3 Mistakes That Cost Me $30K as a New Contractor (And How I Fixed Them) #ContractorTips #StartupFail

I lost over $30,000 when I started my contracting business — and I’m not sharing theory. I lived this.

Here’s what I did wrong:
 1. No contract. Just a handshake. The client added more and more mid-project. I had no proof — so I had to do it for free.
 2. Accepted a check. It bounced. I had already started demo and bought materials. I never saw that money again.
 3. Paid helpers upfront. Some ghosted me. Others left the job half done. I was paying people to disappear.

It nearly crushed my business.

Here’s what I do now:
 • I don’t start a job without a signed agreement outlining what’s included, what’s not, and when change orders apply.
 • I use payment processors or wait for checks to clear — no exceptions.
 • I pay helpers in phases, tied to real progress, not promises.

This shift turned my business from unstable to scalable. It gave me peace of mind — and real profits.

If you’re new to contracting or just tired of getting burned, watch this before you make the same mistakes.

Next video: Is a franchise actually a good option for starting a flooring business?

#ContractorTips #StartupFails