Markup vs Margin
They're not the same number — and pricing as if they are is how a '30% job' comes back as 23%.
Labor Burden ExplainedThe wage you pay is not what an hour of labor costs you — and the gap is where margin leaks.
Overhead RecoveryRent, trucks, insurance, software, and your office time don't bill to any one job — so every job has to carry a slice.
Change-Order ManagementThe single biggest margin leak in residential work is added work that never gets priced or signed.
How to Read a Bid Spec Without Missing the MoneyThe scope, exclusions, and fine print decide whether your bid is profitable or a trap.
A Proposal Structure That Wins Without DiscountingBuyers compare on price when nothing else tells them how to compare. Structure gives them a better axis.
Scope-Creep DefenseScope creep is the slow version of underpricing — a dozen small 'while you're here' favors that add up to a lost margin.
Deposits and Progress PaymentsYour money shouldn't be tied up in someone else's materials. A payment schedule keeps cash flowing and risk balanced.
Estimating Job CostsA good estimate is a built-up number, not a gut feel — and the build-up is what you defend when a client pushes back.
Contractor Cash-Flow BasicsPlenty of busy contractors are profitable and still cash-strapped. Margin and cash flow are different problems.
Stop pricing from memory
The Contractor Authority System™ turns this into a repeatable process — burdened labor & overhead, change-order protection, and client-ready proposals. One-time $97.