618: A Deep Dive Into Gross Profit Margin For Construction Contractors

This Podcast Is Episode 618, And It's About A Deep Dive Into Gross Profit Margin For Construction Contractors

Understanding and managing your gross profit margin is crucial to ensuring the sustainability and profitability of your business as a construction contractor. This key financial metric not only reflects your company's financial health but also helps guide your pricing strategies, project management decisions, and overall strategic planning.

Profit is the money left in your business after all your expenses have been paid. An income statement (also referred to as a profit and loss report) reveals what profit your construction company made last month or last quarter. Your profits are detailed in two figures, namely:

• Gross profit is what's left from sales after deducting the costs of goods sold or services provided.
• Net profit is left from gross profit after operating expenses (your business overheads) are deducted.

Note that net profit isn't the final 'bottom line' profit until all taxes have been paid.

Gaining more significant profits depends on accomplishing all the little things better rather than making one huge change.

What is Gross Profit Margin?

Gross profit margin is calculated by subtracting the cost of goods sold (COGS) from total revenue and dividing that figure by total revenue. The formula looks like this:

Gross Profit Margin (%) = (Net Sales – Cost of Goods Sold) ÷ Net Sales x 100

Breaking it down:

1. Net Sales: This is your total revenue after subtracting returns, discounts, and allowances.
2. Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): For construction contractors, COGS typically includes direct costs associated with a project, such as materials, labor, and subcontractor fees. This margin provides insight into how efficiently a contractor manages these costs relative to their revenue.

For example, your small construction business earns $50,000 monthly in net sales, and your COGS totals $20,000.

To calculate: 

Gross Profit Margin = ($50,000 – $20,000) ÷ $50,000 x 100 = 60%

This means 60% of your revenue contributes to covering overheads, like rent and salaries, and eventually becomes profit.

Why is Gross Profit Margin Important?

1. Financial Health Indicator: A robust gross profit margin indicates that contractors can cover operating expenses and generate profit. Contractors with thin margins may struggle to survive during economic downturns or project disputes.

2. Pricing Strategy: Understanding your gross profit margin promotes better pricing strategies. If the margins are too low, it may be time to reevaluate how you bid on projects or manage costs.

3. Operational Efficiency: Analyzing gross profit margins can help identify inefficiencies in project management. If specific projects consistently yield low margins, it may indicate underlying issues that need addressing, such as waste or mismanagement of resources.

4. Benchmarking: Comparing your gross profit margins to industry standards can offer insights into your competitive position. While margins vary based on project type and geographical location, knowing where you stand can help identify areas for improvement.

What is a Good Gross Profit Margin?

In the construction industry, gross profit margins generally range from 10% to 20%. However, this can vary based on the type of projects (residential vs. commercial), market conditions, and geographic area. High-demand markets allow for higher margins, whereas competitive bidding environments push margins lower.

Reevaluate Your Gross Profit Percentage - Another area most construction company owners let fall between the cracks is gross profit on the material. Gross profit is the difference ­between revenue and the cost of the material before overhead.

Here Are Some Thoughts On Gross Profits:

• Lower prices do not always equate to increased sales.
• Sales resulting from lower prices will require you to sell more to maintain the same level of profitability.

Generally speaking, raising your gross profit on materials by 1% would require a 4% increase in overall sales to realize the same gain. Increasing sales is always desirable, but, in reality, you have more control over your estimating and pricing than you do over sales or potential sales. People who buy from you solely due to pricing are customers, not clients; they belong to whoever has the lowest prices in the marketplace.

How to Improve Your Gross Profit Margin

1. Accurate Estimation: Invest time in accurately estimating project costs. Underestimating costs can lead to lower margins and financial strain.

2. Increase your prices: If your products or services are underpriced, gradually increase prices. Outline the value you provide so clients understand what they're paying for.

3. Reduce your COGS

• Source raw materials strategically: Negotiate with suppliers for discounts or bulk deals.
• Lower manufacturing costs: Consider automating manual processes to reduce labor costs in the long term.

4. Regular Financial Reviews: Conduct regular reviews of your financials to identify trends and areas for improvement. Analyzing project performance can highlight where margins can be improved.

5. Effective Resource Management: Ensure labor and materials are allocated efficiently. Reducing waste and improving productivity can have a direct positive impact on margins.

6. Negotiate Better Rates: Cultivate strong relationships with suppliers and subcontractors. Negotiating better rates can directly affect your COGS and improve your margins.

7. Invest in Technology: Utilize project management software to streamline operations, improve communication, and enhance budgeting. These tools can help manage costs more effectively and keep projects on track.

Gross Profit Margin isn't just an abstract financial concept – it's a powerful tool. It provides insights into your business's efficiency and profitability and helps guide critical pricing, cost management, and scalability decisions. 

Don't underestimate the impact of regularly tracking your Gross Profit Margin – it can help you adapt to challenges, make smarter decisions, and ultimately achieve long-term success.

Conclusion

Gross profit margin is a vital metric for construction contractors, influencing everything from financial health to pricing and project management. By understanding and actively managing this figure, contractors like you can enhance operational efficiency, boost profitability, and ensure long-term success.

Keep assessing your projects, refining your estimates, and adapting to market changes to maintain a healthy gross profit margin and drive your construction business forward.

About The Author:

Sharie DeHart, QPA, is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood, Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations and offers insights on managing the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. Call 1-800-361-1770 or [e-mail]