---
title: The Design/Builder's Blog by Shawn McCadden | Margin and Markup
description: Margin and Markup | Blog for contractors, architects, design professionals and others who want to know more or share their ideas about Design/Build
---

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# The Design Builder's Blog

## [3 Financial Strategies for a More Scalable Construction Business](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/3-financial-strategies-for-a-more-scalable-construction-business)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Tue, Feb 07,2017 @ 05:00 AM

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## **3 Financial Strategies for a More Scalable Construction Business**

**![Scaling a construction company](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hard%20hat%20of%20money%20on%20plans%20with%20house-WR.jpg?width=287&name=Hard%20hat%20of%20money%20on%20plans%20with%20house-WR.jpg "Scaling a construction company")As 2017 dawns, the outlook for the construction industry is optimistic.** Despite setbacks experienced during the Great Recession, the industry is set to **[add 790,400 jobs](https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2015/article/industry-employment-and-output-projections-to-2024.htm)** over the decade of 2014 to 2024, accounting for the majority of new jobs in the goods-producing sector. Real output will grow 2.8 percent annually during this period. **In 2017, total U.S. construction starts will increase 5 percent, reaching $713 billion,** anticipates Dodge Data & Analytics.

**For contractors, this is great news, but it also presents the challenge of scaling up to meet growing demand.** Scaling up requires not only hiring more workers and buying more material, but also adjusting your financial strategy to cover your increased overhead expenses without hurting your cash flow and profits. **Here are three financial strategies for successfully scaling up in 2017.**

** **

### **Scale up Revenue while Scaling Down Costs and Expenses**

**A scalable remodeling business model is designed to allow you to increase revenue while holding both job costs and overhead expenses down.** To be scalable, your financial plan should aim for gross profit margins of 40 percent or more** (minimum of a 1.67 markup)**.

**![Scaling a remodeling company](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-515803835-jpg/images/Target-wr.jpg?width=176&name=Target-wr.jpg "Scaling a remodeling company")To achieve this level of gross profit margin, one fundamental strategy is increasing your revenue. **The key to increasing your revenue is improving your marketing and sales. One of the most efficient ways to improve your marketing is by **[improving your positioning](https://www.precisionmarketinggroup.com/blog/building-a-winning-positioning-strategy-in-residential-construction) **through a better unique selling proposition (USP): **a brief statement that summarizes what you offer customers that your competition doesn’t.**

**To refine your USP, narrow down your ideal target market.** For instance, is there a certain neighborhood or a certain type of building that would be more profitable to specialize in? Research what your target market is most seeking in a construction contractor. For example, are they price shoppers or are quality or service bigger priorities for them? **Craft your USP to emphasize what your target market most values** and make sure all your marketing material reflects your new USP.

**Along with increasing your revenue, the other half of keeping a high profit margin is keeping expenses low.** Many construction businesses fail because they can’t cover the cost of overhead. Finding ways to reduce the money you must pay for running your business is key to minimizing your expenses. Taking the time to research different organizational charts, industry best practices, project management methods, business management software and employee compensation strategies based on performance.   **Investing in these areas now can help your business reduce overhead through efficiency of operations as well as economy of scale as the business grows.**

** **

### **Maintain Efficiency through Automation**

**![3D Automation for remodelers](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hubfs/3D%20Automation-WR.jpg?width=222&name=3D%20Automation-WR.jpg "3D Automation for remodelers")Another effective strategy to lower job costs is automation.** Automation can help you lower the costs of materials by helping you plan more precisely to avoid unnecessary waste. J.E. Dunn has partnered with Autodesk and Microsoft to develop **[Lens, a cloud-based software tool](http://www.jedunn.com/blog/see-preconstruction-differently-through-our-lens) **that combines 3-D virtual modeling with instantly-calculated cost estimates for each component of your building project.

**Although not common yet in residential remodeling, another way automation can help cut materials costs and waste is by using 3-D printing.** 3-D printing allows you to select from a wider range of cost-efficient materials, while speeding up the building process. Last year, Chinese company Huashang Tengda was able to **assemble a [3-D-printed house in just 45 days](http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/worlds-first-3d-printed-house-8297190).  Remember, many said nail guns would never catch on!  
**

** **

### **Keep Costs and Expenses Down with Outsourcing**

**![Outsourcing for remodeling contractors](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gatekeeper%20on%20phone-WR.jpg?width=223&name=Gatekeeper%20on%20phone-WR.jpg "Outsourcing for remodeling contractors")Outsourcing is another proven way to cut labor costs both in the field as well as the office.** **[Many successful large companies](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/most-popular-companies-outsource-jobs-jenny-jordan)** outside our industry have used outsourcing effectively to streamline their labor expenses. For instance, Google relies heavily on revenue from pay-per-click advertisers who pay to have their results featured in search engine rankings. Maintaining its advertising revenue requires a large sales support team, which Google has outsourced. **[Amway](https://www.linkedin.com/company/amway) is another company that outsources its sales,** relying on a distributor model to promote direct sales.  **In our industry many contractors already outsource activities such as design, engineering, building permit procurement, sales, lead intake and prequalification, RRP demo, specialty trades and even general carpentry.**

