7 Reports Every Builder Should Review Weekly (That Most Don’t)

If you’re running a busy construction business, reviewing your numbers probably feels like a luxury. But builders who skip financial visibility are the same ones asking, “Where’d the money go?” at the end of the job.

The truth is, the difference between a profitable builder and a stretched-thin one often comes down to a simple habit: reviewing the right reports every week while the job is still active.

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Here are 7 reports every builder should be reviewing weekly to stay in control of their numbers, their jobs, and their margin.

1. Master Budgets Report

This is your all-in-one financial command center showing each job’s budget, actuals, undrawn costs, unpaid bills, open POs, and more.

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Use it to:

• See which jobs are off-track
• Spot margin erosion early
• Compare committed vs. actual costs in real time

This is the first report you should pull every Monday morning.

2. Undrawn Costs Report

This report surfaces every dollar that’s been spent but hasn’t been drawn yet.

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Why it matters:

• Prevents cash flow gaps
• Flags delays in draw requests
• Helps you track vendor work vs. payment status

No more scrambling the night before a draw is due.

3. WIP Report

Work-in-Progress isn’t just for your accountant.

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Reviewing WIP weekly helps you:

• Track earned revenue vs. invoiced revenue
• Know whether you’re ahead or behind on billing
• Spot over/underbilling patterns that hurt margin

It’s not just a compliance report, it’s a decision-making tool.

4. Unpaid Bills (with Credits) by Job

This report shows all outstanding bills by job and cost code, so you’re not surprised when checks need to go out.

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Why it matters:

• Helps you manage AP by job
• Ensures no vendor slips through the cracks
• Keeps your field + office aligned on what’s still owed

5. All Transactions

Think of this as your audit trail. All bills, receipts, POs, and draws in one place, fully searchable and filterable.

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Weekly review tip:

• Scan for miscoded costs or duplicate entries
• Catch data entry errors before they compound
• Confirm receipts are being categorized in real time

6. Credit Card Reconciliation

Every uncategorized credit card charge is a potential margin leak.

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This report shows:

• Transactions with missing receipts
• Unmatched or unapproved charges
• Gaps between spending and documentation

Close the loop before your accountant has to guess where it goes.

7. Vendor Compliance Docs

Compliance isn’t just paperwork, it’s risk mitigation. If a sub’s insurance has expired and there’s an incident, you’re exposed.

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Weekly review helps you:

• Avoid liability
• Prevent delays on payment approvals
• Keep lien waivers and COIs up to date

Why Weekly?

Because your margins depend on your ability to catch things early.

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Builders who review these 7 reports weekly:

• Make faster decisions
• Stay cash flow positive
• Protect their profit

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And if you're using Adaptive, you already have these reports built in (no spreadsheets required).

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