Profit First for Contractors by Shawn Van Dyke Summary

Profit First for Contractors adapts Mike Michalowicz’s Profit First system for construction businesses, teaching contractors to prioritize profit by allocating income to dedicated accounts before covering expenses. Shawn Van Dyke provides a step-by-step framework to escape the "Craftsman Cycle" (chronic unprofitability) through financial discipline, markup/margin clarity, and cash flow management. The book includes real-world examples, bank account structuring strategies, and actionable pricing formulas.

This book is essential for construction business owners, contractors, and subcontractors struggling with cash flow or inconsistent profits. It’s particularly valuable for those who underprice services, confuse markup with margin, or lack financial systems. New contractors will gain foundational money-management skills, while seasoned professionals learn to systematize profitability.

Yes—it offers a proven framework to transform financially unstable contracting businesses into profitable enterprises. Van Dyke’s construction-specific adaptations (e.g., job costing, subcontractor management) make it more actionable than generic financial guides. Readers praise its clear steps to set profit targets, pay owners fairly, and avoid common pricing pitfalls.

The Craftsman Cycle describes a destructive pattern where contractors:

• Chase endless work but remain unprofitable
• Undercharge due to flawed pricing models
• Neglect owner compensation and taxes
• Operate in constant survival mode

Van Dyke argues this cycle persists due to poor financial habits, not lack of skill or effort. Breaking it requires prioritizing profit allocations and adopting disciplined cash management.

Traditional: Sales – Expenses = Profit
Profit First: Sales – Profit = Expenses

This inversion forces contractors to treat profit as a non-negotiable expense. By allocating predetermined percentages to a Profit Account first (e.g., 5-15% of revenue), businesses build sustainable margins. Remaining funds are divided into Owner’s Pay, Taxes, and Operating Expenses accounts.

Van Dyke advises five separate accounts:

1. Income: All revenue enters here first
2. Profit: 5-15% of income (never touched for expenses)
3. Owner’s Pay: 20-50% for owner salaries
4. Tax: 15-25% for quarterly payments
5. Operating Expenses: Remaining funds for bills

This structure creates financial visibility and spending constraints.

Unlike traditional models where owners get paid last, this dedicated account ensures:

• Consistent paychecks for the owner’s labor
• Separation of ownership profit (Profit Account) and work compensation
• Prevention of personal financial crises affecting business decisions

Van Dyke emphasizes this as foundational to escaping the Craftsman Cycle.

The book provides formulas and rules of thumb to:

• Calculate true job costs (materials, labor, subs)
• Apply markup percentages that cover overhead + profit
• Avoid the "cost-plus" trap where higher sales don’t equal higher profits

Example: A 50% markup on $10,000 costs yields $15,000 revenue, but only 33% gross margin.

Yes—Van Dyke shares case studies of contractors who:

• Increased profit margins from 2% to 15% in 6 months
• Eliminated tax debt using the Tax Account system
• Transitioned from 80-hour workweeks to owner-free operations

These examples demonstrate the system’s scalability for small crews and multi-million-dollar firms.

Some contractors find:

• The 5-account system initially complicates bookkeeping
• Aggressive profit targets require price increases that may deter price-sensitive clients
• Gradual percentage adjustments (e.g., increasing profit from 5% to 15%) demand patience

Van Dyke addresses these by providing transition timelines and negotiation scripts for value-based pricing.

Van Dyke’s version adds construction-specific tactics:

• Job costing templates adjusted for change orders
• Subcontractor payment workflows
• Progress billing alignment with account allocations
• Equipment depreciation strategies

It also simplifies financial terms for contractors without accounting backgrounds.

1. Profit isn’t residual—it’s a planned expense
2. Bank account segregation enforces financial discipline
3. Owner pay should reflect market-rate salaries, not leftovers
4. Pricing must account for both direct costs and profit targets
5. Regular financial checkups prevent backsliding into the Craftsman Cycle

Van Dyke recommends a 90-day rollout:

• Weeks 1-2: Open 5 bank accounts
• Weeks 3-4: Set initial allocation percentages
• Month 2: Adjust pricing to meet targets
• Month 3: Optimize expenses and automate transfers

Most contractors see improved cash flow within 60 days, with full profitability in 6-12 months.

With rising material costs and labor shortages, contractors face thinner margins than ever. Van Dyke’s system helps businesses:

• Weather supply chain disruptions through profit buffers
• Price services to reflect post-pandemic market realities
• Retain talent with competitive wages funded by proper allocations

Updated case studies in recent editions address AI estimating tools and remote team management.