The ProfitDig Blog

Insights, strategies, and news for the modern contractor.

Career

Why Your Best Guys Keep Leaving (and What to Do About It)

You finally find that one guy who can do it all. Shows up on time. Gets along with everyone. Knows his trade inside and out. Then one day, he quits. What happened? You paid him fair. You thought he was happy. But he’s gone and you’re left scrambling to fill the gap. If that story […]

October 16, 2025
Management

5 Red Flags That Your Crew Is Costing You Money

If your profit keeps disappearing even when you bid the job right, the problem might not be your numbers. It might be your crew. Labor is one of the biggest expenses on any construction job, and even small inefficiencies add up fast. The problem is, most contractors are too busy putting out fires to notice […]

October 14, 2025
Is the job worth bidding on?
Job Bidding

How to Know If a Job is Worth Bidding On

If you are like most contractors, you have been told to bid on everything. The idea is that the more jobs you chase, the more jobs you will win. But the truth is different. Not every job is worth bidding on. In fact, some jobs will waste your time and cost you money. The first […]

October 10, 2025
Cheap bids
Job Bidding

Why Cheap Bids Cost You More in the End

Every contractor wants to win jobs. The competition is tough, and it is tempting to come in with the lowest number just to land the work. On the surface, this looks like a smart move. The client picks you, you get the job, and your crew stays busy. But here is the truth. Cheap bids […]

October 8, 2025
True equipment costs
Equipiment

Estimating Equipment Costs: Do Not Forget These Hidden Numbers

Equipment is one of the biggest costs in construction. But many small contractors forget to count all the hidden numbers. When that happens, the job that looked profitable ends up losing money. The first hidden cost is fuel. Machines do not run for free. If you are running a dozer, an excavator, or even a […]

October 6, 2025
Professional bids
Job Bidding

What Your Bid Says About You (and How to Make It Look Professional)

A bid is not just a price. It is a message about your business. When a client looks at your bid, they are asking themselves a simple question. Can I trust this contractor? Many small contractors put together bids in a rush. Maybe it is a few numbers on a sheet of paper. Maybe it […]

October 3, 2025
Hiring tips
Career

Your First Employee: What to Know Before You Hire

Hiring your first employee is a big step. It feels like proof that your business is growing. But it also comes with risks. If you are not careful, you can lose money fast. Let’s go through the key things you need to think about before you bring someone onto the payroll. First, know the real […]

October 1, 2025
Math mistakes
Job Bidding

The 5-Minute Math Mistake That Can Sink a Job

Ever bid a job in a hurry? You grab your calculator, punch in some numbers, scribble a few totals, and boom – you’ve got a price. Five minutes later, you’re on to the next thing. The problem is, one tiny math mistake in that quick calculation can cost you thousands of dollars. Contractors lose money […]

September 26, 2025
Stop bidding on napkinss
Career

Why Your “Back of the Napkin” Bids Are Costing You Money

Ever finish a bid on the back of a napkin at lunch? A couple of quick numbers, add a little padding, and boom – you’ve got a “bid.” It feels fast. It feels easy. It also feels like you’re working for free half the time. Here’s why those back-of-the-napkin bids are costing you money: 1. […]

September 24, 2025
WTF is an RFI?
Job Bidding

WTH is an RFI? (And Other Letters That Matter)

If you’ve been in construction for more than five minutes, you’ve probably had some fancy acronym tossed your way. Someone sends you paperwork labeled “RFI,” or an owner asks for an “RFP,” and you’re left scratching your head wondering what alphabet soup has to do with pouring concrete. Don’t worry. You’re not alone. A lot […]

September 8, 2025
1234...39

Get construction tips delivered to your inbox.

Join 5,000+ contractors getting our weekly digest on bidding strategies and industry trends.

Loading form...