How To Grow Fast Today Without Going Broke Tomorrow

If you’re a construction trade contractor and business is booming—first of all, congrats. That means you're doing the hard stuff right. You’re getting the work. You’re completing the work. Clients are happy. Crews are busy. Trucks are rolling.

But if your bank account tells a different story than your job pipeline, you're not alone.

In fact, cash flow is the #1 reason profitable construction businesses fail—not lack of work, but lack of working capital.

Why? Because revenue is often out of sync with reality. You do the job. You send the invoice. And then… you wait.
60 days. 90 days. Or longer—especially with retention that might not come in for 6 to 12 months.

The Reality: Growth Is Expensive

Most contractors I talk to have bold revenue goals:
“We want to hit $5 million this year.”
“We’re on track to double to $10 million.”

That’s great. But growth eats cash.

Every new job means more payroll, more materials, more out-of-pocket costs before a single dollar hits your account. And if your financial systems aren’t ready to support that growth, things can get tight. Fast.

The truth is, most small business owners don’t have a financial plan that matches their growth plan. They have revenue targets—but no GPS to get there.

Case Study: $3M Electrical Contractor on the Edge of a Breakthrough

Let me give you a real-world example (I shared some of this before but it bears repeating).

I recently worked with a fast-growing electrical contractor doing $3 million in annual revenue. They had plenty of work. Their crews were solid. Their reputation was growing. They were aiming for $5 million, then $10 million. But they had a serious problem.

Cash flow.

Projects were profitable, but payments were delayed 60–90+ days. But as you know, retention doesn't hit for 6 months-1 year after a project closes out. And after just 3 years in business, no traditional bank would touch them. They didn't want to factor A/R, or get another high-interest MCA loan.

They didn’t only need more jobs—they needed more runway.

This is where my 30 years in corporate banking came in. I leveraged my lender relationships and industry know-how to help them secure $500,000 in working capital—despite being a newer business. The result?
They can keep their crews paid, purchase materials with confidence, and take on more work because they have a cash cushion.

The 3 Profit Leaks That Kill Cash Flow

If you’re experiencing cash strain despite strong sales, you’re likely dealing with one (or more) of these common financial leaks:

1. Estimating Numbers don't jive with your actual P&L
You’re pricing based on data on the front end, not data on the back end. By the time you realize a job went sideways, it’s already over.

Solution: Review job-level gross margin monthly. It’s your early warning system.

2. You Don’t Know Your Overhead Breakeven
Most contractors can’t tell you what their business needs to bring in each month just to stay alive.

Solution: Build a budget and cash flow forecast—this is your GPS.

3. You’re Chasing Work Without a Funding Plan
More jobs mean more cash going out before any comes in. If your working capital isn’t ready, growth will break you.

Solution: Secure financing before you need it—not when you’re desperate. Bankers are great at telling you "NO" but they won't tell you how to get "bank-ready." That's where I can help based on my 30 years inside the banking world.

Here’s the Good News: You Don’t Have to Guess

Most trade contractors didn’t go into business to become financial experts. You’re great at building things, not building spreadsheets.

But ignoring the numbers won’t help. And you don’t need an MBA to get control of your cash flow—you just need a plan.

That’s where the Contractors Financial Blueprint comes in.

✅ Take the First Step: Get Your Financial Blueprint

I created a free tool to help trade contractors like you uncover hidden leaks, improve cash flow, and build a plan to fund your growth without sleepless nights.

It takes just a 90 seconds and will show you exactly where your business stands—and what to do next.

👉 Take the Contractors Financial Blueprint Assessment.

Final Thought:

Growth without financial clarity is a gamble.
Growth with a clear plan? That’s how smart contractors build wealth.

If you’re ready to move from chaos to clarity, your first step is understanding your numbers—and I’m here to help.

Until next week,

Patrick Shurney, MBA
Founder, 3P Consulting
📞 443.539.6276
🌐 www.3pcllc.com

Helping Contractors Get Their Finances Sorted

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About Me:

As a veteran in financial coaching with over 30 years of corporate banking experience, my mission is to empower Trade Contractors like you to become numbers confident, optimize cash flow, leverage debt, and pay yourself competitively.

Ready for More?

Here’s how I can help you:

1.     Profit Blueprint Program: Master your business numbers in just 30 days, uncovering hidden profits of $25K-$75K+ over the next 3-12 months.

2.     Loan Consulting: Need the best rates and terms on your next loan? With 30+ years of banking experience, I’ll make sure you get a deal that works for you.

Ready to take your financial strategy to the next level? Let’s connect and make sure you’re running a thriving business while paying yourself what you’re worth.