Still guessing where the profit went after a job wraps? This article lays out a simple “bid → build → measure → adjust” loop that turns every project into better estimates: track labor and material costs as you go, compare actuals to the bid at closeout, and feed the learnings into the next proposal. It’s a practical way to cut repeat mistakes, tighten cash-flow visibility, and protect margins, without adding chaos.

Let’s be honest, too many trade contractors are stuck in an endless loop: Bid, Build, Move On, Repeat. It’s a cycle that leaves money on the table and blindsides teams with costly surprises. The reason? Skipping the critical steps of measuring and adjusting after every project.

According to the Autodesk and FMI Corp., bad data may have caused $1.8 trillion in losses worldwide and also be responsible for 14% of avoidable rework.

But the solution isn’t complicated. Adding “measure” and “adjust” to your process closes the loop and gives you the power to grow profitably. At Knowify, we’ve seen thousands of contractors transform their businesses simply by embracing this disciplined cycle.

As Steve Coughran, a construction profitability expert, put it on our recent Cost Code Show podcast:

“If you’re not maintaining a WIP and if you’re not doing job costing, you’re going to be dead. Maybe you’ll survive, but eventually, you’re going to die. You have to have this iterative process—bid, build, measure, and adjust.”

—Steve Coughran, Founder, Coltivar

It’s time to take the guesswork out of construction. Here’s how.

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