115: How to Fix Your Profit Without Working More Hours
Jun 12, 2025
Discover how to shatter the myth that working harder is the only path to profitability in construction. The discussion reveals four crucial levers contractors can use to enhance their bottom line, emphasizing that it's not just about increasing sales. Learn how a mere 1% change can significantly impact your margins and find out about a free tool that helps identify areas needing improvement. If you've been grinding away and questioning your profits, this insight might just change your financial game for the better.
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insights INSIGHT
Profit Growth Is About Levers
Growing profit in construction doesn't require more jobs but pulling the right operational levers.\n- Many contractors mistakenly focus on volume or overhead reduction, but those are the least effective levers.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Steve's Early Business Mistakes
Steve Coughran started a landscape business at 16 with no financial knowledge, relying solely on grit.\n- Early on, he focused on volume and overhead reduction, which left much profit unrealized.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Profit Lever Calculator
Use the free levers of profit calculator at cultivar.com to analyze your financials precisely.\n- Input your cost of goods sold and operating expenses as percentages of revenue to see the impact of 1% improvements.
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Steve tackles one of the biggest myths in construction: that the only way to boost profit is to work more and sell more. He breaks down the four levers every contractor can use to improve their bottom line—and reveals why most people are pulling the wrong ones.
You’ll learn which lever has the biggest impact on profit (hint: it’s not volume), how a 1% change can transform your margins, and where to find a free tool that shows you exactly what to fix in your business. If you’re stuck grinding and wondering where all your money’s going, this one’s a game-changer.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.
This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information.
Building Margin 