As these examples illustrate, you can outsource functions that are part of your core business **if it is more efficient to delegate them to specialists than to maintain in-house talent**. For instance, there is no need to pay for the expense of in-house 3-D drafting when you can easily outsource it. With the right plan and system you can also easily **outsource routine peripheral functions such as bookkeeping and payroll.**

 

 3 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/3-financial-strategies-for-a-more-scalable-construction-business#comments-listing)

 Topics: [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Technology for Remodelers](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/technology-for-remodelers), [Success Strategies](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/success-strategies), [Cash Flow](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/cash-flow), [Marketing](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/marketing), [Guest Blogs](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/guest-blogs), [Marketing Considerations](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/marketing-considerations), [Prequalifying](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/prequalifying)

## [12 Hard Questions: Do You Own a Remodeling Business or a Job?](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/12-hard-questions-do-you-own-a-remodeling-business-or-a-job)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Fri, Dec 02,2016 @ 05:00 AM

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## **These 12 Hard Questions Can Help You Decide if You Own a Remodeling Business or a Low Paying Job**

**![Contractor or construction business owner](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15767749-jpg/images/jack_hammer_torn-wr.jpg?width=171&name=jack_hammer_torn-wr.jpg "Contractor or construction business owner")Are you pretending to be a remodeling business owner but in reality you are actually just a "job owner"?  **The questions below are tough and may make you feel real bad about yourself depending on how you answer them. But that’s not why I assembled them. Don’t kid yourself. **If you are not cut out to be a business owner recognize that reality now.** Don’t wait until you lose you all your money, your home and maybe even your family.  If being in business is not your calling keep in mind the industry is desperate for good employees.  Real remodeling business owners offer good jobs with great pay and benefits.  **Answering these questions might just be the best thing you do for yourself this year.**

** **

1. Are you one of about 85% of remodeling business owners who have **no clue regarding how to calculate your required markup **and gross profit margin (WAG)?
2. Are you one of those business owners who uses a **convoluted scheme for marking up different things at different markups **even though you have no idea whether you are buying or selling jobs (WAG)?
3. ![Remodeling Business accessment](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15767876-jpg/images/jack_is_stressed-wr.jpg?width=183&name=jack_is_stressed-wr.jpg "Remodeling Business accessment")Are you one of those business owners who **doesn't know the difference between markup and margin**, or worse you think they mean the same thing (WAG)?
4. Are you one of about 80% who **do marketing without a marketing plan?**
5. Are you one of those business owners who has **no idea whether you made or lost money until your taxes are done** in March or April by your “historian accountant” (WAG)?
6. Are you constantly getting tax filing extensions because your books are a mess and or because **you don't have the money to pay the taxes you were surprised to find out you owe (**WAG)?
7. **Is your business up to its eyeballs in debt** and you have no idea how or why you got there, or how you will ever get it paid off (WAG)?
8. Are you, or will you be, one of the 52% of Americans ages 62-65 who **have less than $25K saved for retirement?**
9. If you divided your total pay Wage plus net profits) by the number of hours you worked this past year are **some or all of your employees making more per hour than you?**
10. Are you able to still say **you’re still in business because of your wife’s job **and health care plan?
11. Do you brag that you do no marketing and totally rely on referrals but at the same time **complain about the jobs and customers you get?**
12. If you answered yes to most or all of the above **are you ready to do something about it?**

 [![download free business assessment worksheet](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/81069/11174b3b-e67d-442c-83da-5bdfa1d41480.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/81069/11174b3b-e67d-442c-83da-5bdfa1d41480)

 

 3 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/12-hard-questions-do-you-own-a-remodeling-business-or-a-job#comments-listing)

 Topics: [Business Financials](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-financials), [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Careers in Construction](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/careers-in-construction), [Retirement Planning](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/retirement-planning), [Cash Flow](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/cash-flow), [Marketing](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/marketing), [Business Considerations](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-considerations), [Taxes](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/taxes)

## [How to Raise Your Markup: The Short 7 Step No BS Answer](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/how-to-raise-your-markup-the-short-7-step-no-bs-answer)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Wed, Feb 17,2016 @ 11:21 AM

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## **How to Raise Your Markup: The Short 7 Step No BS Answer**

**![How to raise your contractor markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bull_in_the_treesWR.jpg?width=192&name=Bull_in_the_treesWR.jpg "How to raise your contractor markup")OK, I’m sick and tired of the foo-foo fluffy BS answers some magazines and bloggers put out there to answer how contractors can raise their markup.**  All the BS answers I see offered by others never call these contractors out on their ignorance. Without knowing what markup they actually need to use how would a contractor who is ***“slowly raising”*** his markup know when he has finally hit the right markup? It drives me crazy!   **If you are ready for the no BS answers read on…**

