The 3 Essentials Builders Need to Stay Profitable in 2025 and Beyond

You can’t outwork broken systems.

But that’s exactly what many builders are trying to do—grinding harder each week, even as jobs get more complex, costs fluctuate faster than you can quote, and admin becomes a full-time job in itself.

And somewhere in the middle of all this chaos?

Profit disappears.

Not because the builder isn’t good at what they do.

But because they’re operating without the three core foundations every modern building business needs to stay ahead.

Here’s what the data says.

Here’s what the top performers do.

And here’s what might be missing from your business right now.

1. Monthly Financial Reporting

According to the 2025 State of Residential Construction Industry Report (SORCI), builders who monitor finances regularly achieve a net profit margin of 6%, significantly higher than those who do not (4%).

Most builders rely on reports from their accountant or bookkeeper. But those are tax-driven reports—built for compliance, not clarity. They’re designed to keep the tax office happy, not to help you make smart business decisions.

Effective monthly financial reporting gives you a clear snapshot of your business—what’s working, what’s not, and what’s coming around the corner.

The Work In Progress Accounting Adjustment^© (WIPAA), for example, is a simple but powerful entry that aligns your income and expenses with the actual progress of your jobs.

Without it, your financials lie.

One month, you’ll show a massive profit.

The next, a huge loss.

And the whole time, your gut tells you something’s off.

With WIPAA^© in place, everything stabilises. You see the real profit margins. You understand what’s coming down the line. You make decisions based on reality—not guesswork.

And when you combine this with monthly cashflow forecasting, that’s when everything changes.

Cashflow—not profit—is what keeps your business alive. It’s the money that hits your account and pays your staff and your bills. And when you start forecasting it regularly, you stop being blindsided by slow payments, delayed variations, or end-of-month surprises.

The result?

More confidence.

Less stress.

And financial reports that finally make sense.

2. Systemisation

If your business relies on your presence, your memory, and your constant involvement—you’re not running a company. You’re running yourself into the ground.

Systemisation changes that.

When your processes are clearly defined and consistently followed:

• Staff know what to do and when
• Projects stay on track without handholding
• Clients get a professional, reliable experience
• Admin doesn’t pile up
• And you finally get time back to lead, plan, and grow

From automated workflows to clear project milestones, builders who systemise gain more than efficiency—they gain freedom.

And when your business runs without chaos, profit naturally improves.

3. Modern Technology

Most builders didn’t start their business because they loved admin.

But if you’re still running on spreadsheets, disjointed tools, or old-school systems… admin might be running you.

Modern construction software can change that—but the key is finding a platform that fits your workflow, not the other way around.

The right tech helps you:

• Track jobs and schedules in real time
• Manage client communication and selections
• Generate accurate takeoffs and costings
• Automate repetitive admin tasks
• Get clear financial insights (including WIP and cashflow)
• Integrate with accounting platforms to avoid double-handling

Tools like JACK App, for example, bring many of these capabilities together in one builder-friendly platform—making it easier to manage projects, cashflow, and communication in one place.

It’s not about having more software. It’s about having smarter software that cuts complexity and gives you time back.

Final Thoughts

If your business is growing, but your stress levels are too…

If your jobs are busy, but your profits are unpredictable…

Or if you’re stuck reacting instead of leading…

Then it might be time to reassess the foundations.

• Monthly financial reporting (with WIP and cashflow forecasting)
• Clear, consistent systems
• And builder-first technology that makes your life easier, not harder

These aren’t just operational tweaks. They’re profit levers.

And when you pull them?

You won’t just survive—you’ll scale with confidence.

Disclaimer: This article is a sponsored post written in collaboration with JACK App.