Resources for Subcontractors

Fix Your Cash Flow in 60 Days - https://constructioncfo.net Not sure what's wrong?

Let's figure it out. - https://calendly.com/the-construction-cfo/youtube

Get your copy of the cash flow forecast: https://constructioncfo.net/tools/p/cash-flow-forecast-template-guide

Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/the-construction-cfo

--------- In this video, Josh — The Construction CFO — walks through the exact cash flow forecasting system used with contractors in 2026. This is the same 13-week cash flow forecast template used every month with SPM clients, and it has been implemented by thousands of contractors ranging from small operators to companies doing $30M+ in revenue. This isn’t theory or “thought leadership.” It’s the actual spreadsheet system used to run construction businesses and prevent cash flow surprises. The process starts by calculating true overhead, then moves into a 13-week rolling cash flow forecast that shows exactly: • When money will come in • When expenses will hit • Which projects must pay to avoid a cash shortage • When loans, credit cards, and equipment payments hit • How to plan payroll, vendors, and growth safely Most contractors run into problems because they track revenue and profit on a P&L, but they don’t track timing of cash. This forecast solves that. What This Video Covers 1. Calculating True Overhead The system begins with a full breakdown of monthly operating expenses, including: • Office rent and utilities • Software subscriptions • Insurance (general liability, workers comp, vehicle) • Payroll services and accounting • Fuel and equipment maintenance • Fleet tracking and vehicle costs • Administrative salaries For the example contractor in this walkthrough, the business has about $891,000 in annual overhead. That means if the company wants overhead to equal 10% of revenue, they need to produce roughly $8.9M in revenue. This is why many contractors unknowingly break even — they bid jobs using generic markup (like 10% overhead + 5% profit) without knowing their real overhead percentage. 2. Why Contractors Run Out of Cash A contractor may look profitable on paper but still run out of cash because: • Payment terms delay collections • Retention slows cash inflow • Payroll and vendors must be paid weekly • Large material purchases hit before payment arrives That timing gap is what the 13-week forecast solves. 3. The 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast The forecast starts with the current bank balance and then tracks weekly activity for the next three months. Each week includes: Cash In • Expected project payments • Based on actual collection timing (not just invoices) Cash Out • Overhead expenses • Payroll • Materials and vendors • Subcontractors • Equipment rental Debt & Financing • Credit cards • Equipment loans • SBA loans • Owner draws • Line of credit usage 4. Tracking Cash by Project Instead of guessing when revenue arrives, the forecast tracks cash collections by project. This allows contractors to see: • Which jobs must pay this week • Which invoices to follow up on • Which project managers need to push paperwork Most companies discover they must actively manage collections weekly to avoid a cash crunch. 5. Planning Around Cash Shortages The forecast also allows contractors to simulate real-world scenarios: • A delayed payment • A large vendor bill • A subcontractor lien notice • Unexpected expenses When cash runs short, the spreadsheet shows exactly when a line of credit must be used and when it will be paid back. This removes the guesswork and prevents payroll crises. 6. Why This Forecast Must Be Updated Monthly The first setup takes about 60–90 minutes, but once built it can be updated in about an hour each month. Most contractors use it to: • Identify the next 3 weeks of critical collections • Plan vendor payments • Avoid surprise cash shortages • Safely grow revenue without running out of money Without this system, many contractors grow revenue but destroy their cash flow, which is why growth can become the biggest risk in construction businesses. Who This Is For This system is designed for: • Construction company owners • Civil and subcontracting companies • Contractors between $3M – $20M revenue • Businesses that want predictable cash flow Download the Template The spreadsheet used in this video is linked below so you can build your own 13-week cash flow forecast and start managing cash the way professional contractors do. If you want help implementing this system in your company, reach out to SPM – The Construction CFO. --------- Struggling with cash flow? On this channel, I give advice for subcontractors to fix cash flow through construction finances and operations. Subscribe for free actionable tips! #construction #subcontractor #cashflow #constructionaccounting #CashFlowForecasting #ConstructionFinance #CashFlowTemplate

SPM Construction Profit Diagnostic GPT - https://chatgpt.com/g/g-69881416a8708191b18665ebe0b247a4-spm-construction-profit-diagnostic

Fix Your Cash Flow in 60 Days - https://constructioncfo.net

Not sure what's wrong? Let's figure it out. - https://calendly.com/the-construction-cfo/youtube

