Contractor Cuts

Hosted by ProStruct360

Business Management

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Episodes

190

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Join the ProStruct360 team on the Contractor Cuts podcast as we delve into the ins and outs of building and sustaining a thriving contracting business. Gain valuable insights and actionable tips from our experts who have successfully grown their own contracting company from the ground up. Our show is dedicated to helping contractors like you unlock the secrets to increased profitability, efficient organization, and seamless processes within your company. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, our episodes cover key topics essential for your business growth and long-term success. Make the most of your time between job sites by tuning in to our podcast and learn firsthand how to navigate the challenges of the contracting industry. Get ready to transform your business with valuable information that can potentially change the trajectory of your success. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain the knowledge and strategies you need to take your contracting business to new heights. Subscribe to Contractor Cuts today and empower yourself with the tools and insights to thrive in the industry.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 202644 min

How to Turn Your Subs Into Real Partners (Not Just Vendors)

Most contractors treat their subs like an Uber driver — squeeze them, burn them, replace them. And then they wonder why their best crews stop picking up the phone.In this episode of Contractor Cuts, Clark and James break down how to build sub relationships that actually last — the kind that make your crews choose you over everyone else, refer other good trades your way, and deliver the product your reputation is built on.They cover:Why your subs are choosing you every time they answer the phoneHow to plan weeks ahead so crews can build their calendar around youCoaching subs on cleanliness and efficiency without micromanaging themWhat to do when a great crew outgrows your jobsThe 4-step loyalty loop that keeps your best subs coming backWhy you should always be talking to one new crew a weekHow to test new crews without risking a client relationshipBuilding pricing templates per crew so estimates take minutes, not hoursThe direct conversation that saves a cold sub relationship 90% of the timeWhy the way you run subs has to change before you hire your first project managerIf your business depends on a couple of crews you can't afford to lose, this is the episode that builds you a real bench.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com

June 8, 202643 min

How to Stop Losing Money on Jobs (Part 2)

Last week we showed you why you keep losing money on every job. This week, we show you how to stop it.In part 2 of this two-part series, Clark and James get fully practical — five systems, real language, and the exact processes they use to protect every dollar on every job. No theory, no fluff. Just the playbook.They cover:Fix #1: How to turn your estimate into a scope fence with exclusions, not just inclusionsThe line every estimate needs: "This does not include…"Fix #2: How the CEA sets the culture on day one and trains your client before a hammer swingsWhy telling your client to "be a Karen" with your scope is the smartest move you can makeFix #3: The work order rule that protects you from disappearing change ordersWhy charging for change orders isn't greedy — it's accounting for the real costFix #4: How to hold the line on a change order without losing the clientThe silent death of clients who love you but never refer youFix #5: The bank line item — Clark loves it, James doesn't, and you get both argumentsIf part 1 made you realize how much you're losing, part 2 is how you stop the bleeding.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com

June 1, 202640 min

The Hidden Reason Contractors Lose Money on Every Job (Part 1)

You finish the job, look at the numbers, and somehow you're $3,000 short of where you thought you'd be. Again.That's scope creep — and it's the biggest hole in most contractors' buckets. In part 1 of this two-part series, Clark and James break down why it keeps happening, the four different ways it sneaks in, and why "I'll just eat it" is quietly killing your margins, your timelines, and your relationships with your crews.They cover:The "while you're here" trap that turns into hundreds of unbilled hoursWhy fear of conflict trains your clients to expect freebiesThe four types of scope creep — and why most contractors don't even see them happeningThe assumption game between you and the client that always costs you moneyWhy gray-area scope language is your biggest enemy on every estimateHow client-driven creep builds resentment that explodes mid-projectThe real triple cost of every freebie — money, timeline, and your subsThe one habit you can start using today to flip the dynamic completelyIf you've ever ended a job feeling like you got nickel-and-dimed by your own scope, this is the episode that opens your eyes.Part 2 drops next week — full systems, CEA language, change order culture, and the bank line item that protects every dollar.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com

May 25, 202629 min

The 4 Habits Behind Every "Lucky" Contractor

Every contractor knows that guy. The one who always seems to land the good jobs, find the right crews, and dodge the disasters. He's "just lucky" — except he's not.In this episode of Contractor Cuts, Clark and James break down a 10-year study on what actually separates lucky people from unlucky ones — and the 4 habits every "lucky" contractor has in common.They cover:The newspaper experiment that proves luck isn't random — it's focusHabit #1: Why the guy who hunts down crews at Home Depot always ends up with better laborThe networking moves contractors think are silly but quietly fill their pipelineHabit #2: How to tell the difference between trusting your gut and rationalizing lazinessHabit #3: Why expecting good fortune is the opposite of woo-woo manifestationHabit #4: How the unluckiest contractors keep repeating the same mistakes — and how to break the cycleThe real story of a $400K estimate they were happy to loseIf you've ever felt like the industry is working against you, this is the mindset shift that flips it.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com

May 18, 202652 min

The Sales Process That Wins Contractors More Jobs (Part 2)

