Contractor Success Forum

By Contractor Success Forum

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Episodes: 270

Description

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. 


Episode Date
Hidden Insurance Gaps: What Contractors Need to Know!
May 19, 2026
How to Supercharge Your Construction Business with AI (Game-Changing Tips!)
May 11, 2026
The Subscription Trap: How AI Can Set Your Business Free
May 05, 2026
The Five Numbers Contractors Get Wrong (+ Free Tools to Fix Them)
Apr 28, 2026
Funds Control: Is This The Key to Bigger Jobs?
Apr 21, 2026
Top 4 Mistakes That Bankrupt Contractors (Avoid Them!)
Apr 14, 2026
The Cash Flow MRI: Diagnose & Cure Your Contractor Cash Problems
Apr 07, 2026
5 Years of Contractor Success: Lessons from the Forum's Founders [BONUS Episode!]
Apr 01, 2026
4 Ways to Grow Your Construction Company (That Actually Work!)
Mar 31, 2026
The True Cost of 'Writing It Off': Avoid a Construction Cash Flow Spiral!
Mar 24, 2026
The Write-Off Trap: How Misguided Tax Advice Can Ruin Contractors
Mar 17, 2026
Contractor Insurance Secrets: How to Cut Costs in 2026
Mar 10, 2026
Why Your Bids Miss the Mark: Markup vs. Margin Secrets
Mar 03, 2026
The Data Center Boom: Contractor Secrets to Navigating New Risks & Rewards
Feb 24, 2026
From Confusion to Clarity: Unlocking the Power of WIP Reports
Feb 17, 2026
Why Bigger Isn't Always Better: The Truth About Job Margins
Feb 10, 2026
Contractor Wake-Up Call: What's Draining Your Revenue?
Feb 03, 2026
The Secret to Contractor Success: The Simple Math That Boosts Your Bottom Line
Jan 27, 2026
Simple Math, Huge Results: What's Your Profit Improvement Potential?
Jan 20, 2026
Backlog Doesn't Equal Growth: What Contractors Get Wrong About Risk Management
Jan 13, 2026
Why Most Construction M&A Deals Fail: Avoid These Common Pitfalls
Jan 06, 2026
The Surprising Secret to Scaling Your Construction Business
Dec 30, 2025
From Stuck to Scaling: Which 10 Founder Habits Are Killing Your Profits?
Dec 23, 2025
From Grit to Growth: How to Scale Your Construction Biz Without the Chaos
Dec 16, 2025
The Secret to Winning More Construction Work in 2026
Dec 09, 2025
Why Your Construction Business Isn't Making Money: Avoid These Pitfalls!
Dec 02, 2025
Survive the Slow Season: Winter Cash Flow Tips for Contractors
Nov 25, 2025
AI Can't Fix Chaos: Cut Through the Noise with These Tips
Nov 18, 2025
Private Equity's Secret Playbook: Building & Buying Construction Firms
Nov 11, 2025
When Bids Go Bad: Contractor Horror Stories
Nov 04, 2025
Avoid These Tax Traps! Year-End Planning Guide for Construction Contractors
Oct 28, 2025
The Ultimate Tech Stack for Construction Contractors
Oct 21, 2025
How Job Site Culture Can Build or Break Your Business
Oct 14, 2025
From Failed Hires to Profit Gains: The Contractor's Guide to HR ROI
Oct 07, 2025
Don't Crash Your Construction Business: Use FP&A to Navigate
Sep 30, 2025
Mastering Change Orders: Profit Boost or Project Killer?
Sep 23, 2025
Why Your Construction Software Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
Sep 16, 2025
Are You Running a Business or a Charity? Truths About Paying Yourself
Sep 09, 2025
From Chaos to Clarity: Mastering Your Chart of Accounts Like a Pro
Sep 02, 2025
Profit Killers: 10 Ways Waste is Hurting Your Bottom Line
Aug 26, 2025
How AI Could Transform Construction Forever (Pros and Cons Inside)
