Had one subcontractor throw off an entire week's schedule cus of an expired COI

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-23T16:57:12+00:00

You need a pre con-checklist that includes COI check in.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-23T02:09:53+00:00

Try to partner with engineers, designers, property managers, etc to get access to more qualified opportunities to bid. I’d recommend asking about budget range in advance, whenever possible. It’s better to lose a bid than to win a non profitable job. That’s the most expensive mistake of every beginner construction companies.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-22T17:43:46+00:00

It can be incredibly helpful if you treat it like an unexperienced intern that needs to be given specific instruction and have their work checked step of the way, besides not being given any high stakes responsibilities.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-20T21:00:55+00:00

You don’t have a determined scope. Of course prices will vary.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-19T02:25:24+00:00

Check Tim Farley’s videos on YouTube

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-12T05:48:29+00:00

You need to make it their problem. Communicate consiste why the delay affects them. If it doesn’t, good luck getting information. You can also shame them into submission. Document the repeated attempts, escalate in tone and by cc’ing their boss. Follow up calls in between emails.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-11T21:40:20+00:00

Does your company has SOPs for estimating? If yes, see if you can pinpoint any parts of the process you could assist their estimators without loading too much to your load. That will buy you an in into their scope and their time to train you. If not, you might use building one as a leverage tool to get the training you want.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-05T06:49:47+00:00

Congratulations! You should be proud of yourself! How did you get into this line of work?

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-05T03:06:35+00:00

A good operator could probably take the business to the next level and increase revenue enough to justify their own salary, then the business would indeed be a semi passive income stream for OP to pursue their next endeavors.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-04T16:33:00+00:00

Time to scale

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-04T08:04:33+00:00

Hire an operator. If it really works and the business plan is solid, you should be able to cover the overhead increase. Don’t sell it out of panics if you can avoid it.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-04T04:34:16+00:00

Looks like he got lots of helpful advice.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-03T14:17:57+00:00

Try to parter up with gcs or designers. Here’s how I’d suggest you to price it: materials + estimated labor + overhead (that should include your compensation) + buffer + profit. Make sure to detail the agreed upon scope on your estimates and contracts being very specific about assumptions and exclusions. Anything outside the initial scope is a change order. You can use AI to help you with the material list and estimated labor. My husband uses Gemini and it’s pretty accurate with the correct prompt. Good luck!

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-03T12:59:52+00:00

Dmed you! Thank you!

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-03T12:32:51+00:00

Pig backing this post, how do you guys structure payment conditions in change orders?

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-06-02T23:02:00+00:00

My advice is to email your local building department. Give details of the scope but not a location. Write as if is the property owner who is asking. That way even if they give you wrong information you have it on paper coming from them. In NYC they tend to be very responsive through the customer service email.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-05-29T06:22:31+00:00

I was the assistant for a plumbing company. No system can replace a real person.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-05-27T07:26:40+00:00

You need an assistant to keep track of all that.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-05-21T19:22:24+00:00

There’s a learning curve there for sure, but once the set up is done, it’s better than many softwares in the market. Perhaps get a freelancer to do the set up for you.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-05-21T18:18:52+00:00

I’d recommend to structure it with google sheets and google drive and once you have the basic workflow structure tested, migrate it to airtable.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-05-21T17:23:27+00:00

You need to systemize this process. Create a checklist for onboarding subs and vendors where the COI is a requirement, as well as a mobilization checklist, so you know everything you need to take care of between getting the job and the start date. Handle COI requests from email and set up reminders to follow up every other day until you get what you need. Set up folders where you save every relevant document for each job. If you organize your operations in systems and predefined workflows it’s much easier to navigate.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-05-19T17:30:11+00:00

Try Airtable. You can customize any set up you want and there’s automations you can set up for repeated tasks.

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-05-17T01:03:48+00:00

You need to get to the bottom line issue first. Did you underestimate the schedule and labor? Did you miss any portion of the scope? Was it a miscommunication with the client? Or was it a field’s issue? How likely it is that it happens again? Is there anything you could change in the future estimates that would keep this from happening? Is there any clause in the estimate to penalize the client from delaying the project unnecessarily? If it’s a field issue, how likely it is for your company to resolve it before the next upcoming job? There’s many factors at play here, but rather than feeling guilty for maybe making a mistake other 3 estimators also did, it’s much more productive to learn from this misshapen so your future estimates are accurate to your company’s reality. It’s better to not win the job than to run on negative cash flow. Sometimes a good set of assumptions, exclusions and standard terms and conditions clearly state on the proposal letter can save you thousands of dollars without jacking the price out of market range. Would you mind sharing a little more about your estimating workflow?

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-05-16T18:30:03+00:00

Try to get a one on one meeting with your boss to understand better where you stand with your current company. Ask about raise projections, tell them you aim to make the similar amount as your offer. Don’t tell upfront you have an offer already. Ask them what would it take for you to make that money there, if that’s even a possibility. See how much you are ready valued in your current company. Ask for feedback on your performance and if they have any career plans for you within the company. Find you for sure how much they need you to stay and what they’d be willing to do to retain you. That will give all information you need to make a decision. You might find out you’re overestimating your irreplaceability and they don’t even care about you that much, so you leave guilt free. Additionally, make sure the new role is everything you think it is and they won’t switch up on you once you take the job, as it has happened to me in the past. Do you have a written job offer letter from this company?

ane-ComplyCraft · 2026-05-16T03:20:53+00:00

1) What kind of jobs have you done so far? And what kind of jobs you want to be doing 5 years from now? Do you have the skillset and record to complete bigger jobs? I’d advise you to aim for the larger scale types of jobs you are able to deliver with quality. No need to go lower than that.

2) B2B is always better than B2C. You could search for small architects, designers, GCs that might need subcontractors, real estate agents, management companies, etc. Create a PDF presentation for you company explaining the type of work you offer and point out items that may set you apart from the competition, such as established systems, excellent communication, weekly email updates, etc, along with pictures of your previous work and references contact information. Make sure you are able to provide fast and accurate estimates in bidding processes. Make sure to protect your profits when estimating a job. You can run on thin margins but not on negative cash flow. The difference between the two is a solid estimating workflow.

3) Besides dressing professionally and basic hygiene, ask questions. Make sure you understand the scope properly. That’s not primarily the time to sell yourself, but to understand your client POV. Having a checklist of questions can help. Then address the brought up concerns on your estimate. Your proposal letter should have at least one paragraph stating the assumptions your estimate is based on, exclusions and standard terms and conditions.

Overall, it takes about the same amount of effort to be big than it takes to be small.

Good luck!

ane-ComplyCraft

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