How the top 10% of construction companies protect profit

Most builders think profit follows growth.

More projects, more revenue, more net, right?

But the top 10–15% of construction companies see things differently.

They don’t just work harder, they focus on three specific levers that actually move net profit:

1. Overhead efficiency

2. GP/week

3. Pre-construction management

This 3-part series breaks down each one, starting with the foundation of them all: Overhead Efficiency.

Let’s unpack the first one.

Overhead Efficiency = The Foundation of Net Profit

It’s not how much you spend, it’s what you get for it.

Most construction companies don’t have a revenue problem. They have an overhead problem.

Your goal isn’t to cut costs. It’s to make sure every overhead dollar produces return.

The most profitable builders create a system where overhead fuels profit instead of eating it.

Here’s how.

1. Audit Every Expense

Start with your Chart of Accounts. Go line by line.

For each item, ask:

• Can I renegotiate this?

• Can it be automated or eliminated?

• Does it generate measurable ROI?

Focus first on categories that quietly balloon over time:

• Insurance

• Marketing

• Admin payroll

• Software and tools

• Vehicle costs

• Professional fees

Quick math:

Cutting $10,000/month in overhead at a 25% margin removes $480,000/year in top-line pressure.

2. Turn Overhead Into Revenue

Cutting is good. Repurposing is better.

Look for ways to turn fixed costs into billable services. Your team is already doing valuable work, package it.

Billable examples:

• Pre-construction planning

• Design coordination

• Permitting

• Budget estimating

When your internal staff supports billable scopes, you offset overhead and strengthen cash flow.

Final Thought

It’s not about spending less. It’s about making every dollar count.

The companies growing profit fastest aren't hiring more, they’re squeezing more from what they’ve got.

At Highspire, we help builders benchmark their overhead, track GP/week, and build systems that protect margin.

Want to see how top builders track overhead and GP/week?

• Understand where overhead is wasted (and how to fix it)

• Benchmark your GP/week against high-profit peers

• Get a simple tool to start tracking both

• Turn internal roles into revenue drivers

👉 Book a strategy session with Highspire

Next in the Series

Part 2: GP/Week — The Metric That Predicts Profitability

We’ll break down how top builders measure project speed, performance, and margin in real time and why GP/week is often the most revealing number in your business.

Stay tuned.

Forward always,

Paul Atherton

CEO and Co-Founder, Highspire