"Monday morning you're gonna have $300,000 in your bank account, and Wednesday you're gonna have six nickels. And payroll's on Friday, and you gotta figure it out." Scott started Clear Grade Contracting with about $800, a 40 foot camper, and no plan. His wife worked three jobs. Four months in, they were talking about bankruptcy. Then he put $2,000 on a credit card for Google Ads, leaned into asphalt paving, and did $1.8 million in eight months. In this episode of the Land It Podcast, host Josh Stockel talks with Scott, a 13th generation dirt worker out of Jefferson, Georgia, about the things that actually kill new land clearing and excavation companies in the first 24 months, and what it took to get through them. What you'll learn in this episode: Why merchant cash advances are predatory lending, how they levy your bank account, and who is really behind themBusiness auto credit: the one thing to set up on day one that banks and dealers actually look at, no matter how much revenue you show themHow Net 30 accounts with quarries and supply houses cut Scott's rock cost nearly in halfThe legal exposure of mixing personal and business funds, including theft of payments for real property improvementsWhy paving ads produced a return when clearing and forestry mulching ads never didGeorgia's land disturbance permit and GSWCC requirements, and how they change your real cost per acreWhy bidding $5,500 an acre loses money once you count mobilization, erosion control, dumpsters, fuel, and knivesHow to figure your true monthly overhead carry, including the 10 percent you should be setting aside for breakdownsThe labor crisis in the dirt world, and why Scott hires 16 to 18 year olds and trains them from the ground upIf you're in your first two years of a land clearing, forestry mulching, excavation, grading, demolition, or paving business, or you're thinking about quitting your job to start one, listen to this before you sign anything. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: do not fall for an MCA 00:15 Meet Scott of Clear Grade Contracting 00:51 13 generations in the dirt world 02:43 Starting the business with $800 and a camper 06:27 The bonfire conversation that landed a $25,000 job 09:47 Getting approved for the tractor with no money down 12:20 The pivot to asphalt paving and $1.8 million in eight months 15:10 Why Google Ads worked for paving but not for clearing 15:57 Georgia permits, erosion control, and real cost per acre 17:20 Why $15,000 an acre is the honest number 20:00 Hobbyists, side gig guys, and the race to the bottom 22:22 How to sell against the $150 an hour competitor 26:04 Overhead, breakdowns, and knowing your true monthly carry 30:09 The biggest bottleneck to growth right now 33:37 The labor crisis: retiring veterans, job hoppers, and green operators 38:28 Hiring teenagers and building loyalty 01:01:04 Conversion of funds and separating personal from business 01:03:00 Advice for anyone starting a dirt work business 01:04:00 Business auto credit and why lenders don't care about your revenue 01:06:30 Net 30 accounts and cutting your rock cost in half 01:09:15 From Chapter 13 and $100 to $1.6 million 01:14:16 Merchant cash advances: how the trap actually works 01:18:41 Where to find Clear Grade Contracting Guest: Scott, Clear Grade Contracting, Jefferson, GA Website: https://www.cleargradecontracting.com Hosted by Josh Stockel of Blue Goat Land Leads. Get the book: Land It in the Dirt World by Josh Stockel, a playbook for contractors scaling a land clearing, excavation, or demolition business. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX More resources for dirt world contractors: https://www.landclearinginsights.com Enjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple or Spotify, and subscribe on YouTube. It's how other contractors find us. #LandClearing #Excavation #Demolition #ForestryMulching #Grading #AsphaltPaving #ContractorBusiness #DirtWorld