I have observed that the most common reason contractors can’t or won’t raise their markups is because they have no idea what markup they actually need to use. Yes, the hard truth is **they are ignorant to how profits are built into their pricing **and how to determine what markup they actually need to use. Due to their ignorance they have to guess and therefore **completely lack any confidence in the prices they quote to consumers.**

### **OK, no more BS. **

**If you want to make a predictable profit as a contractor here is the short and sweet no-BS plan.   **

1. **Recognize you have no clue what to charge** to be profitable and make a commitment to stop using the WAG Method (Wild Ass Guess)
2. **Learn how the financial game works** so you will know what needs to be considered and how to figure out what to charge. If you have never been able to do this on your own, **consider the definition of insanity and take a different route. **
3. **Do the work and due diligence required to calculate the markup you need to use to be profitable**, to live the life style you deserve, and to be able to retire some day (before your body gives out or you die). **Knowing this number will be business and life changing.**
4. **Accurately estimate your direct costs to build projects and then use the markup you calculated** to establish the profitable price you need to sell at.
5. **Tell prospects your price and stick to it with confidence.**
6. **If you don’t know how to sell, other than by dropping your price, get real sales training.** Remember, profits are earned during the sales process and protected during production. **If you are trying to make money in production it’s probably because you’re not a business manager, you’re a carpenter.**
7. If the people in your current market won’t pay what it takes for you to run a real business **find a new market to work in.**

**Done! No more BS. **

**![how contractors can raise their markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hubfs/Tied_up_bullWR.jpg "how contractors can raise their markup")**

**She took control of the bull.  But, will you do it?**

 

 

 9 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/how-to-raise-your-markup-the-short-7-step-no-bs-answer#comments-listing)

 Topics: [Business Financials](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-financials), [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Financial Related Topics](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/financial-related-topics), [Earning More Money](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/earning-more-money), [Keeping More Money](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/keeping-more-money)

## [Comparing Contractor Markups Can Be Pointless and Very Risky](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/comparing-contractor-markups-can-be-pointless-and-very-risky)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Sun, Jun 21,2015 @ 07:00 AM

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## **Comparing Contractor Markups Can Be Pointless and Very Risky **

![What contractor markup to use](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-381429715-jpg/images/Throw_the_dice-wr.jpg?width=123&name=Throw_the_dice-wr.jpg "What contractor markup to use")Many remodelers determine their pricing structure by copying what other businesses do rather than figure out what markup their business actually needs to use. **Comparing or copying markups or margins is pointless and very risky without knowing how they were determined.   **The decision about what costs or expenses go above or below the gross profit line can be different at different remodeling companies.   **Therefore the markup each company will need to use to cover overhead costs and planned net profit will be different.** Let me explain and clarify.

** **

### **![Sample Contractor Profit and Loss](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PL_Layout_with_the_Line-wr.jpg?width=263&name=PL_Layout_with_the_Line-wr.jpg "Sample Contractor Profit and Loss")First, here are the terms you need to know**

**Above the line =** direct project costs (materials, labor -including burdens, subs and equipment costs)

**Below the line =** overhead related expenses

**Indirect costs =** overhead expenses plus net profit added together

** **

### **Here is the simple mathematical formula for determining your markup**

The businesses’ total indirect costs divided by the expected direct costs for an anticipated volume of work **equals the required markup %** to add to estimated direct costs.

**This assumes profit is a required expense of doing business**!

** **

### **Let’s do an example: **

**The setup:  
**Assuming a remodeler is running a $900,000.00 a year business with the following above and below the line expenses:   
$300,000.00 (Of indirect cost: overhead + net profit) ÷ $600,000.00 (Of direct cost: materials, labor and subs) = 50% markup

**Proving the math works:  
**So, $600,000.00 of estimate direct job costs marked up by 50% = $900,000.00 (Provides a sell price that includes $300,000.00 of gross profit to cover the indirect costs of overhead and net profit)

**Therefore:**  
One contractor can put something like vehicle expenses or worker’s compensation insurance related to field staff above the line.   Another might put the same items below the line. **These two contractors may get to the same exact selling price but will be using different markups to get there.**

** **

### **Other important considerations to be aware of**

**![How contractors decide what markup to use](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-275732046-jpg/images/Roulette_Wheel-wr.jpg?width=122&name=Roulette_Wheel-wr.jpg "How contractors decide what markup to use")It also important to know that fewer than 20% of remodelers actually know the true costs of being in business.**  That means that 80% or more are using what has been referred to as the **WAG** or **“Wild Ass Guess” method **when it comes to deciding what markup they use to price the projects they sell. I call that **[“Contractor Roulette”](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/94671/10-Sign-s-You-re-Playing-The-Game-of-Contractor-Roulette)**

If that isn’t shocking enough for you keep in mind that **about 9 out of 10 remodelers go out of business within ten years. ** Your chances of copying a successful remodeler’s markup are therefore about one out of ten. **And the odds of copying the wrong markup get even greater** if you don't know how, or even if, that remodeler actually calculated his required markup or did the WAG.