Aug 19, 2025
How to Manage Materials & Supplies Risks and Protect Your Profit
Aug 12, 2025
10 Guaranteed Ways to Go BROKE as a Contractor in 2025 (Don't Do This!)
Aug 05, 2025
How Surety Companies Really Analyze Your Construction Financials
Jul 29, 2025
Where the Money’s Going: Top Construction Growth Sectors for 2025
Jul 22, 2025
Revolutionizing Construction: How AI is Transforming Job Sites
Jul 15, 2025
Building Profits: Protect Your Construction Rights with SunRay's Ariela Wagner
Jul 08, 2025
Is Federal Contracting Right for You? Takeaways from the Fed Con Convention
Jul 01, 2025
From Debt to Profit: A Success Story for Contractors
Jun 24, 2025
Spotting Trouble Early: The Contractor's Risk Management Scale
Jun 17, 2025
Dispelling Profit Myths: A Contractor's Guide
Jun 10, 2025
How to Protect Your Construction Company From Costly Design Mistakes
Jun 03, 2025
Contractor Cash Flow Revolution: The Launch of Profit First for Commercial Construction
May 26, 2025
Do Niches Bring Riches? Strategic Insights for Contractors
May 20, 2025
Are you the one holding back your construction company?
May 13, 2025
The Profit Paradox: Why Growing Your Construction Business Can Hurt Your Bottom Line
May 06, 2025
Contractor Cash Flow: How to Stop the Feast or Famine Cycle
Apr 29, 2025
Bigger Projects, More Savings: How to Strengthen Your Bonding Relationships
Apr 22, 2025
How to Turn the New Tariffs Into Opportunities: A Contractor's Guide
Apr 15, 2025
It's Time to Break Your Equipment Addiction
Apr 08, 2025
How to Build Your Construction Accounting Dream Team
Apr 01, 2025
From Instinct to Strategy: Transform Your Company with the Business Model Canvas
Mar 25, 2025
The ROI of Construction Tech: Is It Worth the Investment?
Mar 18, 2025
Unlocking Contractor Success with Mastermind Groups Featuring Karyn Greenstreet
Mar 10, 2025
Are tech missteps costing your construction company millions?
Mar 04, 2025
How one contractor's cash flow wake-up call changed everything
Feb 25, 2025
The Future of Construction: How Tech is Changing the Industry
Feb 18, 2025
Working Capital Strategies That ACTUALLY Work
Feb 11, 2025
How to gain a competitive edge using AI assistants
Feb 04, 2025
Real Strategies to Maximize Workforce Potential
Jan 28, 2025
Mastering Construction: Financial Health Check
Jan 21, 2025
Maximizing Profit Margins through Client Collaboration in Construction
Jan 14, 2025
Productivity hacks for contractors to work smarter, not harder in 2025
Jan 07, 2025
A Year of Contractor Success: Your 5 Favorite Episodes From 2024
Dec 31, 2024
Bonding Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them – Real Case Studies
Dec 24, 2024
How to Build a Disaster-Proof Business [Learn from Waffle House]
Dec 17, 2024
How to STOP Struggling with Cash Flow and Keep More of What You Earn [Profit First for Commercial Construction]
Dec 10, 2024
[Ask a Bond Agent] Avoid These Bonding Pitfalls
Dec 03, 2024
How to Scale Your Construction Company (WITHOUT more work!)
