Want to build a construction business that runs without you? In this episode, Aaron Mills shares how accurate financials and strategic systems can transform your company from owner-dependent to highly valuable and sellable. Learn how one electrical contractor grew from $30M to $90M in four years while the owner reduced his involvement from 60 hours to just a few hours per week.

What You’ll Learn

How to transform messy financials into strategic tools for growth
The importance of WIP schedules and how they reveal hidden profit opportunities
Why pricing increases often meet less resistance than you expect
How to strategically remove yourself from day-to-day operations
The exact systems needed to triple net profits while working less

Time Stamps

00:55 - Episode Intro
02:32 - Financial Resource Optimization
04:15 - Challenges in Construction Financials
05:29 - Case Study: Electrical Contractor
06:48 - Growing Broke: Understanding Revenue Pillars
14:21 - Controller vs CFO: Roles and Responsibilities
22:25 - Exiting the Business and Personal Success Stories
28:51 - Understanding the WIP Schedule
31:41 - Dissecting the WIP Schedule
36:03 - Training Project Managers
44:28 - Challenges in Implementing WIP
46:03 - The Importance of Systems
49:16 - Daaxit’s Free Strategy Session
50:30 - Core Values and Asking for Help
50:55 - The Story Behind Daaxit
51:47 - Episode Outro

Snippets from the Episode

"If your financials are on a roller coaster month to month—if you're making a whole bunch of money one month and losing a whole bunch the next—then your financials are inaccurate and you need some help."— Aaron Mills
"When you're going to sell your business, it's so much more attractive if you're not in the business running it every day. You want a business that operates by itself."— Aaron Mills
"A controller's reporting the history; the CFO bridges the history to the future with the business owner and the vision."— Aaron Mills
"I just took my first two weeks off. I didn't answer my phone. This spring, this summer, I've been going to my kids' sporting events for the first time ever, and I have the best relationship with my wife ever."— Construction Business Owner (Client Success Story)

Key Takeaways

Your financials should be strategic tools, not just tax documents
WIP schedules reveal hidden profit opportunities when properly analyzed
Raising prices on unprofitable clients is often easier than you think
Building a business that runs without you increases its value dramatically
Different revenue levels ($5M, $10M, $20M+) require completely different systems
Project managers need monthly financial reviews to maintain profitability
A business that runs without you provides both financial and personal freedom