 

### **So here’s the bottom line regarding markup**

You need to do the math or you won't know whether you are buying or selling jobs! **Your ultimate success hinges on knowing the true costs of being in business and how to profitably price the work you sell.**

 

### **![Contractor markups](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Closed_signWR.jpg?width=140&name=Closed_signWR.jpg "Contractor markups")So, what about you and your business?**

**The choice is yours.** You can get the help you need to figure out what you need to charge for your work so you can be successful. Or, **you can continue using the Wild Ass Guess Method** and go to bed every night wondering if and **when you will join the 90% who go out of business.**

 

### **Other related articles:**

**[Self Quiz To See If A Properly Setup Financial System Can Help You:](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/85077/Self-Quiz-To-See-If-A-Properly-Setup-Financial-System-Can-Help-You)**

**[10 Causes of Construction Business Owner Financial Anxiety](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/104100/10-Causes-of-Construction-Business-Owner-Financial-Anxiety)**

**[Don't Put Your Business at Risk by Guessing At What Markup to Use](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/76906/Don-t-Put-Your-Business-At-Risk-By-Guessing-At-What-Markup-To-Use)**

**[Don’t Confuse Bad Cash Flow with Under-Pricing](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/76428/Don-t-Confuse-Bad-Cash-Flow-With-Under-Pricing)**

**[The Five Biggest Financial Mistakes Contractors Make](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/88271/The-Five-Biggest-Financial-Mistakes-Contractors-Make)**

 

 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/comparing-contractor-markups-can-be-pointless-and-very-risky#comments-listing)

 Topics: [Business Financials](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-financials), [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Financial Related Topics](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/financial-related-topics)

## [Contractors, Is Your Pricing Really Fair? ](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/contractors-is-your-pricing-really-fair)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Fri, Apr 10,2015 @ 06:00 AM

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## **Contractors, Is Your Pricing Really Fair?  **

**![Fair pricing for construction services](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fair-wr.jpg?width=134&name=Fair-wr.jpg "Fair pricing for construction services")I often hear contractors say they offer fair pricing.**   When I ask them what they mean by that most really can't provide a logical answer, or their answer is subjective. It got me to thinking about what fair pricing really is.  **I came up with three considerations I think make a contractor's pricing fair** to their customers, but also to their business as well as their employees.  Let me know what you think.

 

### **#1: Your markup is established using math, not a Wild Ass Guess (WAG)**

**Your pricing will be fair if the markup your company uses to price your projects is based on a budget **that identifies your true overhead costs for running a professional operation and a respectable net profit.   I suggest if you run your business, but don't work in the field, you shoot for a salary at 10% of your produced volume as well as a 10% net profit for the risk of being in business.  **Remember, if you don't work in the field your salary is considered overhead.  **If you do work in the field be sure to split your time and related salary appropriately between direct job costs before markup for your hammer swinging activities and the balance for your time under overhead for your business management efforts.

**Your overhead will be fair if you include enough money to properly manage your business,** market to the right customers and adequately staff your office so you’re not a slave to your business.  Therefore, your price will be fair if your markup is fair. **[Click here to read an article on how to calculate your markup using simple math.](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/76906/Don-t-Put-Your-Business-At-Risk-By-Guessing-At-What-Markup-To-Use)**

 

### **#2: You pay and treat your employees as professionals**

**![Fair pay for construction workers](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15757801-jpg/images/foundation_crew-wr.jpg?width=229&name=foundation_crew-wr.jpg "Fair pay for construction workers")I would suspect most contractors work for customers who have good jobs offering decent pay for the job performed**, workers compensation coverage, benefits like vacation and holiday pay so they can enjoy life, health insurance so they can stay healthy and retirement contributions so they can save for a comfortable retirement.  **I bet if their employers took any of those things away from them “it wouldn’t be fair”.**

Therefore your pricing is fair if it includes enough money to offer those same things to you and your employees.   **Perhaps remodeling prospects who don’t think paying enough so you can offer those things aren’t being fair to you and or your employees when they hire contractors who pay their employees under the table or as 1099 subs.**

 

### **#3: When consumers buy from illegal businesses they aren’t being fair to any of us.**

**Home owners who work with illegally operating contractors aren’t being fair.**   If contractors ignore RRP requirements, that’s their choice, but it’s not fair to legal business, or to those who end up getting lead poisoning as a result.   When they buy from unlicensed contractors when licensing is required, or purposely do the work without a building permit, that’s not fair. **And when they knowingly work with contractors who operate this way, then sue them because they can, that’s not fair either.**

If you and your business comply with these things and many others such as OSHA regulations and payroll taxes at your business, and charge appropriately for them, it is my opinion that your pricing is fair.

