The ProfitDig Blog
Insights, strategies, and news for the modern contractor.
How to Say No to a Job That’s Not Worth It
Every contractor’s been there. The job looks easy enough, the client seems decent, and you think, “What the heck, I’ll take it.” Fast forward two weeks, and now you’re losing money, dealing with headaches, and wondering why you didn’t trust your gut. The truth is, not every job is a good job. Some just aren’t […]
Don’t Let Scope Creep Eat Your Profits
If you’ve been in the construction game for more than a hot minute, you’ve probably run into the dreaded beast known as scope creep. It starts out innocent enough — “Hey, while you’re here, can you just…” — and before you know it, you’ve sunk another day or two into work you never bid for. […]
Keep the Checks Coming: How to Avoid Cash Flow Crashes This Summer
Summer’s a great time to make money — longer days, dry weather, more jobs. But for too many contractors, it’s also when cash flow goes sideways. One week you’re flush. The next, you’re begging the lumber yard to hold your tab a few more days. Let’s fix that. 1. Bill Like Your Life Depends on […]
Keep the Checks Coming: How to Avoid Cash Flow Crashes This Summer
Summer’s a great time to make money — longer days, dry weather, more jobs. But for too many contractors, it’s also when cash flow goes sideways. One week you’re flush. The next, you’re begging the lumber yard to hold your tab a few more days. Let’s fix that. 1. Bill Like Your Life Depends on […]
Why Small Contractors Might Actually Have the Upper Hand in a Down Economy
When the economy gets weird — like it is now with high prices, unpredictable tariffs, and folks tightening their belts — it’s easy to assume that the big guys will weather the storm better than the little guys. But that ain’t always true. In fact, if you run a small construction outfit, this might actually […]
Navigating Price Fluctuations in Construction Materials
If you’ve been in construction for more than five minutes, you know material prices are anything but predictable. One month you’re pricing out a job based on what seems like solid numbers, and the next month you’re watching the cost of lumber or PVC pipe jump 25%—with no warning. It’s enough to make a contractor […]
How to Get Your First Construction Jobs (Without Getting in Over Your Head)
Starting your own construction business can be exciting—but also a little overwhelming. One of the most common questions we get from new contractors is: How do I get that first GC or architect to take a chance on me? We recently tackled this question on an episode of ProfitDig Live, and what came out of […]
How to Get Experience in Construction or Engineering When You Don’t Have Any
How to Get Experience in Construction or Engineering When You Don’t Have Any Trying to break into construction or engineering without any experience can feel like a Catch-22. You need experience to get hired—but how do you get experience without being hired first? In this episode of ProfitDig Live, we tackle a great question from […]
Getting Your First Construction Job as a Sub: Real Tips That Actually Work
Getting Your First Construction Job as a Sub: Real Tips That Actually Work If you’re just starting out as a subcontractor, one of the biggest challenges is landing that first gig. You don’t have a long list of references, you’re still building your crew, and you’re trying to figure out where to even start. Well, […]
How to Lead a Construction Crew When You’re the Youngest on the Site
How to Lead a Construction Crew When You’re the Youngest on the Site You’ve been promoted to foreman. You’re pumped—until you realize every single guy on your crew has more years in the field than you have on Earth. Now what? That’s the exact spot ProfitDig’s Jeff Spencer found himself in when he got the […]