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Contractor Success Forum

Contractor Success Forum

By: Contractor Success Forum
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Tips and advice to run a successful construction business from two long-term industry professionals: Wade Carpenter, a construction CPA, and Stephen Brown, a construction bond agent. Each host has unique, but complementary views and advice from each of their 30+ years in the contracting industry. Their goal is to promote healthy, thought-provoking discussions and tips for running a better, more profitable, and successful company. Subscribe for new insights and discussion every week. Visit ContractorSuccessForum.com to view all episodes and find out more.

© 2026 Contractor Success Forum
Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Why Your Favorite Project Manager Might Be Losing You Money!
    Jun 30 2026

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    🔗 LINKS

    Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show.

    Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI

    Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW!

    Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live.

    ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE

    Your most beloved project manager might be your biggest profit leak.

    In this episode, Wade Carpenter and Stephen Brown break down how relationship-driven PMs silently give away margin through scope creep, unwritten change orders, and being too nice to push back.

    You'll learn what to measure, what systems to put in place, and how to reward your PMs for protecting your bottom line, not just keeping clients happy.

    ⌚️ Key moments in this episode:

    • 00:00 PMs Clients Love
    • 01:22 Nice Guy Margin Leak
    • 02:18 Stop Free Favors
    • 04:10 When Trust Goes Wrong
    • 05:33 Measure Profitability
    • 07:53 Systems That Stick
    • 09:56 Make Change Orders Easy
    • 12:03 True Cost Reality
    • 13:08 KPIs By Project Manager
    • 14:41 Practical Fix Checklist
    • 17:23 Wrap Up And Next Steps

    The Contractor Profit Blueprint is a complete guide that breaks down exactly how to identify where your money's going and start keeping more of it. This isn't theory. It's the same framework I use with contractors I work with every single day.

    Head to profitfirstconstruction.com/blueprint to download your free copy.

    Stop working for free. Let's get you keeping what you've earned.

    Join the Profit First for Construction community!

    Find all episodes and related links at ContractorSuccessForum.com.

    Join the conversation on our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/CarpenterCPAs

    FIND US ONLINE
    Wade Carpenter, CPA, CGMA | CarpenterCPAs.com
    Stephen Brown, Bonding Expert | SuretyAnswers.com

    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • Unlocking Contractor Wealth: Employee Ownership Trusts Explained
    Jun 23 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    🔗 LINKS

    Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show.

    Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI

    Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW!

    Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live.

    ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE

    After 30 years building your company, do you know how you'll exit? In this episode, Wade Carpenter and Stephen Brown break down Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) — a lesser-known but powerful exit strategy for contractors.

    You'll learn how EOTs compare to ESOPs, what they mean for your cash flow, bonding capacity, and taxes, and why your employees might be your best buyers. If you haven't planned your exit yet, this episode will get you thinking.

    ⌚️ Key moments in this episode:

    • 00:00 Succession Dilemma
    • 00:31 EOT Explained
    • 01:34 Why Owners Consider It
    • 02:10 EOT vs ESOP Payouts
    • 03:19 Size Fit and Complexity
    • 03:40 Origins and Regulation
    • 04:47 Owner Benefits and Legacy
    • 06:29 Funding the Buyout
    • 08:25 Bonding Company View
    • 10:02 Tax and S Corp Issues
    • 11:25 How the Money Flows
    • 15:24 Advisors and Planning Team
    • 19:18 Other Exit Options
    • 20:36 Employees Are the Value
    • 22:20 Wrap Up and Call to Action

    The Contractor Profit Blueprint is a complete guide that breaks down exactly how to identify where your money's going and start keeping more of it. This isn't theory. It's the same framework I use with contractors I work with every single day.

    Head to profitfirstconstruction.com/blueprint to download your free copy.

    Stop working for free. Let's get you keeping what you've earned.

    Join the Profit First for Construction community!

    Find all episodes and related links at ContractorSuccessForum.com.

    Join the conversation on our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/CarpenterCPAs

    FIND US ONLINE
    Wade Carpenter, CPA, CGMA | CarpenterCPAs.com
    Stephen Brown, Bonding Expert | SuretyAnswers.com

    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Why Successful Contractors Say No More Often
    Jun 16 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    🔗 LINKS

    Visit the episode page for more details and a transcript of the show.

    Sign up for group coaching to get your Cash Flow MRI

    Get Profit First for Commercial Construction--OUT NOW!

    Subscribe to get notified as soon as new episodes go live.

    ℹ ABOUT THIS EPISODE

    Discover why the most profitable contractors don't chase every job opportunity.

    Wade Carpenter and Stephen Brown reveal the difference between reactive and strategic "no's" - and how saying no protects your margins, prevents cash flow problems, and builds long-term profitability.

    Learn to identify red flags, create strategic filters for job selection, and break free from the feast-or-famine cycle that traps many contractors.

    ⌚️ Key moments in this episode:

    • 00:00 Buffet Bidding Trap
    • 00:31 Big Job Reality Check
    • 01:40 Revenue Isn’t Progress
    • 04:26 Opportunity Cost of Yes
    • 05:16 Reactive vs Strategic No
    • 09:23 Red Rope Policy
    • 09:47 Patterns of Bad Projects
    • 11:56 Fear Driven Bidding
    • 13:28 Numbers Create Confidence
    • 15:00 Build Your Bid Filter
    • 17:34 Backlog Quality Check
    • 18:12 Final Gut Check
    • 18:44 Wrap Up and Subscribe

    The Contractor Profit Blueprint is a complete guide that breaks down exactly how to identify where your money's going and start keeping more of it. This isn't theory. It's the same framework I use with contractors I work with every single day.

    Head to profitfirstconstruction.com/blueprint to download your free copy.

    Stop working for free. Let's get you keeping what you've earned.

    Join the Profit First for Construction community!

    Find all episodes and related links at ContractorSuccessForum.com.

    Join the conversation on our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/CarpenterCPAs

    FIND US ONLINE
    Wade Carpenter, CPA, CGMA | CarpenterCPAs.com
    Stephen Brown, Bonding Expert | SuretyAnswers.com

    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
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