Get your copy of the cash flow forecast: https://constructioncfo.net/tools/p/cash-flow-forecast-template-guide

Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/the-construction-cfo

In this video, construction CFO Josh Luebker breaks down how business finances really work for subcontractors and contractors. We walk through a real example: $5M in revenue $3.5M in cost of goods sold 30% gross margin $1.4M in overhead Only $100K left in profit 2% net margin Then we show how changing overhead by just 1% can swing owner take-home pay by $50,000 to $400,000 per year. You will learn: • How gross margin actually works in construction • What overhead percentage means • Why cash feels tight even when revenue is high • How small improvements change owner income • What numbers move the needle fastest • Why most subcontractors never see this math This is for construction business owners doing $3M to $15M per year who feel busy but unsure where the money is going. Keywords: construction finance, construction CFO, job costing, overhead percentage, construction profit margins, subcontractor finance, contractor accounting, cash flow in construction, construction business numbers, gross margin construction. Shoutout to  @Sy-Con  for the introduction to this company!

Fix Your Cash Flow in 60 Days - https://constructioncfo.net

Not sure what's wrong? Let's figure it out. - https://calendly.com/the-construction-cfo/youtube

Get your copy of the cash flow forecast: https://constructioncfo.net/tools/p/cash-flow-forecast-template-guide

Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/the-construction-cfo

A Simple Walkthrough of Construction Money

This video is a high-level walkthrough of how money moves through a construction business.

It is not a real client case and it is not detailed accounting.

It is a simple example designed to help construction owners understand where to look before reviewing real numbers.

In this walkthrough, you’ll learn:

How construction money flows from jobs to the bank account

Why profit on a P&L does not equal cash

Where cash gets stuck on the balance sheet

How receivables, retainage, and payables affect cash timing

What “good” and “bad” balance sheet signals look like at a high level

This video is meant to build foundational understanding so that real job and company examples actually make sense when you see them.

If you own or run a construction company and want to understand how construction money works at a big-picture level, this walkthrough gives you the mental model most owners never get.

Topics covered:

Construction money explained simply

Construction balance sheet walkthrough

Cash vs profit in construction

How construction businesses actually make or lose money

This video is part of a construction finance series focused on owner clarity, not accounting theory.

Struggling with cash flow? On this channel, I give advice for subcontractors to fix cash flow through construction finances and operations. Subscribe for free actionable tips!

#construction #subcontractor #cashflow #constructionaccounting #CashFlowForecasting #ConstructionFinance #CashFlowTemplate

Fix Your Cash Flow in 60 Days - https://constructioncfo.net

Not sure what's wrong? Let's figure it out. - https://calendly.com/the-construction-cfo/youtube

Get your copy of the cash flow forecast: https://constructioncfo.net/tools/p/cash-flow-forecast-template-guide

Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/the-construction-cfo

How Construction Money Actually Works | Balance Sheet Explained

Most construction business owners look at their P&L and still don’t know where the money went.

This video explains how construction money actually works by walking through the balance sheet, not accounting theory, not buzzwords, and not generic finance advice.

You’ll learn:

Where your cash really lives in a construction business

Why profit on paper doesn’t mean money in the bank

How accounts receivable, retainage, and work in progress affect cash

What liabilities are quietly draining your business

How to read a balance sheet like an owner, not an accountant

This is not bookkeeping training.

This is construction finance for owners who want to understand:

Why they feel busy but broke

Why growth often makes cash tighter, not easier

Where to actually look to see if the business is healthy

If you own or run a construction company and want to understand where the money is, this video breaks it down in plain English using real construction logic.

Topics covered:

Construction balance sheet explained

Cash vs profit in construction

Where construction companies lose money

How money flows from jobs to the bank account

This video is part of a foundational series for construction owners who want real financial clarity, not reports they don’t trust.

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Struggling with cash flow? On this channel, I give advice for subcontractors to fix cash flow through construction finances and operations. Subscribe for free actionable tips!

#construction #subcontractor #cashflow #constructionaccounting #CashFlowForecasting #ConstructionFinance #CashFlowTemplate

Fix Your Cash Flow in 60 Days - https://constructioncfo.net

Not sure what's wrong? Let's figure it out. - https://calendly.com/the-construction-cfo/youtube

Get your copy of the cash flow forecast: https://constructioncfo.net/tools/p/cash-flow-forecast-template-guide

Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/the-construction-cfo

@Sy-Con recently did a collab where we simulated an estimating upgrade into a brand new job costing system. This is how we set it up. We use @ControlQore for job costing software.