Nov 26, 2024
[CASE STUDIES] Bond Approval Secrets Revealed
Nov 19, 2024
How to Know What to Fix Next in your Business with Ross Loveland
Nov 12, 2024
Unconventional marketing strategies to make your company stand out
Nov 05, 2024
Insurance Made Easy: Navigate Your Job's Coverage Needs
Oct 29, 2024
How Construction Business Owners Should Pay Themselves
Oct 22, 2024
Strategery 101: Strategic Planning for Contractors
Oct 15, 2024
Trump vs. Harris: How their Tax Plans May Affect Contractors
Oct 08, 2024
How Your Construction Background Shapes Your Success
Oct 01, 2024
25 Secrets to Skyrocket Your Construction Business
Sep 24, 2024
Mastering the Six Hats of Construction Business Success
Sep 17, 2024
Lean Construction Secrets: Streamlining Your Projects for Success
Sep 10, 2024
AI in Construction: From Basic Tools to Advanced Automation and Beyond
Sep 03, 2024
Automating Your Construction Company with Make.com
Aug 27, 2024
How to Maximize Profit and Cash Flow in the Growth Stage
Aug 20, 2024
The Olympic Caliber Contractor: Becoming the Best of the Best
Aug 13, 2024
How to Know if You Are Marking Up Your Bids Properly
Aug 06, 2024
The 5 Stages of Growth for a Construction Company
Jul 30, 2024
Pushing Through Job Size Issues with Your Surety Company
Jul 23, 2024
How to Bid Construction Projects Profitably for Cash Flow
Jul 16, 2024
How Modern Technology Can Save Costs on the Job
Jul 09, 2024
Theft on the Job Site: Protecting Your Equipment and Materials
Jul 02, 2024
The Final 2%: Ensuring a Smooth and Successful Construction Project Closeout
Jun 25, 2024
Labor Shortages and the Construction Industry: Why Specialized Accounting Matters
Jun 18, 2024
6 Steps to Start Your Project Off on the Right Foot
Jun 11, 2024
History's Blueprints: Lessons for Modern Contractors
Jun 03, 2024
7 Secrets to Building a Successful Construction Company
May 28, 2024
Project Selection: Anatomy of a Train Wreck
May 21, 2024
Construction Marketing: Find and Attract Leads the Easy way
May 14, 2024
Signs You May Need to Upgrade Your Accounting Software
May 07, 2024
IRS Red Flags: Audit Triggers for Construction Contractors
Apr 30, 2024
The Unwilling Banker: The Hidden Cost of Retainage
Apr 23, 2024
Construction Safety & Workers Compensation Insurance Challenges and Solutions
Apr 16, 2024
The Challenges of Job Costing Labor
Apr 09, 2024
A Visual Deep Dive into Cost Coding
Apr 02, 2024
Money mindset: The psychology of profit in construction
Mar 26, 2024
How to Build a Solid Foundation for Your New Construction Company
Mar 19, 2024
How to Create a Rock Solid Bonding and Banking Relationship
Mar 12, 2024
How to Create a Construction Chart of Accounts
Mar 05, 2024
Creating a Strategic Plan for Construction Contractors
Feb 27, 2024
Maximizing Margin by Full Kitting Your Construction Projects
Feb 20, 2024
7 Ways to Stop Bleeding Profit From Your Jobs
Feb 13, 2024
Critical Considerations When Leasing or Buying Equipment
Feb 06, 2024
Life Insurance for Succession Planning
Jan 30, 2024
Unconventional Tax Wisdom for Contractors
Jan 23, 2024
Is QuickBooks Desktop for Construction Contractors Being Discontinued?
Jan 16, 2024
More unconventional wisdom in construction you probably haven't considered
Jan 09, 2024
What you need to know about construction law with Special Guest Alex Barthet
Jan 02, 2024
Unconventional Wisdom in Construction Industry Success
Dec 26, 2023
Job Cost Accounting The Right Way
Dec 19, 2023
How to Increase Your Surety Bond Credit
Dec 12, 2023
Making Contractors Irresistible to Banks and Bonding Companies
Dec 05, 2023
Creating a Job Description for a Construction Company CFO
Nov 28, 2023
Defining Real Revenue in Construction
Nov 21, 2023
Critical Things to Know About Insuring Construction Vehicles and Equipment
Nov 14, 2023
Fixing Your Construction Accounts Payable - A Case Study
Nov 07, 2023
Construction Banking Tips, Tricks, and Hacks with Special Guest Deanna Zubrickas
Oct 31, 2023
When Do You Need a Construction CFO?
Oct 24, 2023
Insurance Best Practices for New Buyers of a Construction Company
Oct 17, 2023
Buying and Selling a Business: Stock Sales vs. Asset Sales
Oct 10, 2023
What's Your Company Worth From the Buyer's Perspective
Oct 03, 2023
The Relationship Between Pricing, Overhead and Job Cost
Sep 26, 2023
The Pros and Cons of Overbilling
Sep 19, 2023
Retirement plan options for construction contractors
Sep 12, 2023
What's your company worth from a seller's perspective?
