The Builder’s Edge - Mastering the Business Side of Building

Deanna Lucas
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Are you a small business owner, contractor, or entrepreneur in the construction industry struggling to manage and grow your business? The Builder’s Edge is here to help you create the business you want, one that doesn’t consume your life but works for you. Hosted by an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, this podcast dives into the real challenges business owners face, too few leads, too many leads with no system, overwhelming workloads, pricing struggles, staffing headaches, and managing your reputation.

  1. 4d ago

    Busy But Broke? Why Contractors Still Stress About Money

    Why are so many contractors working harder than ever, bringing in more revenue, and still stressed about money? In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, Deanna Lucas sits down with Amanda Dilenno to uncover the hidden numbers behind profitable construction businesses. If you are a contractor, remodeler, landscaper, roofer, trades professional, or construction business owner who feels busy but broke, this conversation will help you understand why more work does not always mean more profit. You will learn how poor job costing, underbidding, unclear bookkeeping, hidden overhead expenses, payroll costs, fuel changes, supply price increases, and weak profit margin tracking can quietly drain your business. Amanda explains why looking at your bank balance is not enough, why revenue can be misleading, and why every contractor needs clean books, monthly reconciliation, and a clear system for pricing jobs. This episode is for contractors who want less stress, better cash flow, stronger margins, and a business that supports their family, future, and freedom instead of creating constant financial pressure. What You’ll Learn / HighlightsChapters You’ll learn why contractors can have strong revenue but still struggle with cash flow, especially when job costs, unpaid checks, auto-drafts, credit cards, payroll, and overhead are not being tracked clearly. Amanda breaks down why job costing matters and how separating each project’s labor, materials, supplies, indirect costs, and profit margin helps contractors know which jobs are actually worth repeating. You’ll hear why underbidding is so dangerous, especially for newer contractors who feel pressure to win every job, compete on price, or take cheap clients who do not understand value. This episode also explains how clean bookkeeping, monthly reconciliation, and reviewing actual numbers can reveal duplicate expenses, hidden profit leaks, missed deductions, and pricing problems before they damage the business. 00:00 Intro: Why contractors feel busy but broke01:12 Why more work does not always mean more profit03:10 Amanda’s accounting background and contractor focus06:25 Why tradespeople struggle with bookkeeping09:45 The problem with only checking your bank balance12:20 Why contractors stay busy but still feel broke15:05 Pricing, cheap clients, and knowing your value19:15 Warning signs of a profitability problem22:00 Revenue vs. profit: what contractors should track25:10 Why underbidding stops business growth28:30 Hidden expenses contractors forget to price in32:15 Payroll, fuel, supplies, and unexpected costs36:00 Job costing explained for construction businesses41:20 Why every project needs its own profit margin46:30 Marking up materials and explaining value to clients51:10 Payment structure and avoiding cash flow problems55:00 Amanda’s profit margin spreadsheet template01:02:30 First step: clean books and monthly reconciliation01:05:00 Free audit and final takeaways #ContractorBusiness#ConstructionBusiness#JobCosting#ProfitMargins#TheBuildersEdge Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard Builders Visibility Blueprint DND Website DND Youtube Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  Facebook Facebook Group LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min

  2. May 28

    The Simple Benefit That Helps Contractors Keep Good Crews

    One accident can change everything for a contractor, an employee, and their family. In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, we talk with Yvette Kahn about how contractors can protect their crews with affordable supplemental insurance options that help cover out-of-pocket costs, accidents, illness, short-term disability, and the financial gaps traditional health insurance and workers’ comp may not fully solve. If you own a construction company, painting business, moving company, remodeling company, or any trade-based business, this conversation is for you. Hiring good workers is hard, but keeping them is even harder when employees do not feel protected or supported. Yvette explains how benefits like accident insurance, cancer coverage, critical care, and short-term disability can help contractors build stronger teams, improve employee retention, reduce stress after injuries, and create a culture where workers feel valued. You will hear how supplemental insurance works, why it can be surprisingly affordable, how it pays employees directly, and why small contractors with as few as three employees may be able to offer better protection without adding heavy overhead. In this episode, you’ll learn:  → How supplemental insurance helps contractors close the financial gap when employees get hurt on or off the job → Why workers’ comp alone may not be enough to protect your crew or your business → How offering benefits can help attract better employees, improve retention, and show your team that you care about their future → How accident plans, cancer plans, critical care coverage, and short-term disability can support workers when life happens Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard Builders Visibility Blueprint DND Website DND Youtube Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  Facebook Facebook Group LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min