[![Subscribe to the Design/Builders Blog](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/81069/62868785-47fb-4751-8ade-e9392edbbdd1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/81069/62868785-47fb-4751-8ade-e9392edbbdd1)

### **Are my article and my opinions fair?** 

### **![Question_of_the_day-wr](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-35697498-jpg/images/Question_of_the_day-wr.jpg?width=125&name=Question_of_the_day-wr.jpg)**

**Let me know what you think.** Did I miss some things you think should be considered regarding fair pricing?  Do you disagree with my thoughts? **If you don’t share your opinions, maybe you’re not being fair either?**

 

 

 

 13 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/contractors-is-your-pricing-really-fair#comments-listing)

 Topics: [New Business Realities](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/new-business-realities), [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Sales Considerations](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/sales-considerations), [Business Considerations](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-considerations)

## [Sales System Considerations for Remodelers Looking to Break $1Million](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/sales-system-considerations-for-remodelers-looking-to-break-1million)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Fri, Jan 23,2015 @ 06:00 AM

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## **Sales System Considerations for Remodelers Looking to Break $1Million**

**![Passing $1Million in Remodeling](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hub/81069/file-2369686739.jpg?width=201&name=file-2369686739.jpg "Passing $1Million in Remodeling")Well before attempting to break past $Million **in installed sales remodelers and home improvement **contractors should already have an established and tested sales system in place.**  The system should be well defined. Those involved with selling, as well as supporting the sales department at your business, **must be trained and held accountable to using it correctly and consistently.  **

It’s also imperative to **get a salesperson other than the owner in place** and productively selling well before passing the $1Million threshold.   Doing this is important because **the owner's time will most likely be pulled away from sales for more important activities as the business grows.   **

Here are several **important sales system related considerations** for business owners looking to break past $1Million in installed sales.

 

### **Decide on how fast you want to grow your business**  

**Growth can't happen without sales**, sales won't happen without talented sales staff, and having enough quality leads won't happen without a strategic and effective marketing plan in place.   All three of these things must be worked on consecutively and **put in place as soon as possible to support a fast pace of growth. **Remember, the **biggest cause of remodeling business failure** is growing the business faster than the systems needed to support that growth.

### ![Choosing a sales system for remodelers](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-27812919-jpg/images/decide_career_path-wr.jpg?width=236&name=decide_career_path-wr.jpg "Choosing a sales system for remodelers")**Decide what Sales System you will use**

**I suggest you choose a known and proven sales system and sales trainer** you feel will be a good match for your desired brand as well as** your target customer type**. If you are preparing to grow your business **I recommend the owner take the training first.** Then, after the business owner embraces the system **new sales staff can be sent to the same training and trainer.**

 

### **Put sales goals and metrics in place.**

**The markup your business uses to price projects should be based on two interdependent factors:** the volume of business you plan to do and the combined cost of overhead plus **planned net profit.** By creating sales goals for the business, as well as each individual salesperson, **you can track against those goals** **to be sure you will meet your planned volume of sales.** Also, by having individual goals for each salesperson, you can support them and **hold them accountable** to achieve the goals and or decide **you need to find their replacement.** Hitting the goals will be important because **coming up short on installed sales will mean you will come up short on the gross profit dollars you needed to earn to grow your business.   **Your financial system should be designed to support measuring sales volume by salesperson and **determine their commissions earned.**

 

### **Summary: Remain committed to using the system!**

**![Remodeling Sales system considerations](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-428567732-jpg/images/Remodeling_sales_meeting-wr.jpg?width=240&name=Remodeling_sales_meeting-wr.jpg "Remodeling Sales system considerations")I want to stress that consistency of and with your company's sales approach will be really important as the business grows.**  Without consistency it will be difficult for the owner to become a sales manager, or **transfer sales management to someone else**, because each sales person may approach selling in a different way.   And, without consistency of sales approach, **repeat customers and their referrals may not experience what they expected when a new salesperson visits them. **Plus, by having a consistent sales approach that successfully helps prospects buy the right solution, you can market the advantages of that sales system with confidence **prospects will experience what they expect if they respond you your marketing.**

 

(Note: This is the eighth article in a series of articles **written specifically for remodelers** who want to successfully break past doing $1M/year in installed sales. [ Click here to see a list of all the published articles in the series](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/articles-breaking-one-million).)

 

[![read blog articles about breaking 1 million](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/81069/f4a9a859-aa29-40e1-b8eb-0c0f3113cd9a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/81069/f4a9a859-aa29-40e1-b8eb-0c0f3113cd9a)

 4 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/sales-system-considerations-for-remodelers-looking-to-break-1million#comments-listing)

 Topics: [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Sales](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/sales), [Business Growth](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-growth), [Sales Considerations](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/sales-considerations), [Creating Referrals](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/creating-referrals), [Breaking $1Million](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/breaking-1million)

## [10 Causes of Construction Business Owner Financial Anxiety](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/104100/10-causes-of-construction-business-owner-financial-anxiety)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Mon, Jul 07,2014 @ 06:00 AM

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## **10 Causes of Construction Business Owner Financial Anxiety and What to Do About Them**

**![Causes of Financial Anxiety for contractors](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-1140971512-jpg/images/stressed-wr.jpg?width=164&height=247&name=stressed-wr.jpg)**

 

**Anxiety**** affects our whole being.**  It affects how we feel, how we behave and has very real physical symptoms.   It can be exhausting and debilitating.  Mild anxiety is vague and unsettling.   **Contractors with lower total sales volumes might be suffering already from what I call mild financial anxiety**.   Then, as the number of dollars going through the business increases, say above $4-500K, a contractor can suffer from **severe financial anxiety,** which for some business owners **can be extremely debilitating.  **Not only can it be personally debilitating, it can also have devastating effects on the health of the business.

