Reading a Construction P&L: By-Job vs. Consolidated and When to Use Each
A consolidated P&L shows the whole company. A by-job P&L shows what's actually happening on each project. Here's how to read both, and when...
Joint Checks on Commercial Jobs: When to Issue Them and How to Track Every Dollar
When a subcontractor's supplier calls threatening a lien, joint checks can protect you. Here's when to issue them, how to do it right, and h...
The Change Order Pricing Formula Every GC Should Know by Heart
Break down change order pricing into four defensible components: burdened labor, materials with tax and freight, equipment, and markup. Cons...
Cost-to-Complete Estimating: The Key to Accurate WIP Reporting
Accurate WIP reporting depends on forward-looking cost-to-complete estimates, not just budget math. Here is how to build CTC figures by cost...
Certificate of Insurance Tracking: A GC's Checklist for Renewals and Lapsed Coverage
A practical checklist for GCs to collect, track, and enforce subcontractor certificates of insurance, including renewal alert schedules and...
Schedule of Values Best Practices: Lump-Sum vs Unit-Price Contracts
Lump-sum and unit-price contracts require different Schedule of Values structures. Here's how to set up your G703 correctly for each contrac...
Migrating from QuickBooks to Construction-Specific Accounting: A Practical Guide
QuickBooks works until it doesn't. Here's how to migrate to construction-specific accounting software without derailing your active jobs.
Chart of Accounts for General Contractors: What Goes Where
A generic chart of accounts creates billing headaches and bad job cost reports. Here's how to build one that actually works for a general co...
Subcontract Management Basics Every Small GC Needs Before Winter Work Kicks Off
Before winter work overlaps with fall closeouts, small GCs need a subcontract management framework that keeps agreements, billing, and backc...
When Scope Shrinks: A GC's Step-by-Step Guide to Negative Change Orders
When an owner deletes scope mid-job, most GCs give back too much. This case study walks through a real-world negative change order from firs...
Fixed-Price Contracts and Rising Material Costs: How to Protect Your Margin
Material cost volatility hits fixed-price GCs hardest. Here's how to structure bids, negotiate escalation clauses, and track exposure before...
Percentage-of-Completion Accounting: A Real Job Walkthrough
A step-by-step walkthrough of percentage-of-completion accounting using a real $1.2M medical office buildout, covering earned revenue, WIP,...