  3. May 21

    This One Business Leak Could Cost You $100K a Year

    Most contractors are working harder than ever, but still watching profit disappear every month. One reason? Hidden payment processing fees from platforms like Stripe, Square, PayPal, and outdated merchant systems may be quietly draining thousands from your business without you realizing it. In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, we sit down with Gannon Young, entrepreneur, business owner, and payment processing consultant, to talk about how contractors, HVAC companies, pest control businesses, gyms, restaurants, and service-based businesses can reduce unnecessary payment fees, improve cash flow, and simplify the way they get paid. If you accept credit cards, send invoices, use recurring billing, or rely on online payments, this conversation could help you uncover money leaks hiding inside your business. Gannon explains how merchant statement reviews work, why many business owners are shocked when they finally see their numbers, and how options like dual pricing, surcharging, automated invoicing, text-to-pay, and better payment workflows can help contractors keep more of what they earn. You’ll also learn why customer service matters in payment processing and how faster funding can make a major difference in your cash flow. You’ll learn: → How payment processing fees affect contractor profits → Why Stripe and Square may not be the best fit for growing businesses → How merchant statement analysis can reveal hidden fees → How smarter invoicing and automation can help you get paid faster without chasing customers manually Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard Builders Visibility Blueprint DND Website DND Youtube Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  Facebook Facebook Group LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min

  4. May 14

    Stop Chasing Leads Until You Fix This First

    Are you getting leads but still not seeing the growth, profit, or cash flow your business should have? In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, Deanna Lucas talks with business growth expert Mickey Lyles about why more marketing is not always the answer and how business owners can uncover hidden revenue, fix operational leaks, improve leadership, and build scalable systems behind the scenes. If you own a construction company, home service business, contracting business, plumbing company, HVAC company, pest control company, remodeling business, or trade-based company, this conversation will show you how to stop staying busy and start building a real business. Mickey breaks down how to identify revenue leaks, understand your market cap, improve your average ticket, raise prices with confidence, track KPIs, build stronger teams, and create systems that support real growth.  Before you spend more money on lead generation, SEO, ads, or marketing, you need to make sure your business can actually handle and maximize the opportunity. Highlights: → You’ll learn why many business owners are leaving money on the table after the lead comes in. → How revenue harvesting can increase profit without adding more customers. → Why leadership and culture set the ceiling for growth. → How better data, pricing, and operational structure can help you scale smarter. → Mickey also shares real examples, including how one pest control company grew from $5.5 million to $21 million, how plumbing companies can increase average ticket size, and why contractors must understand cash flow, labor, pricing, and efficiency if they want to grow. Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard Builders Visibility Blueprint DND Website DND Youtube Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  Facebook Facebook Group LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min

  5. May 7

    How Contractors Can Stay Profitable as Costs Rise

    Rising material costs, labor costs, fuel prices, banking fees, and unpredictable market shifts are squeezing contractors harder than ever. If you run a construction business, remodeling company, HVAC company, roofing company, landscaping business, or any trade-based service, this episode is about protecting your profit before rising costs eat it alive. In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, we sit down with Mike Milligan of One Oak Financial to talk about how contractors can stay profitable, manage cash flow, fix financial leaks, price jobs smarter, and build long-term wealth without just working more hours. We break down why so many contractors confuse cash flow with profit, why old quotes can destroy margins, how banking and insurance relationships may be costing you thousands, and why business owners need better systems, strategy, and key performance indicators. This conversation is for contractors who are tired of being busy but still stressed about money. Learn how to stop owning a paycheck and start building a real business that creates freedom, stability, and long-term wealth. You’ll learn: → Why honoring outdated bids can quietly drain profit → How contractors can adjust pricing when material costs keep changing → Why cash in the bank does not always mean the business is healthy → How weekly financial check-ins can help you take control without getting buried in spreadsheets → How contractors can use AI, smarter partnerships, and better systems → Wealth-building habits to create more freedom outside the job site. Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard Builders Visibility Blueprint DND Website DND Youtube Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  Facebook Facebook Group LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min

