Explainer
Margin vs markup
Adding 20% to cost does not give you a 20% margin, and the gap costs you on every job. Price from the margin you need and keep the profit you planned.
Finance and margin
Most of the margin on a job is won or lost before the slab goes down. These guides cover what you charge, how you estimate it, and how you keep the cash coming in while the job runs.
5 guides so far, across 10 subjects
Margin and profit targets
Top 10
Top 10 ways to improve your margin
Your margin is decided before the slab goes down. Ten proven ways to win more of it back, starting with your very next quote.
Cash flow management
How-to guide
How to build a 13 week cash flow forecast
A profitable job can still empty your bank account. See every cash gap 13 weeks out and close it long before it turns into a missed payroll.
Job costing and WIP
Explainer
WIP reporting explained
Your accountant says you made money, yet you still can't say which jobs did. A WIP report shows the real profit on every job while there is time to act.
Estimating method
Mistakes to avoid
Estimating mistakes that eat your margin
Most margin is lost at the estimating desk, long before anyone sees it on site. Fix seven habits and price jobs that actually make you money.
Coming to this topic
- Overheads and cost recovery
- Contingency and risk pricing
- Pricing strategy
- Estimating team and process
- Tax and financial compliance
- Insolvency and financial distress