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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

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

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