  6. May 1

    Why Discipline Alone Won’t Fix Your Energy

    If your day starts with gas station breakfast, energy drinks, job sites, long drives, and ends with you completely drained, this episode is for you. Today we’re talking about how busy contractors, entrepreneurs, truckers, and working professionals can take back control of their energy, health, discipline, nutrition, and performance without overcomplicating life. Remi Rory, founder of the MNE Method, breaks down why discipline alone is not enough, how systems create lasting habits, and why your mindset is the foundation for better health. With a background in the Air Force, Remi brings a practical approach to fitness, nutrition, mobility, and daily performance for people who don’t have perfect schedules or easy routines. This conversation is for anyone who feels burned out, lives out of the truck, grabs food on the go, skips workouts, or keeps falling back into the same habits even though they know what they should be doing. You’ll learn: → How to fuel your body better, build small habits that stick, improve mobility, avoid burnout, and stop using your busy schedule as the reason your health keeps slipping. → Why gas stations should fuel your truck, not your body, and how busy workers can make better nutrition choices without needing a perfect meal plan.  → Why contractors and physically active workers may need more mobility, stretching, and recovery instead of more heavy lifting.  → How the MNE Method uses mindset, nutrition, and exercise to create real change. → How the FAR Framework helps people build a foundation, accelerate progress, and create lasting results.  → The hard truth about health and performance: your results are up to you, and the way you talk to yourself shapes the life you build. Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard Builders Visibility Blueprint DND Website DND Youtube Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  Facebook Facebook Group LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min

  7. Apr 23

    Why So Many Contractors Work Forever and How to Stop

    Contractors build America, but too many contractors, builders, and trades business owners never get taught how to build wealth. If you work long hours, bring in money, and still feel unsure about retirement, taxes, savings, or protecting your family, this episode is for you.  In this conversation, financial advisor and former pipe fitter Ron Beckner shares the financial blueprint working-class Americans were never shown. You’ll learn how contractors can avoid the biggest money mistakes, make smarter financial decisions, protect income from unexpected setbacks, and create a long-term wealth plan that actually fits the trades. Whether you run a construction company, own a local service business, or work in the skilled trades, this episode will help you think differently about financial planning for contractors, retirement planning, tax strategy, and wealth building for blue-collar business owners.  This is about turning hard work into lasting security, more freedom, and a future you can actually enjoy. You’ll learn: → Why so many contractors stay stuck financially even while earning good money → How the rule of 72 changes the way you think about investing and time → Why protection planning matters if an injury or health issue stops you from working → How the four tax quadrants and three buckets of money can help you make better financial decisions Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard Builders Visibility Blueprint DND Website DND Youtube Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  Facebook Facebook Group LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min

  8. Apr 16

    How to Turn More Leads Into Paying Clients in 2026

    If you’re a builder, contractor, or service pro struggling to close more deals without feeling pushy, this episode is your blueprint. The truth is, sales have changed. Today’s buyers are more informed, more skeptical, and less responsive to outdated “follow-up” tactics. If your pipeline is full but your close rate is low, the problem isn’t your leads… it’s your sales process. In this episode of the Builder’s Edge, sales expert Daniel Street breaks down a modern, value-first sales approach designed specifically for contractors and service businesses. You’ll learn how to stand out in crowded markets, build trust faster, and turn conversations into committed clients, without pressure or awkward selling. Whether you’re trying to increase your close rate, improve your follow-up strategy, or create better offers that actually convert, this episode will give you actionable steps you can implement immediately. If you want to grow your business, attract better clients, and win more jobs in 2026, start here. What You’ll Learn: → You’ll discover Daniel’s proven 4-step discovery process that helps contractors qualify better leads, uncover real client motivations, and tailor solutions that actually convert. The conversation also dives into the “good, better, best” offer strategy and how it shifts the customer mindset from yes/no decisions to empowered buying choices that increase your chances of closing. → You’ll also learn how to follow up without sounding desperate by using value-driven touchpoints that keep you top of mind, plus why most sales are lost simply because businesses stop following up too early. On top of that, Daniel explains how to identify your ideal customer profile so your marketing and sales finally align, and stop wasting time on the wrong clients. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:12 How Buying Behavior Has Changed 05:33 Value-First Sales Explained 11:20 The 4-Step Discovery Process 18:45 How to Identify Your Ideal Customer 25:10 Good Better Best Offer Strategy 32:40 Why Most Follow-Up Fails 38:15 The Right Follow-Up System 45:20 Metrics That Actually Matter 50:10 How to Build Sales Momentum Fast 55:30 Final Takeaways Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links: AI Visibility Scorecard Builders Visibility Blueprint DND Website DND Youtube Email Template for 5 Star Reviews  Facebook Facebook Group LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min
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About

Are you a small business owner, contractor, or entrepreneur in the construction industry struggling to manage and grow your business? The Builder’s Edge is here to help you create the business you want, one that doesn’t consume your life but works for you. Hosted by an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, this podcast dives into the real challenges business owners face, too few leads, too many leads with no system, overwhelming workloads, pricing struggles, staffing headaches, and managing your reputation.

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