 

**Below is a partial list of causes of financial anxiety for construction business owners.**   I see these causes all the time when I work with contractors to eliminate them.  If you already have financial anxiety consider how many of these describe you and your business.  ** If you plan to grow your business make note of these causes.**   You might want to address them before you grow.

 

### **Causes of financial anxiety**

> 1. ![Contractor anxiety](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-1135749013-jpg/images/money_worries-wr.jpg?width=207&height=138&name=money_worries-wr.jpg)Not knowing the true costs of being in business as your business grows and being surprised about the costs when the bills come in.
> 2. Not knowing in advance if you will have enough money to pay your bills and or meet payroll when they become due.
> 3. Not knowing how much of the money in your checking account is profit and how much is unearned income for work not yet completed.
> 4. Not knowing which project types are making money and which are not.
> 5. Not knowing how much workers compensation insurance will actually cost you until you get audited.
> 6. Not knowing if you made or lost money all year until your accountant does your taxes.
> 7. Guessing at what to charge for labor rates.
> 8. Guessing at what markup you should use.
> 9. Wondering whether you will be selling or buying a job when negotiating price with a prospect.
> 10. **Fill in your own anxiety trigger(s) here: _______________________________________**

 

### **What contractors can do to eliminate the anxiety**

**![Contractor Financial System](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-1135578229-jpg/images/adding_machine-wr.jpg?width=174&height=116&name=adding_machine-wr.jpg)**

 

 

**All of the causes listed above can be solved by creating a true financial system for your business.**   With a properly designed construction business financial system, and an accounting software program like QuickBooks to support it, your business can have the ability to:

 

> 1. Predict overhead and direct costs
> 2. Predetermine your mark-up and labor rates
> 3. Track actual expenses against budgeted using the same format as when they were determined
> 4. Make apples to apples estimated to actual job cost comparisons
> 5. Track revenue and gross profit margins by cost categories (IE: materials, labor, subs, equipment...)
> 6. Predict and track actual Workers Compensation exposure
> 7. Potentially reduce workers comp costs if your state and or insurance provider allows you to use multiple classifications for the same employee
> 8. Track accounts receivable and accounts payable to know in advance if receivables will cover payables
> 9. Tell you if you are ahead or behind your customer(s) regarding money collected versus work performed
> 10. Track revenue and earned gross profits by profit centers (IE: residential vs. commercial, remodeling vs. new construction...)
> 11. Compare produced margins for project types your company performs (IE: kitchens, baths, roofs, decks, handyman...)
> 12. **Fill in your desired function here: _____________________________________________**

 

### **Get the help you need to do it right!**

### **![Financial System for contractors](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-1141582850-jpg/images/contractor_wearing_hardhat-wr.jpg?width=233&height=156&name=contractor_wearing_hardhat-wr.jpg)**

**Just as most home owners shouldn’t design and construct their own home, most contractors shouldn’t attempt to design and construct their own financial system.**   Without the proper knowledge and experience to do so you could be putting your business and your own personal health through **unneeded anxiety.**

**If you see yourself in what I have described here, get the help you need** to improve your business financial system and your health.   **Find an expert to help you.**  The cost to do so may be far less expensive than the health care bills if you don’t.

 

 3 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/104100/10-causes-of-construction-business-owner-financial-anxiety#comments-listing)

 Topics: [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Success Strategies](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/success-strategies), [Business Growth](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-growth), [Financial Related Topics](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/financial-related-topics), [Sage Advice](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/sage-advice)

## [10 Steps To Building A Successful Construction Company In This New Economy](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/102658/10-Steps-To-Building-A-Successful-Construction-Company-In-This-New-Economy)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Tue, Mar 18,2014 @ 06:00 AM

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## **10 Steps To Building A Successful Construction Company In This New Economy**

![Construction business growth strategies](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-590018722-jpg/images/construction_business_management_team-wr.jpg?width=183&height=122&name=construction_business_management_team-wr.jpg)

 

For the last five years or so many construction business owners were operating their businesses in survival mode. **Now, with the economy improving and residential construction activity picking up, many contractors will be looking to grow their businesses again.**  If you are looking to grow your business here is **my list of 10 steps contractors should take to make the switch from surviving to thriving.  ******

 

