Why Small Contractors Keep Losing Money on Jobs | Roy Coughlan

Welcome to a new episode of I’m The Gaffer 👷‍♂️ If you're a construction business owner who only checks your numbers once a year with your accountant — you're running your company blind and it's costing you real money. In this episode, Roy Coughlan, entrepreneur and host of multiple top-charting podcasts, breaks down why most contractors lose money not because of lack of work — but because they don't control their numbers, systems, and pricing. You’ll learn: Why guessing job prices can wipe out your profits The simple financial systems many contractors still ignore Why no one cares about your money more than you How contractors miss valuable tax deductions The 80/20 rule of AI and how it applies to business How AI can help with contracts, pricing, and marketing Why contractors who adopt AI early will gain an advantage Sponsored by Hustro.com Hustro.com – the simplest construction management software. Spend 75% less time on inspections and reports and streamline your construction documentation. Start and claim 2 months free using code “GAVIN”→ https://hustro.com/gavin 🎯 Episode Highlights (Timestamps / Chapters) 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Roy Coughlan’s background and entrepreneurial journey 06:15 Why contractors miss tax deductions 08:26 Why many contractors guess job pricing 10:53 How one badly priced job can wipe out profits 12:53 How AI can create contracts and estimates in minutes 16:11 The 80/20 rule when using AI 17:08 Using AI for marketing and business growth 18:02 Why AI will improve jobs rather than replace them 19:41 From construction to podcasting 21:44 How Roy built a podcast coaching business 23:06 Why podcasting is underrated for business growth 26:05 What makes a podcast successful 26:42 Why promoting in the wrong places doesn’t work 27:23 Using YouTube and AI tools to grow an audience 28:55 Why targeting the right audience matters 30:10 Marketing lessons for contractors 31:57 Roy on property, business models and entrepreneurship 33:06 Roy’s virtual assistant business explained 34:40 Fiverr, Upwork and building long-term relationships 39:18 Roy’s advice on hiring and working with contractors 40:06 Why construction doesn’t have to be your only path 41:29 Knowing when it’s time to change direction 43:30 Roy’s advice to entrepreneurs 44:26 What Roy would do differently in life 45:00 Roy’s favourite book 45:45 Roy’s favourite destination 46:41 A surprising fact about Roy 47:13 Where to connect with Roy 48:00 Final message to listeners 48:18 Episode wrap-up Connect with Roy Coughlan Website https://roycoughlan.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/roycoughlan About the Podcast I’m The Gaffer, hosted by construction professional Gavin Coyle, brings together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts to share real insights on leadership, growth, and success in the construction industry. Listen on Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@imthegafferpodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more insights for construction business owners and leaders. #ImTheGaffer #Construction #ConstructionBusiness #ContractorGrowth #ConstructionLeadership #AIInConstruction #BusinessSystems