Work with us - ConstructionCFO.net

This video script provides an in-depth explanation of job costing in the construction industry, emphasizing its importance for tracking expenses and ensuring profitability. The speaker outlines a comprehensive framework and a customizable template for job costing. Examples from real-life projects, such as a runway project at Langley Air Force Base, are used to illustrate how job costing can identify issues early, allowing necessary adjustments to avoid substantial losses. The script also discusses the integration with estimating, proper setup of cost codes, and the need for real-time tracking. Practical advice, such as avoiding overly granular tracking and leveraging job costing software, is shared to help smaller companies achieve the efficiency and profitability of larger ones.

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Struggling with cash flow? On this channel, I give advice for subcontractors to fix cash flow through construction finances and operations. Subscribe for free actionable tips!

#construction #subcontractor #cashflow #constructionaccounting #CashFlowForecasting #ConstructionFinance #CashFlowTemplate

Fix Your Cash Flow in 60 Days - https://constructioncfo.net

Not sure what's wrong? Let's figure it out. - https://calendly.com/the-construction-cfo/youtube

Get your copy of the cash flow forecast: https://constructioncfo.net/tools/p/cash-flow-forecast-template-guide

Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/the-construction-cfo

Many construction subcontractors can’t make payroll or don’t pay themselves consistently — not because they’re bad at business, but because their pricing and financial systems were never built to include the owner’s paycheck. In this video, Josh Luebker, The Construction CFO, breaks down why most subs live job-to-job, how to structure your pricing so you can pay yourself every month, and what it takes to stop relying on leftover cash. If you’re a trade contractor tired of surviving instead of scaling, this is the clarity you’ve been missing.

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Struggling with cash flow? On this channel, I give advice for subcontractors to fix cash flow through construction finances and operations. Subscribe for free actionable tips!

#construction #subcontractor #cashflow #constructionaccounting #CashFlowForecasting #ConstructionFinance #CashFlowTemplate

Fix Your Cash Flow in 60 Days - https://constructioncfo.net

Not sure what's wrong? Let's figure it out. - https://calendly.com/the-construction-cfo/youtube

Get your copy of the cash flow forecast: https://constructioncfo.net/tools/p/cash-flow-forecast-template-guide

Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/the-construction-cfo

Struggling with cash flow in your construction business? In this video, Josh Luebker, The Construction CFO, breaks down a proven 7-step process to fix construction cash flow problems and build long-term financial stability for subcontractors.

You’ll learn how to:

✔ Build trade-specific cost codes (materials, labor, subs, equipment, tools, job expenses, and general conditions)

✔ Align cost codes directly into bidding and budgets

✔ Calculate equipment and vehicle cost basis for accurate job costs

✔ Review project financials monthly with budgets, actuals, committed costs, and variances

✔ Track the six numbers that matter: revenue, gross profit, gross margin, net profit, net margin, and cash flow

✔ Forecast 13 weeks and 24 months ahead to avoid payroll crunches

✔ Continuously improve your systems to protect profitability

This 7-step method is built specifically for construction subcontractors who want real cash flow clarity, accurate job costing, and better financial control.

📌 Subscribe for weekly videos on construction cash flow, forecasting, and job costing.

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Struggling with cash flow? On this channel, I give advice for subcontractors to fix cash flow through construction finances and operations. Subscribe for free actionable tips!

#construction #subcontractor #cashflow #constructionaccounting #CashFlowForecasting #ConstructionFinance #CashFlowTemplate

Fix Your Cash Flow in 60 Days - https://constructioncfo.net

Not sure what's wrong? Let's figure it out. - https://calendly.com/the-construction-cfo/youtube

Get your copy of the cash flow forecast: https://constructioncfo.net/tools/p/cash-flow-forecast-template-guide

Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/the-construction-cfo

Get your copy of the cash flow forecast: https://constructioncfo.net/tools/p/cash-flow-forecast-template-guide

Learn how to build a construction cash‑flow forecast. In this video, we explain what a cash‑flow forecast is an estimate of expected income and expenses over a project timeline and show you how to set the forecasting period, identify cash inflows and outflows, and calculate net cash flow.

We discuss why cash‑flow management is challenging in construction revenue is unpredictable, costs are fixed and how accurate bidding, proactive invoicing and maintaining reserves can keep you solvent.