> 1. **Build your team**.  You can't do it all; no matter how much you try.  Find the right people with the right attitudes, skills and personalities to be part of your team.
> 2. **Be ready to take advantage of opportunities for growth.**  Hire and properly train employees before you already need them and their required skills up and running.  
> 3. **You are not the Energizer bunny!**  Make sure you have a plan for recharging your batteries and keeping up the motivation you will need to make your dream business happen.
> 4. **![Construction company leadership](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-581797279-jpg/images/construction_company_leadership-wr.jpg?width=135&height=201&name=construction_company_leadership-wr.jpg)Be the leader you need to be.**  Work on your leadership skills and make sure you understand the difference between leadership and management, and when to use one versus the other.   **Good employees want to be lead, not supervised.**
> 5. **Be careful about and watch your overhead expenses.**   Many construction businesses failed during the recession because they **could not cover the cost of the overhead they were committed to** when volume and or gross profits dropped.
> 6. **No Wild Ass Guesses (WAG)!**  Know the costs of doing more business before you do more business so you can **use the right markup to price your jobs profitably.**
> 7. **Dip your toe in the water before you dive in.**  Before you actually increase your overhead costs test the marketplace you plan to work in to **make sure you can sell at the increased pricing you'll need** and can sell enough work at that price.   Consider if you are in the right market to do business but also if you have **the right marketing and sales skills in place.**
> 8. **Don't be blind-sighted by increased job costs.**  If you like the idea of an extended backlog of work find a way to protect your planned profits from escalating costs.   **Labor and many material costs are expected to go up dramatically before the end of the year.**  Be sure to price your work for the actual costs you will incur at the time you produce it.
> 9. **![Manage construction company growth](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-588271836-jpg/images/speed_limit_sign-wr.jpg?width=136&height=179&name=speed_limit_sign-wr.jpg)Know your limits.**  Do what you can yourself but get the professional help you need to do things right; **to avoid costly mistakes,** increase the likelihood of success and maximize the results for your all your efforts.
> 10. **Think things through first and create a written plan to guide you. **Successfully growing your remodeling business or construction **business takes much more than just selling more work and adding employees.  ** Without a plan to commit to, business success might only be a short lived dream for you and your employees. 

 

### **Increase the likelihood of your success**

**Be sure to build accountability into your business and your leadership.  **Share your plan and your measurables with someone who can and you will allow to hold you accountable to following your plan and achieving your goals.  This could be a spouse, relative, business coach or a mentor.   **Make them part of your team and give them permission to be brutally honest with you when needed. **

**You can't do it all; no matter how much you try.**

**  
**

 4 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/102658/10-Steps-To-Building-A-Successful-Construction-Company-In-This-New-Economy#comments-listing)

 Topics: [New Business Realities](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/new-business-realities), [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Business Management](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-management), [Success Strategies](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/success-strategies), [Business Growth](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-growth), [Sage Advice](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/sage-advice)

## [Reducing And Controlling The Effects Of Construction Allowances](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/95464/Reducing-And-Controlling-The-Effects-Of-Construction-Allowances)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Fri, Sep 27,2013 @ 10:31 AM

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## **Tips For Reducing And Controlling The Effects Of Construction Allowances**

![Managing construction allowances](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-322628811-jpg/images/money_in_vise-wr.jpg?width=95&height=143&name=money_in_vise-wr.jpg)

 

 

If you are building custom homes or doing high end remodeling it is your responsibility to help prospects and clients understand what their project will really cost. **Don’t give or let your customers use inadequate budget allowances.**

 

### **Isn’t it easier for a customer to accept a credit rather than an additional cost?   **

Think about it. If a prospect or client has selected a granite counter, how often will that same client choose a $5.00/ft tile backsplash? **Why not set the allowances for items not yet selected to a cost consistent with what other clients have spent in the past on similar projects?** Applying this strategy will **help protect your margin**, and could actually increase your margin, assuming that you only credit back any difference in your direct cost.

 

**One sure way to protect your mark-up is to eliminate allowances. **However, depending upon the project or client, eliminating all allowances may not always be possible. But, reducing the number of allowances may be.  

### **Here are some ways contractors can improve results when working with allowances**

> - ![Construction allowance management](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-324406770-jpg/images/carpet_selection-wr.jpg?width=199&height=130&name=carpet_selection-wr.jpg)Try to get your clients to make their selections during the design phase.
> - Identify what selections must be made and provide the clients with a list. 
> - To help them complete the list make showroom and or vendor suggestions. 
> - To motivate them to get the list done establish the date(s) by which they must complete the list and advise you of their choices.

 

### **To start or not to start, that is the question…**

Persuade the client that it is in their best interest that you not schedule the start of their project until you know the availability or lead-time of all required products. You can even blame it on company policy. ***“Based on past experiences, our own and those reported by other contractors and homeowners, we have made it our company policy not to start any project unless we are sure we can complete the project on time, as agreed, with the least amount of disruption for our customers.”***

 

### **Make that list and work it!**

When you assemble the list of allowance items **include the related dollar value included for each item** and a total cost allowance value for all of the items to be selected. Make sure you include a column where the **client can write in their actual selections.**  Then, add one more column to the list where the clients will **fill out the actual cost of their individual selections** and can tally up the total for comparison to your list and total cost. If you’re comfortable doing so, this is the place to **include what mark-up will be added on any additional cost over the allowance total.**

 

