estimating, completely consuming profits via overhead that we’ d made the previous years. Why? Because we stopped estimating!
Over time, I realized that having a successful construction business requires a strategy, especially when it comes to managing the workload and keeping your estimating pipeline active, even when you’ re busy. You want to make the prosperous years count by not only stacking profits but also by strengthening your team and setting yourself up for stability in the long haul.
Let’ s dive in and talk about why keeping the estimating department going is so important, the benefits of being picky about projects and how to make sure you’ re prepared if work ever slows down.
Don’ t Stop Estimating Just Because You’ re Busy
A lot of contractors hit a certain point of being " too busy " and think it’ s safe to pull back on estimating; they figure they’ ve got enough work lined up for now and can take it easy, but that’ s a mistake. I do feel it’ s time to pull back slightly, but now it’ s time to become more picky. When you stop estimating, you’ re essentially hitting a pause on future opportunities. Then, when the jobs start drying up, you’ re left scrambling to fill your schedule and that’ s when you end up in that feast-orfamine cycle all contractors hate. You then eventually take on cheap work fighting for low-profit work.
Here’ s my suggestion, even when you’ re swamped, keep estimating. Constantly bidding on new jobs keeps you in control. It lets you choose the best projects, avoid lowprofit gigs and ultimately decide where your time and effort go.
Also, many of your clients
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