In today's competitive landscape, excavation and septic contractors are constantly seeking ways to improve their efficiency and profitability. The Excavator Innovation Profits podcast has brought us an insightful conversation with Weston Zimmerman, the CEO of SynkedUp, a powerful software solution designed to revolutionize the way contractors manage their estimating, scheduling, and job costing processes.

The Profit Triangle: Mastering the Math and Resources

Weston begins by introducing the concept of the "Profit Triangle," which highlights the two critical factors that can make or break a contractor's profitability: math and resources. The math problem refers to accurately calculating overhead, labor rates, and profit margins, while the resources problem deals with ensuring that the estimated man-hours and materials are in line with the actual job requirements.

SynkedUp's Budgeting and Estimating Tools

Weston then delves into the features of SynkedUp, showcasing how the software addresses these profit-killing challenges. The budgeting tool allows contractors to input every dollar their business spends, from employee wages to equipment costs and overhead expenses. This comprehensive approach ensures that the contractor's man-hour rate is accurately calculated, accounting for all the necessary expenses to keep the business running.

The estimating process in SynkedUp is streamlined and efficient. Contractors can create work areas, drag and drop pre-built templates, and quickly adjust quantities and production rates to generate accurate, profitable estimates in a matter of minutes. The software automatically calculates the costs, overhead recovery, and profit margins, ensuring that the contractor is charging the right price for the job.

Seamless Proposal and Invoicing Workflow

Weston demonstrates how SynkedUp's proposal and invoicing features further enhance the contractor's efficiency. Once the estimate is complete, the contractor can send the proposal directly to the client, who can then review, approve, and electronically sign the document. The integration with QuickBooks Online ensures a seamless invoicing process, with the job costing data automatically synced to the accounting software.

Job Scheduling and Tracking

The podcast also covers SynkedUp's job scheduling and tracking capabilities. Contractors can easily drag and drop jobs onto their calendar, assign crew members, and track the actual time and material usage against the original estimate. This real-time job costing data provides valuable insights, allowing contractors to identify areas for improvement and adjust their estimating process accordingly.

The Human Touch: SynkedUp's Onboarding and Support

Weston emphasizes the importance of SynkedUp's onboarding process, which includes a dedicated financial coach to help contractors set up their budgets and ensure the accuracy of their numbers. This white-glove approach ensures that contractors get the most out of the software and are equipped with the knowledge to make informed business decisions.

Conclusion

The Excavator Innovation Profits podcast has provided a comprehensive overview of how SynkedUp can revolutionize the way excavation and septic contractors manage their businesses. By addressing the critical profit-killing factors of math and resources, SynkedUp empowers contractors to streamline their estimating, scheduling, and job costing processes, ultimately leading to increased profitability and a more sustainable, thriving business.