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If you are running a contracting business right now, cash probably feels tight.
Not because the business is off track. Winter squeezes everything. Jobs slow down. Payments take longer to land. Expenses continue.
I have spent the last few weeks in Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR's) with contractors who know their businesses and care about their teams. When we look at the numbers together, the pattern is familiar. Revenue is usually there. Profit is thinning out in a few predictable places.
Here is where it shows up most often.
High-interest debt stays in the background.
You know it is there, but it competes with everything else on your plate. Meanwhile, interest pulls cash out of the business every month. Even a focused plan to reduce one balance can ease pressure quickly.
Pricing has not kept pace.
Prices were set thoughtfully at one point. Since then, costs and demand have changed. When pricing stays flat, margin erodes job by job. Small, intentional adjustments protect more profit than most people realize.
Pay decisions happen reactively.
You want to treat people fairly. Adjustments get made as situations arise. Over time, that creates inconsistency and churn. Clear wage ranges and regular review bring stability to both payroll and production.
Labor burden is incomplete.
Payroll is visible. The rest of labor cost is harder to see. Taxes, insurance, paid time off, training time, and non-billable hours all matter. When those numbers are off, pricing and cash planning feel harder than they should.
This is the work that shows up in QBRs. We sit down, look at the numbers, and identify where money is leaving the business. When those areas get attention, cash feels steadier and decisions get clearer.
I wrote a longer article that walks through each of these areas in more detail, with examples and questions you can apply to your own numbers. Read more here.
If you want support working through this, I offer QBRs for contractors who want dedicated time to review financials, pricing, labor costs, and cash flow. The focus is practical and decision-oriented, and will give you the action plan you need to jump into the next season on solid footing.
Your Partner in Success -
Priscilla Hansen Mahoney
Business Coach for Contractors
Here's some NEWS you can use!
🤝 Networking
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International Builders’ Show 2026 (IBS 2026) brings builders, remodelers, and trades professionals together in Orlando for education, networking, and practical takeaways you can apply back home.
- Not making it to IBS? Join the Home Builders and Remodelers of Maine for Builders, Business & Beer at Cowbell in Scarborough on Thursday, February 19 at 5:30 p.m.
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JLC Live takes place March 26–28, 2026 in Providence, Rhode Island, with hands-on education and peer connection for residential construction professionals.
- Learn more:
 JlcliveJLC LIVE Residential Construction Show | Providence, Rhode Island
📚 Education
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Priscilla Hansen Mahoney is speaking at International Builders’ Show 2026 with the session “Profitable Processes: How Successful Builders Streamline, Delegate & Grow.”
Worth a Read
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Profit First for Contractors – Useful as a forcing mechanism for cash discipline, especially for contractors who struggle to separate operating cash from profit, even if you do not adopt the full system.
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Building Financial Love: Managing Cash Flow in Your Contracting Business
Worth a Listen
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Contractor Success Forum - Practical conversations about pricing, margins, and cash management from people who work inside construction businesses.
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Contractor Evolution – Solid episodes on financial discipline, labor cost control, and building stability as companies grow.
💡 Wisdom (AI + Lean Systems)
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Profit problems rarely announce themselves. They show up as small gaps between expectation and reality, then widen quietly over time.
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Cash flow is not a finance problem. It is the result of pricing discipline, labor clarity, and follow-through on decisions already made.
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If the numbers feel confusing, the business is asking for structure. Clarity usually comes from better questions, not more reports.
👷 Support (Maine & New England)
Free Resources
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Small Business Administration – Cash flow worksheets, lender-ready financial templates, and guidance on working with banks before cash gets tight.
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OSHA – Job hazard analysis templates and safety planning tools that help reduce incidents, claims, and downtime.
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SafetyWorks! – Free and low-cost safety consultations, training, and compliance support that reduce risk without adding administrative burden.
Grants & Funding
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Harold Alfond Workforce Development Program – Training grants that reimburse employers for upskilling employees, including leadership, technical skills, and safety.
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Workforce Training Fund – Training reimbursement programs that support employee development and retention.
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Maine Department of Labor – Access to apprenticeship support, safety resources, and workforce development funding tied to retention and skills growth.
Services
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CPA and banking advisory check-ins – A scheduled, structured review with your CPA or banker can uncover pricing gaps, debt restructuring options, or cash flow adjustments without changing operations.
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Workers’ compensation reviews – Annual conversations with your workers’ comp professional can identify classification issues, experience modifier impacts, and premium savings opportunities.
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Insurance coverage reviews – Policy reviews focused on risk exposure, deductibles, and coverage alignment can reduce unnecessary cost and limit surprise claims.
If you are looking for a CPA, bookkeeper, or insurance provider who understands contracting businesses, feel free to reach out. I am happy to share referrals to professionals I trust.
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