Description: The site visit isn't a measuring trip — it's a date. And how you run it determines whether you get the signature or get ghosted.In part 2 of this two-part series, Clark and James pick up right where part 1 left off and walk through everything from the on-site estimate to landing the signed contract. This is where the real money is made — or quietly lost.They cover:How to run a site visit so the client sees you as a guide, not a note-takerThe "have you considered" questions that build instant trust and unlock bigger budgetsHow to read a client's level of pickiness before you bid the jobThe smart way to talk through finish levels (drywall, trim, fixtures) so clients self-select their price tierWhy your line items need to speak to three audiences — the client, the crew, and future-youThe 48-hour window after the site visit where most contractors lose the emotional momentumHow to talk about price without apologizing or negotiating against yourselfWhen and how to pitch the CEA — the "meet the parents" moment of your sales processThe follow-up plays that keep you in the game between presentation and signatureWhy a CEA you can't deliver on is worse than no CEA at allIf you've been stuck losing jobs to cheaper bids or watching estimates go cold — this is the playbook that flips it.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com

May 11, 20261 hr 0 min

The Sales Process That Wins Contractors More Jobs (Part 1)

Most contractors lose jobs before they ever walk on site — and they don't even realize it.In part 1 of this two-part series, Clark and James break down the front half of the sales process: from the first call to the desk estimate review. This is where you either build a relationship that lands the job or get treated like every other contractor sending out bids.They cover:Why you're not selling a kitchen — you're selling the experienceHow to flip a transactional client into a real conversation in the first 60 secondsThe "guide vs. transaction" mindset that separates pros from everyone elseHow to build a desk estimate that actually moves the sale forwardWhy the pre-construction line item makes you more money and earns more trustHow to align the client's budget and expectations with them, not at themWhy texting numbers and details is killing your close rateThe early seeds of the CEA that you should be planting from day oneWhere contractors lose the job between first contact and site visit — without even knowing itIf you've ever felt like you're just one of three bids on a spreadsheet, this is the episode that changes the game.Part 2 drops next week — we talk on site, revise the estimate, and walk through how to land the signature.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com

May 4, 202626 min

How to Close Out a Job and Turn It Into Your Next One

Most contractors breathe a sigh of relief when a job wraps up and move on. The ones who are actually growing? They treat the finish line like a launch pad.In this episode of Contractor Cuts, Clark and James break down exactly how to close out a job the right way — and how to use it to fuel reviews, referrals, and future work.They cover:Why the punch list ruins so many job closings — and how to lead it like a proThe simple trick that takes the negotiating power out of your client's final paymentWhy professional photos on every sizable job are worth every pennyHow to ask for Google reviews in a way that actually gets themThe direct review link hack that removes all friction and gets more five starsWhy a thoughtful gift beats a gift card every single timeHow to turn one renovation into a photo book that markets your company for yearsIf you're leaving money, reviews, and referrals on the table at the end of every job — this is the episode that fixes it.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com

April 27, 202635 min

What Most Contractors Skip in Pre-Construction (And What It Costs Them)

The pre-construction phase doesn't feel urgent — and that's exactly why it wrecks so many jobs.In this episode of Contractor Cuts, Clark and James break down the most important things contractors miss before a job starts, and why skipping them is quietly costing you money, reviews, and client trust.They get into:Why every job — even a $5,000 one — needs a pre-construction phaseHow to build a Gantt chart that protects your profit and sets client expectationsWhy locking in selections before demo day prevents the change orders clients hateWalking every crew through the job before a single hammer swingsThe 50-point job site checklist that eliminates day-one chaosWhy you set the start date — not your clientThe estimate mistakes hiding in plain sight that quietly drain your marginIf you've ever had a job go sideways before it even really started, this episode is the fix.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com

April 20, 202633 min

What to Do When Your Contracting Business Goes Underwater

Every contractor hits a season where the wheels come off.Maybe you're so slammed you haven't returned a call in three days. Maybe the bids are going out and nothing's coming back. Either way — you're underwater, and the old habits are creeping back in.In this episode of Contractor Cuts, Clark Turner and James McConnell break down the two sides of backsliding that every general contractor, remodeler, and home builder faces — and exactly what to do when it happens:Why being buried in work is just as dangerous as having noneHow to triage a flooded estimate list without burning your best leadsWhy bad crews feel like a shortcut but always cost you moreThe client communication habits that protect your reputation when things get hecticHow to re-engage cold estimates when construction work slows downThe 3 things every contractor needs to do to stop backsliding for goodIf your contracting business feels like it has a great month followed by a disaster — you're not alone, and there's a way out.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com

April 13, 202648 min

Breaking Down the Hidden Ceiling Killing Contractor Growth

In this episode of Contractor Cuts, Clark and Grant break down the three hidden ceilings that stop contractors from growing — and exactly how to break through each one.Whether you're:still swinging a hammerstuck in the “hybrid GC” phaseor running everything but can’t scale past it…this episode will show you what’s really holding you back.They cover:why most contractors are underpricing their work from day onethe dangerous middle stage where you can’t let go of the toolshow to stop “grabbing labor” and start buying your time backwhy 90% of contractors never break $2M in revenuehow being the bottleneck quietly kills your company’s growththe simple shift from reactive → proactive that unlocks scaleIf you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or like your business depends entirely on you… this is the episode you need.If you're doing $350K–$2M a year in revenue, coaching pays for itself. A 5% efficiency gain alone covers the cost — and that's before we even talk about growth. We help contractors stop losing money on crews, change orders, and inefficient operations — and start scaling. Ready to have the conversation? Set up a free call at contractorcuts.comContractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.🔗 Book a free call: contractorcuts.com 🔗 ProStruct360 software + coaching: prostruct360.com