Whether you’re a contractor or subcontractor, mastering construction cash‑flow forecasting helps you make better decisions, mitigate risk and stay profitable. Download our cash‑flow forecast template and start planning today.

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Struggling with cash flow? On this channel, I give advice for subcontractors to fix cash flow through construction finances and operations. Subscribe for free actionable tips!

#construction #subcontractor #cashflow #constructionaccounting #CashFlowForecasting #ConstructionFinance #CashFlowTemplate

Download Your Free Document Control Log to Keep Up With Project Needs: https://constructioncfo.net/subcontractor-performing-the-work In this video, Josh Luebker shares essential insights he's gained from working with over 20 subcontractors with 30+ years of experience. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls that can bankrupt your company, understand the importance of sticking to contractual obligations, and discover the impact of standardized operating procedures (SOPs). Josh illustrates how SOPs can improve project handoffs and ensure consistent, high-quality installations. Additionally, understand the significance of weekly PM-Superintendent meetings for preemptive problem-solving and get practical tips to start working on your business, not just in it. Implement these four game-changing secrets to improve cash flow and project outcomes in your construction business.

https://constructioncfo.net/subcontractor-winning-the-work Are you tired of losing project after project? In this video, I share four strategies to boost your win rate from 1 in 11 to 1 in 4. Drawing from my experience with over 50 subcontractors, I'll guide you through improving confidence in your estimates, vetting general contractors, refining your bidding process, and ensuring you're paying yourself adequately. Avoid common pitfalls, learn the importance of reading project details carefully, and discover how to target the right clients to enhance your construction business's cash flow and profitability. If you're struggling to win consistent and profitable work, this video is for you!

Track projects with a free bid board so you can see trends and find your niche - https://constructioncfo.net/subcontractor-finding-the-work

With an average of 12 bids per subcontractor for any project on BuildingConnected, should you really be focusing on a platform that encourages a race to the bottom? In this video, Josh Luebker shares four impactful takeaways from working with over 50 subcontractors to boost their bid hit rate. Discover the importance of targeting projects that align with your niche, leveraging referrals, using targeted outreach, and creating a replicable process to secure more consistent and profitable work. Learn how defining and embracing your specialty can dramatically increase your profit margins while reducing competition.

If your business isn't growing, it's dying. In this video, Josh Luebker, a fractional CFO and COO for construction subcontractors, shares crucial insights on how to prepare your business for growth. Learn the importance of financial ratios, strategic bidding, a healthy financial culture, and employee retention. Discover how to avoid the race to the bottom and ensure your company's long-term success. Don't miss out on these expert tips to thrive in the subcontracting industry. Like, subscribe, and get ready to scale your business!

BILLD Whitepaper: https://billd.com/pdf/Building%20a%20Working%20Capital%20Toolkit.pdf

Procore Article: https://www.procore.com/library/carrying-cost-slow-payment-construction

BILLD: https://billd.com/

Josh Luebker, the Construction CFO, discusses the harsh realities and challenges of starting a trade subcontractor business. From dealing with bidding frustration and unpaid invoices to handling extensive paperwork, this video outlines why 73.6% of construction companies fail within ten years. Josh shares his decade-long experience managing large contracts and introduces the five pillars of a profitable subcontractor to help you stabilize your business and improve cash flow.

Download the Calculator Here: https://billd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Livestream-Cost-of-Capital-Spreadsheet-Billd.xlsx

Download BILLD's Toolkit Whitepaper Here: https://billd.com/pdf/Building%20a%20Working%20Capital%20Toolkit.pdf

BILLD: Championing Subcontractors: https://billd.com

A step-by-step walkthrough on how to calculate the cost of working capital for your next project and a process to evaluate the best working capital solutions for your business. This video is designed for subcontracting executives and construction CFOs at any level, whether you’re ready to dive into accounting for the cost of capital now or are looking to refine your approach.

https://grow.billd.com/

Download the Calculator Here: https://billd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Livestream-Cost-of-Capital-Spreadsheet-Billd.xlsx

Download BILLD's Toolkit Whitepaper Here: https://billd.com/pdf/Building%20a%20Working%20Capital%20Toolkit.pdf

BILLD: Championing Subcontractors: https://billd.com

A step-by-step walkthrough on how to calculate the cost of working capital for your next project and a process to evaluate the best working capital solutions for your business. This video is designed for subcontracting executives and construction CFOs at any level, whether you’re ready to dive into accounting for the cost of capital now or are looking to refine your approach.