Sep 05, 2023
A case study in implementing Profit First with Eric Wilkinson
Aug 29, 2023
How to (Legally) Defer Taxes Using Your Accounting Method
Aug 22, 2023
How to deal with seasonality in construction
Aug 15, 2023
Why you should check your bank balance every day
Aug 08, 2023
Technology and AI Productivity Hacks
Aug 01, 2023
Expecting the Unexpected: Continuity Planning for Contractors
Jul 25, 2023
How fast are you making profit?
Jul 18, 2023
Contractor cash flow case studies
Jul 11, 2023
How to get paid the easy way with Alex Barthet
Jul 04, 2023
Key factors in assessing bondability
Jun 27, 2023
How to build a powerful brand for your construction company
Jun 20, 2023
The key components of a good construction financial statement
Jun 13, 2023
How to reduce injured worker claims in your construction company
Jun 06, 2023
10 Benchmarks to Drive Your Construction Dashboard
May 30, 2023
How contractors should be using ChatGPT and AI now
May 23, 2023
10 ways baseball teaches benchmarking for construction companies
May 16, 2023
8 ways contractors can drive value and prepare their company for the future
May 09, 2023
For Contractors, Profit First = People First
May 02, 2023
Cost Code Structures For Construction Companies
Apr 25, 2023
How bank feed accounting may be ruining your construction company
Apr 18, 2023
Questions to ask before starting a joint venture
Apr 11, 2023
What contractors should know about general liability and umbrella insurance policies
Apr 04, 2023
A Deep Dive into Working Capital for Contractors
Mar 28, 2023
Creating a Culture for Mental Health in Your Construction Company
Mar 21, 2023
How to get more referrals and sales using the vendor well strategy
Mar 14, 2023
How to implement processes that will get your construction business to the next level
Mar 07, 2023
Your triage checklist for a job that's losing money
Feb 28, 2023
100th Episode Celebration! How to remove obstacles to your success and level up
Feb 21, 2023
How to find the right joint venture partner
Feb 14, 2023
Workers Comp Insurance: what you need to know
Feb 07, 2023
How to avoid scope creep and change order failures
Jan 31, 2023
4 things you must get right in construction accounting
Jan 24, 2023
How to protect against project losses with Daniel Fulcher
Jan 17, 2023
Three things contractors must know to grow
Jan 10, 2023
The new 1099 tax rule contractors should know
Jan 03, 2023
4 ways to maximize the value of your construction company
Dec 27, 2022
A deep dive into construction gross margins
Dec 20, 2022
How to build your bond program
Dec 13, 2022
Practical advice for building a Cash Flow Forecast
Dec 06, 2022
Financial Statement assurance levels contractors should understand
Nov 29, 2022
A Surety Industry Update
Nov 22, 2022
Five ratios every contractor needs to know
Nov 15, 2022
Five controls to prevent fraud in construction firms
Nov 08, 2022
What you need to know about payment bond claims
Nov 01, 2022
How to secure your lien and bond claim rights with Ariela Wagner
Oct 25, 2022
Smart ways to use and manage debt
Oct 18, 2022
Common construction accounting setup mistakes
Oct 11, 2022
What cash flow, profits and valuation mean to a contractor
Oct 04, 2022
Profit First and Unexpected Expenses
Sep 27, 2022
Three contract terms to get paid faster with special guest Alex Barthet
Sep 20, 2022
Communication essentials in job costing
Sep 13, 2022
How to recession-proof your bonding program
Sep 06, 2022
Joint Checks in Construction
Aug 30, 2022
The Power of Checklists in Your Construction Business
Aug 23, 2022
Vehicles and Tax Deductibility, Pt. 2
Aug 16, 2022
What the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act means for you
Aug 09, 2022
Lease or buy? Vehicles and tax deductibility
Aug 02, 2022
Construction Lessons from the Great Recession
Jul 26, 2022
What's going on in federal contracting?
