Let’s be real: running a contracting business isn’t easy. You’ve got jobs to do, clients to manage, and money to chase. It’s no wonder that a lot of contracting businesses struggle or worse, shut down.
But here’s the good news: most failures happen for simple, avoidable reasons. Let’s break down the top 3 and how to fix them using Dave.
1. Disorganized Jobs = Missed Money
The Problem
Losing track of project notes, forgetting to send invoices, mixing up client feedback—these are the little things that add up to lost time and lost revenue. Most contractors don’t fail because of bad workmanship, they fail because the back office is chaos.
The Fix: Get Everything in One Place
With Dave, every job has a home. Notes, photos, files, client feedback, estimates, and invoices are all tied to the project so nothing slips through the cracks.
Here’s how it helps:
- Never forget to bill for work again
- See all your project info in one clean dashboard
- Reference notes and photos while you quote (no more guessing)
🛠️ Try this: Upload all your jobsite photos and notes to Dave after each visit. It takes 2 minutes and saves hours later.
2. Cash Flow Crashes
The Problem
You’re waiting on checks, chasing clients for signatures, and floating material costs out of pocket. That’s a recipe for a cash crunch, especially when jobs overlap or slow down.
The Fix: Faster Invoices + Client Approvals
Dave makes it easy to send professional estimates and invoices by email or text. You get notified when a client views them, and they can approve or comment right from the message.
Bonus: You’ll soon be able to accept online payments and sync to QuickBooks.
Here’s how Dave keeps your cash moving:
- Send estimates & invoices faster
- Get notified when they’re viewed
- Add contracts and e-signatures with one click
- Track what's been approved, paid, or is overdue
💡 Tip: Send invoices the moment the job wraps, not “whenever you get around to it.” Dave makes that a 30-second job.
3. No Reviews = No New Leads
The Problem
You do great work, but no one knows it. Without reviews, your business looks invisible online. That kills your chances of winning local jobs, especially when homeowners are Googling contractors near them.
The Fix: Turn Every Job Into a 5-Star Review
Dave helps you ask for reviews at just the right time when your client is happy and the work looks great. You can even include photos from the job to help clients remember how awesome it turned out.
Here’s how to grow your rep:
- Pick 2-3 jobsite photos in Dave
- Send a review request via text or email
- Include your Google review link
- Get notified when the review comes in
📈 Pro move: Make review requests part of your job closeout checklist. It only takes a minute and brings in the next job.
Keep It Simple, Stay in Business
Running a contracting business doesn’t have to be complicated. But you do need systems that keep you organized, paid, and visible.
Dave was built for that because we’ve talked to enough contractors to know that doing the work isn’t the hard part. It’s everything else.
Want to see how Dave can keep your business strong?
Book a free demo and we’ll show you how to avoid the pitfalls and build something that lasts.