to find out costs
- Vetted partners for bonding, lending, lien services, payroll
- Prevailing wage and Davis-Bacon specialty
What We See in This Business
01
You're Bringing Someone In Without a Clear Valuation
If there's no agreed-upon business valuation methodology before a partner comes on board, every future dispute about distributions, buyouts, or exits will be litigated against an undefined starting point. The valuation conversation is uncomfortable. Having it upfront is far less expensive than having it in a dispute.
02
The Equity Split Doesn't Reflect the Real Contribution
A 50/50 split feels fair when two people start something together. It feels less fair three years later when one partner is running field operations full time and the other is managing one project. Equity structures that account for role, capital contribution, and ongoing contribution prevent these imbalances.
03
There's No Buy-Sell Agreement
What happens when a partner wants out? What happens if a partner dies or becomes incapacitated? What happens if partners can't agree on a major business decision? Without a buy-sell agreement and a valuation trigger, these events create expensive disputes. The buy-sell is worth its attorney cost many times over.
How SPM Fixes It
Business Valuation Before the Partner Comes In
SPM prepares the financial package for business valuation before a new partner buys in — current financial statements, WIP, AR aging, backlog, and equipment schedule. The incoming partner's attorney or a business valuator needs clean, current financials to establish the valuation. SPM has these ready.
Distribution Policy Established at Partnership Formation
Before the partnership is formalized, establish how distributions work — what percentage of profit stays in the business, when distributions are paid, and how they're split. This policy prevents the informal distribution patterns that create partner disputes when the business starts generating meaningful profit.
Ongoing Financial Transparency for All Partners
Every partner should see the same financial picture — monthly P&L, WIP, cash position, and overhead rate. SPM delivers this to Executive clients monthly. When all partners see the same accurate data, financial disputes happen less often and resolve more quickly when they do occur.
Service Tiers
Tier 01
Core Financial
Starts at $1,900 / month
- ControlQore setup and management
- Job costing aligned to your estimate structure
- Cost-to-complete tracking — updated monthly
- Full-service bookkeeping — minimum 30 min/week
- Vendor payments via ACH (you approve, we initiate)
- Accounts receivable management
- Bank reconciliations and transaction matching
- Controllership
- 1 monthly CFO meeting
- 60-day onboarding — books migrated to last taxable year
Most Popular
Tier 02
Executive Financial
Starts at $2,900 / month
- Everything in Core Financial
- Monthly WIP schedule — delivered every month, standard
- 13-week cash flow forecasting
- CEO Report — monthly financial dashboard
- 3 CFO advisory meetings per month
- Strategic accountability and actionable to-dos
- Direct access to Josh Luebker
Pricing by Revenue
Revenue Range
(Last 12 Months) |
Core Financial
Monthly |
Executive Financial
Monthly |
| Under $1M | $1,900 | $2,900 |
| $1M – $3M | $2,600 | $3,600 |
| $4M – $6M | $3,800 | $5,500 |
| $7M – $9M | $5,100 | $6,900 |
| $10M – $12M | $6,100 | $8,500 |
| $13M+ | Quoted | Quoted |
Vetted Partner Network
National Lien Services
When AR gets too long, we connect you directly to our lien services partner to protect what you've earned.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
Payroll Integration Partners
Prevailing wage and regular payroll software partners integrated directly with ControlQore job costing.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
Bonding Partners
Surety relationships and bonding capacity support. We prepare the financials — our partners get you bonded.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
Lending Partners
Working capital lines and equipment financing through vetted lenders who understand construction.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
Reviewed Financials
CPA-level financial statement reviews for banking, bonding, and large contract requirements.
Additional cost — not included in monthly fee
CPA Coordination
We work alongside your existing CPA — not replacing them. Clean books and job costing make tax time easier.
Included — no extra cost
Common Questions
Straight answers.
Should a new partner buy in with cash or sweat equity?
Both are legitimate structures. A cash buy-in immediately strengthens working capital and gives the business real consideration for the equity transfer. Sweat equity — earning ownership over time through performance — avoids the need for a large upfront cash payment but requires clear performance metrics and a vesting schedule. Your attorney and CPA should design the structure based on your specific situation and goals.
What financial information should I share with a potential partner before they come on board?
Three years of financial statements, current WIP, AR aging, and a clear picture of working capital and existing debt obligations. A potential partner is evaluating the business they're buying into — they deserve an accurate picture. Presenting clean, accurate financials also demonstrates the financial management quality they'll be working within. SPM prepares this disclosure package for Executive clients considering partnership arrangements.
What's included in Core Financial?
ControlQore setup, job costing aligned to your estimates, cost-to-complete tracking, full bookkeeping (minimum 30 min/week), ACH vendor payments (you approve, we initiate), AR management, bank reconciliations, transaction matching, controllership, and 1 monthly CFO meeting. Starts at $1,900/month.
What does Executive Financial add?
Everything in Core plus monthly WIP schedule, 13-week cash flow forecasting, CEO Report, and 3 CFO advisory meetings per month. Starts at $2,900/month. WIP, cash flow forecasting, and the CEO Report are Executive tier only.
Do you handle payroll?
No. We have vetted payroll software partners — including prevailing wage integrations — that connect directly with ControlQore. Those are separate engagements at additional cost.
How long does onboarding take?
60 days. We migrate your books to the start of your last taxable year, set up ControlQore, and build your job costing structure. Fully operational in two months.
What software do clients use?
ControlQore. All SPM clients run on ControlQore for job costing and WIP. We set it up and manage it — you don't have to learn it. Clients switching from QuickBooks, Sage, or other platforms migrate during onboarding.
Do you work alongside our CPA?
Yes. We work alongside your existing CPA — not replacing them. Clean books and accurate job costing make their job easier at tax time.
What happens when we grow past $12M?
We have a clear graduation path. We prepare your financials, systems, and team for the transition and connect you with the right firm for your next stage of growth.