Retainage, progress billing, and a backlog that says one thing while the bank account says another.

Contractors carry a cash problem the P&L will not show. Work is billed on progress, held back on retainage, and paid on a schedule set by whoever is above you in the chain — so a strong quarter and an empty account are completely compatible.

I run a multi-state exterior construction company. These are the exact tools I use, made simple enough for any contractor, GC or trade to run in five minutes.

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What the operator behind this actually runs

3 states

NC, SC and VA operations

4 divisions

Residential, commercial, remodeling, custom

Every Friday

Crews, weather delays and a payroll run

The six that matter here

Every one below comes from running real jobs with real crews and real payroll. Each links to a free tool that addresses it.

01Cash Flow Gaps Kill ContractorsYou pay crews, buy materials, and rent equipment weeks before the customer pays. One slow payment and you're scrambling for payroll. A 13-week cash forecast turns panic into planning.Cash Flow Forecaster →02Job Costing Is a Guessing GameMost contractors know their total revenue and total costs — but can't tell you margin by job type, by crew, or by customer. That's where money leaks and you don't even know it.Margin Analyzer →03Pricing Based on 'What the Market Will Bear'Translation: you're guessing. A 35% markup is not a 35% margin — and that confusion costs the average contractor $100K+ per year in underpriced work.Pricing Calculator →04Growing Into BankruptcyMore jobs = more cash out the door before you collect. The most dangerous moment for a contractor is winning too much work without the cash to float it.Break-Even Calculator →05Hiring Without the MathA $65K project manager actually costs $95K in year one after benefits, truck, phone, training, and ramp time. Make sure you can afford the hire before you make the offer.Hiring Calculator →06No CFO — No Strategic DirectionMost contractors under $50M don't have a CFO. They have a bookkeeper, maybe a controller. That means nobody is looking forward — just closing the books and hoping.AI CFO Advisor →

Built by someone in the trenches

I'm not a consultant who “advises” construction companies. I run one. CHE Companies does exterior construction across NC, SC and VA — roofing, siding, gutters, windows, commercial. We manage crews, deal with weather delays, fight for collections, and make payroll every Friday.

Every tool on this platform exists because I needed it first. The cash flow forecaster was built when I almost missed a materials payment. The margin analyzer found a service line losing money that I thought was profitable. The AI advisor answers the questions I used to stay up at night worrying about.

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Ready to stop flying blind?

Start with the diagnostic — fifteen questions, five minutes, and a punch list in priority order for a construction business.

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