Systems & Operations Discovery Overview
You've got good people and steady work. But jobs still run over, handoffs get dropped, and too many decisions end up back on your desk.
That's what the Systems & Operations Discovery is built to find. It's a 3-day, fixed-fee contractor operations review that shows how work moves from sale to job site to closeout, and where it breaks down.
Who It's For
This Discovery is built for established, owner-led contractors with 10 to 100 employees:
At that size, the way work gets done matters as much as the work itself. More jobs, more crews, and more people in the chain mean small gaps turn into real costs.
It's a good fit if:
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Jobs and handoffs break down between sales, the office, and the field
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Projects run over on time or budget and nobody can say exactly why
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Everything still runs through you
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You're ready to grow but need more structure first
Problems It Uncovers
A Systems & Operations Discovery is built to show you:
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Where a job loses time or money between the sale and closeout
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Which handoffs depend on one person remembering to do the right thing
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Where the owner is the bottleneck, and which decisions could move to your team
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Where your contractor business systems are missing, informal, or not being followed
What We Review
We've spent 5 decades in the consulting arena and talked with more than 10,000 trade business owners. Too often, good contractors are making decisions without good numbers. So we start with your records.
We'll ask for access to key records, including:
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Your financials, typically 2 to 3 years of P&Ls or income statements
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How you job cost
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How you estimate and schedule
We review your records, interview you, and then walk you through what we found. You'll need to set aside a few hours for the opening interview and the findings meeting. Before any detailed information changes hands, we sign a non-disclosure agreement. We never share your information or name our clients.
What You Get
At the findings meeting, we sit down with you and walk through:
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Honest answers about what's really slowing your operations down
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Clear priorities, so you fix the right things in the right order
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A practical plan built around your company, not a generic program
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A clear view of what improvement could be worth to your bottom line
After that, you choose. You can put the plan in place on your own, work with us through coaching, or bring us in as a fractional advisor. You can also do nothing. There's no pressure either way.
Timeline and Price
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Fee: $1,500, fixed
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Duration: 3 days
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Guarantee: No deposit. If you're not satisfied with the findings, you pay no fee. The guarantee covers the Discovery fee; on-site travel expenses are billed separately.
Where:
Remote-first. Most of the work is done with your records and video calls, so we serve contractors anywhere in the country from our base in Greensboro, NC. If you'd like us on-site, we're happy to come, with travel expenses covered by you.
Why a Fixed Fee
With a fixed fee, you know the cost before we start. Our job is to deliver, not to run the clock. What we bring is experience in the business of construction and a focus on the systems, methods, and controls that make a contractor more profitable and less dependent on the owner. No honest advisor can promise a specific result; that comes from you and your team doing the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from a general construction business assessment?
It's focused. This Discovery looks at how work moves through your company and where it breaks down. If you want profit, operations, sales, and leadership reviewed together, the Full Contractor Deep Dive covers everything. We'll help you decide on the fit call.
Do you install software?
No. Software implementation is outside our scope. As a construction operations consultant, we focus on the systems, methods, and controls behind the tools. When you need software help, we'll refer you to trusted professionals in our network.
Do I need a Discovery before coaching or fractional advisory?
In most cases, yes. We don't recommend solutions before we understand the problem.
Can you work with me if I'm not in North Carolina?
Yes. We work with contractors anywhere in the country, mostly remotely. On-site visits are available with travel expenses covered by you.
What if I don't see the value?
Then you don't pay. There's no deposit, and the fee is only due if you're satisfied with the findings.
Find Out Where Your Operations Break Down
Not sure whether the Systems & Operations Discovery is the right place to start?
Book a free 20-minute fit call. We'll talk about your business, your biggest challenges, and your goals, and we'll both know whether a Discovery makes sense.
No sales pitch, no obligation, and every Discovery comes with our satisfaction guarantee.
Want a quick read first? Take the free Contractor Profit Leak Check Scorecard.