Guides
Contractor Guides
Clear explanations to help you understand pricing, costs, and running a stronger business.
Most problems in contracting aren't obvious until they show up in your numbers. These guides break down the concepts behind pricing, job costs, and margins.
Some guides include state-specific variations (Texas, Florida).
Core Guides
Understand how contractor businesses actually work before applying the details.
Start here before diving into specific topics.
Contractor PricingBuild every quote from labor, materials, overhead, profit, and contingency instead of guesswork.Contractor Job CostingTrack estimated versus actual cost during the job so overruns and profit fade show up early.Contractor Change OrdersUse a disciplined change-order process so added scope stays approved, priced, and billable.Getting Paid, Notices, and Lien RightsUse documentation, notices, and lien timing in the right order before leverage disappears.Includes Texas and Florida-specific rulesContractor Cost StructureUnderstand direct cost, overhead, and break-even so every price reflects what the business must recover.
What are you trying to understand?
Jump to the section that matches the problem you are working through.
New here? Start with How to Price a Job, Job Costing, or What to Do If You're Not Getting Paid.
Pricing
Cover labor, margin, and common pricing mistakes before the quote goes out.
4 guides
How to Price a JobUse a clear pricing sequence so labor, overhead, and profit are all covered before the quote goes out.Markup vs Margin ExplainedLearn why those two percentages are different and how they change profit.What Profit Margin Should Contractors Target?See how gross and net margin targets change with service work, project work, and hard-bid jobs.Why Contractors UnderpriceSee the common pricing mistakes that quietly erode profit on every job.
Job Costing & Tracking
Use job cost records to see where profit is holding and where it is slipping.
3 guides
Job CostingLearn how labor, materials, overhead, and approvals shape the real cost of work.How to Track Profit on a JobTrack job value, actual cost, and percent complete so profit problems appear before the closeout.How Contractors Track ExpensesUse a simple expense system, avoid common tracking errors, and keep job cost records usable.
Getting Paid & Legal Topics
Review notice, lien, and escalation steps before payment problems harden.
3 guides
Mechanics Lien GuideUnderstand when lien rights matter and why documentation needs to stay clean.Preliminary NoticeLearn why early notice requirements matter before a payment issue turns serious.What to Do If You're Not Getting PaidFollow a practical escalation path for unpaid invoices, formal notice, lien review, and court review.
Change Orders
Keep added scope priced, documented, and approved before it turns into a dispute.
4 guides
Change Orders GuideLearn how scope changes affect price, approvals, and job performance.Change Order ExampleSee a practical example of how change work should be documented and priced.What Happens Without a Signed Change OrderSee the financial and legal risk that follows when extra work proceeds without signed approval.Scope CreepUnderstand how small informal changes create cost, delay, and documentation risk.
Understanding Costs
Understand labor, overhead, and break-even before you trust the numbers.
3 guides
Turn the guidance into a repeatable operating process with related tools and templates.
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