![Sample allowances and selections form](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-320332099-jpg/images/sample_selections_sheet-wr.jpg?width=476&height=435&name=sample_selections_sheet-wr.jpg)

**Many builders and remodelers report that creating and using a list often times provides the client with a sort of psychological goal of not exceeding the total allowance.** Assuming you have established realistic allowances, clients will usually try to avoid any additional costs and or mark-up cost; **spending more on one item only if they can save on another. **

 

**  
**

 10 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/95464/Reducing-And-Controlling-The-Effects-Of-Construction-Allowances#comments-listing)

 Topics: [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Contracts](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/contracts), [Allowances](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/allowances), [Success Strategies](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/success-strategies), [Production Considerations](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/production-considerations), [Estimating Considerations](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/estimating-considerations), [Keeping More Money](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/keeping-more-money), [Plans and Specifications](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/plans-and-specifications)

## [Three Thoughts for Contractors by Cowboy Legend Will Rogers](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/88273/Three-Thoughts-for-Contractors-by-Cowboy-Legend-Will-Rogers)

 Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/author/shawn-mccadden) on Tue, Apr 16,2013 @ 06:00 AM

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## **Three Thoughts for Contractors by Cowboy Legend Will Rogers**

**![Will Rogers](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-29622760-jpg/images/will_rogers-wr.jpg?width=147&height=148&name=will_rogers-wr.jpg)**

 

 

**Will Rogers,** who died in a 1935 plane crash, was one of the **greatest political sages** this country has ever known.  He is well known for his quote:  **“Don't squat with your spurs on”.**  He also shared many other thought provoking but less popular sayings.   **For a little fun** I offer these three and what I think they could offer for **advice to contractors**

### ***“Never miss a good chance to shut up”***

Many contractors, me included, have probably had an occasion where **we opened our mouths and wished we hadn’t.**  Other times we open our mouths, and even though we may not realize it, others we interact with wish we hadn’t! 

![Never miss a good chance to shut up](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-29623312-jpg/images/duct_tape_shirt-wr.jpg?width=186&height=186&name=duct_tape_shirt-wr.jpg)Here are a few times when **saying nothing might just be the best thing to say:**

> - If your customer has already decided to buy, **shut up.**  Don’t risk giving him/her **a reason to change their mind.**
> - If you ask your prospect or customer a question, **shut up.**   Give them time to think and answer the question.  If due to the silence you keep talking or offer them answers to choose from **you might not get the real answer.**
> - If you have chance to **disparage your competition**, shut up.  More times than not the person listening to you will begin to **think less of you for doing so.**  Instead of talking bad about what they do or don’t do, **talk about how you do what you do.**

 

### ***“Always drink upstream from the herd”***

![Will Rogers Quotes](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-29622905-jpg/images/will_rogers_with_big_jim-wr.jpg?width=238&height=150&name=will_rogers_with_big_jim-wr.jpg)

 

When starting their businesses **too many contractors look to what other contractors are doing** and assume they should do the same.   The fact is that **9 of 10 contractors typically go out of business** within 10 years of getting started.   The odds of copying the right contractor’s strategy are only 1 in 10. 

Here are a few things **drinking downstream of other contractors** can do to your construction business:

> - **Use the wrong labor rates and markup** to price your jobs assuming you need to be **competitive**.
> - Assume because another contractor quoted a price to a prospect **you must be able to do it for that price as well.**
> - Getting and using **legal advice** from online contractor discussion groups without **consulting legal counsel before you do so.**

 

### ***“If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging”***

![Contractor Financial problems](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-29622961-jpg/images/digging_a_hole-wr.jpg?width=266&height=183&name=digging_a_hole-wr.jpg)A good number of contractors at one time or another **find themselves in a financial hole**.  Rather than figure out how they got there, **they just keep working,** often assuming by working harder or longer hours they will eventually get out of the hole.  Unfortunately many of them just **dig a deeper hole** and eventually the hole is so deep they can’t climb out so they stay in it.  Sometimes **the hole can even cave in all around them** and bury them and their businesses.  If you want to avoid the most common reasons contractors get into financial trouble **[check out this previous blog post](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/88271/The-Five-Biggest-Financial-Mistakes-Contractors-Make).**

 

****

### **Bonus saying:**

**Here’s one more from Will Rogers just for fun.**  I’ll let you be the one to determine what this means to you!

### *** “There are three kinds of men:***

> 1. ### ***The ones that learn by reading. ***
> 2. ### ***The few who learn by observation. ***
> 3. ### ***The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.”***

 ![Quotes by Will Rogers](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-29622920-png/images/will_rogers_pointing-wr.png?width=476&height=238&name=will_rogers_pointing-wr.png)

 

 4 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/bid/88273/Three-Thoughts-for-Contractors-by-Cowboy-Legend-Will-Rogers#comments-listing)

 Topics: [Business Financials](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/business-financials), [Margin and Markup](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/margin-and-markup), [Sales](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/sales), [Fun Stuff](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/fun-stuff), [Starting a Business](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/the-design-builders-blog/topic/starting-a-business)

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