Jul 19, 2022
How to grow your company the best and smartest way
Jul 12, 2022
Throughput accounting: What traditional cost accounting systems don't tell you
Jul 05, 2022
How to select the right projects
Jun 28, 2022
Theory of Constraints - Overcoming Supply Chain Issues
Jun 21, 2022
Final planning for contractors
Jun 14, 2022
What to expect from a good construction accountant
Jun 07, 2022
The big picture: Top traits the best construction companies share
May 31, 2022
How to qualify for government set-aside contracts
May 24, 2022
The critical components of building a job cost system
May 17, 2022
Making the move from residential to commercial contracting
May 10, 2022
QuickBooks for Contractors: Desktop vs. Online
May 03, 2022
Government contracting using a mentor protege program
Apr 26, 2022
How to get into contracting for the federal government
Apr 19, 2022
Five ways for road contractors to be more profitable during COVID
Apr 12, 2022
The 7 Drivers of Cash Flow in Your Construction Company
Apr 05, 2022
Six Ways to Improve the ROI of Your Construction Company
Mar 29, 2022
Six action items to prepare your construction company for sale
Mar 22, 2022
The WIP Report: Your Job Profit Crystal Ball
Mar 15, 2022
How a PPP loan affects your bonding capacity
Mar 08, 2022
Best practices in accounting for construction joint ventures
Mar 01, 2022
Practical advice for one-owner construction firms
Feb 22, 2022
Surety Bonding: Understanding the Basics
Feb 15, 2022
Manage and overcome supply chain issues
Feb 08, 2022
Five things contractors need to know about taxes
Feb 01, 2022
How to find your sweet spot - and the jobs that hit it
Jan 25, 2022
The benefits of outsourcing for contractors
Jan 18, 2022
Start the new year off strong with Profit First
Jan 11, 2022
How to keep your cash flowing from project to project
Jan 04, 2022
What you need to know about Prevailing Wage Jobs with Jason Sperfslage
Dec 28, 2021
Find your business's sweet spot with Donna Leyens
Dec 21, 2021
Why you should work with a construction-oriented CPA
Dec 14, 2021
Strategies to reduce overhead in your construction business
Dec 07, 2021
You Implemented Profit First...What's Next?
Nov 30, 2021
How to avoid surprises on your insurance renewals
Nov 23, 2021
What you Need to Know About Surety Bond Underwriting
Nov 16, 2021
ESOPs in the Construction Industry with Kelly Finnell
Nov 09, 2021
How is your company valued, and why should you care?
Nov 02, 2021
Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Insurance
Oct 26, 2021
Year-End Planning for Contractors
Oct 20, 2021
Getting out of the Survival Trap
Oct 12, 2021
The Impact of Profit First by the Numbers
Oct 05, 2021
The Power of Documenting Your Projects with Special Guest Chad Gill
Sep 28, 2021
Busting Common Profit First Myths, Pt. 2
Sep 21, 2021
What you should know before getting a bond
Sep 14, 2021
Busting Common Profit First Myths
Sep 07, 2021
Answering contractors' questions about Profit First
Aug 31, 2021
Don't become a target: Cybersecurity tips from IT expert Morrelle McCrary
Aug 24, 2021
Protect your construction company against cybercrime and employee fraud
Aug 17, 2021
Surviving Seasonality and Uncertainty in Construction
Aug 10, 2021
Choosing the structure of your construction company
Aug 03, 2021
Build your job files for protection and profitability
Jul 27, 2021
Use your financials to make sound business decisions with Martin Holland
Jul 20, 2021
How to structure Profit First for your industry with Billie Anne Grigg
Jul 14, 2021
Cash Flow Tips for Contractors
Jul 06, 2021
Habits for Profitability with Michelle Scribner
Jun 30, 2021
Finding Profitable Projects
Jun 22, 2021
Contract Provisions that Affect Cash Flow
Jun 15, 2021
Using Profit First to Build a Healthy Company
Jun 08, 2021
Mike Michalowicz on Why Contractors Should Use the Profit First Method
Jun 01, 2021
Why Character is Important for Getting Bonds
May 25, 2021
How to maximize your bonding capacity
May 18, 2021
Creating Permanent Profitability with Ron Saharyan, Profit First CEO
May 12, 2021
Why Contractors Fail Pt. 2: Management
May 04, 2021
The key financial ratios that impact your bond ratings
Apr 27, 2021
Why Contractors Fail Pt. 1: Accounting
Apr 20, 2021
Job Costing for Contractors
Apr 14, 2021
Joint Ventures in Construction: Why consider it?
Apr 06, 2021
Why Contractors Should Implement Profit First in their Business
Apr 01, 2021