Are You Running a Building Company or a Bank?

Most builders don’t realize it, but they’re running two businesses at once: The first one builds houses. The second one finances them.

Every time you front materials, pay subs before the client pays you, or wait 45 days for a draw, you’re acting as a bank.

And not a very profitable one.

The Hidden Cash Flow Trap

Construction cash flow is a balancing act, and most builders are walking the line blindfolded. You’re covering payroll, materials, and subs long before that money ever lands back in your account. In theory, the client’s draw should make you whole. In reality, most builders are constantly floating 20–40% of their total project costs with zero interest and zero guarantee.

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You’re not just building projects. You’re lending money to make them happen.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

Margins are tight. Timelines are stretched. And banks aren’t the only ones feeling the squeeze on liquidity. When your projects run 30 days behind on draws, or your approvals lag by a week, that’s real cash sitting in limbo. We’ve seen builders burn through hundreds of thousands in working capital simply because their billing cycle and payment schedule weren’t aligned.

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Cash flow isn’t just about timing. It’s about visibility- knowing exactly what’s committed, what’s pending, and what’s billable right now.

How Smart Builders Stay Cash Positive

The best builders think like CFOs. They treat cash flow as an asset to manage, not a problem to survive.

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Here’s how they stay out of the “builder-as-banker” trap:

• Use POs to lock in commitments early. You can’t manage what you haven’t defined. A clean purchase order process gives you visibility on spend before the invoice arrives.
• Sync spend to your draw schedule. If your billing cadence doesn’t match your cash cycle, you’re financing someone else’s timeline.
• Track labor in real time. Payroll is often your biggest cash drain. When labor costs are visible daily (not monthly) you can protect your float.
• Automate your approvals. Every day you delay an approval, you’re extending your own loan. Fast approvals = faster billing = faster cash recovery.

The Builder’s Mindset Shift

At the end of the day, great builders don’t think like contractors... they think like financial operators. They know where every dollar is, when it’s due, and what it’s doing.

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They don’t just build great homes, they build great balance sheets.

Takeaway

If your business runs out of cash before it runs out of work, you’re not a builder, you’re a banker.

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It’s time to stop financing projects and start managing them like assets.

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