Why Contractors Keep Losing Margin Even When Jobs Go Well | Ep 228

Why Contractors Keep Losing Margin Even When Jobs Go Well | Ep 228

From Strategy Meets Finance by Steve Coughran

April 28, 2026 · 25 min · Episode 228

About this episode

Steve discusses why contractors often lose margin despite successful job execution, attributing it to pre-construction factors.

How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check Financial Intelligence Toolkit The job went well. The crew performed. The client is happy. And the margin still is not there? Most contractors blame the field when this happens. But in this episode, Steve makes the case that the margin was already gone before the first shovel hit the ground. It was set in pre-construction, in estimating, and in the gaps most owners never think to look at...

People in this episode

Host: Steve Coughran

Topics covered

  • contractor margins
  • financial health
  • pre-construction
  • estimating
  • business cash flow

Keywords

  • contractors
  • margin loss
  • financial health check
  • estimating
  • business cash flow

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