Why it happens
It's rarely one big thing. More often it's five or six small leaks that nobody is measuring:
- Jobs or customers that lose money, hiding inside the averages
- Pricing set three years ago, against today's labor and materials
- Doing the work now and getting paid sixty or ninety days later
- A crew or department that looks busy but is actually producing a negative contribution margin
- Errors in the financials: costs coded to the wrong place, or books set up for the tax return rather than for running the business
So you work harder and sell more. But if the work you're selling loses money, more of it digs the hole faster.
Why it's hard to see from the inside
When you're in the middle of it, you're answering the phone, fixing the schedule and covering for whoever called in sick. It's hard to step back and look at the whole picture.
A fresh, experienced set of eyes, working alongside your team and your existing advisors, can often spot patterns that are difficult to see day to day.
How the 90 days work
- Get control of cash (days 1 to 14). This is urgent, so we hit it hard. Within two weeks you'll have a thirteen-week cash forecast and know exactly where you stand.
- Stop the bleeding (days 15 to 60). Drawing on the full breadth of my commercial experience, we work through what needs fixing, in order of priority, to right the ship. That can include pricing, collections and working capital. I do this inside the business, alongside your team.
- Set the course for the next chapter (days 61 to 90). Reporting you trust, delivered on time, clear owners for the decisions that all land on your desk today, and a plan for what comes next.
By day 90, the goal is to have reliable financial reporting, a clear understanding of where the business is making and losing money, and a practical plan to improve cash flow and profitability.
Just as importantly, we want to build the systems and accountability needed to make those improvements last.
Ongoing advisory support is available afterwards, and can be discussed once we've completed a successful first 90 days.