
13 November 2025
281 - Are You Wasting 20% of Your Business Budget? with Duane Deason
The Cash Flow Contractor
About
What if you could immediately add 10-20% to your bottom line without changing your sales strategy? In this eye-opening conversation with cost management expert Duane Deason, you'll discover why most businesses unknowingly waste thousands in unnecessary expenses and how implementing a simple cost management system can transform your profitability. Perfect for contractors who feel the cash flow squeeze but don't know where to start cutting costs.
What You’ll Learn
- Why most companies waste 10-20% of their budget on expenses that don't improve operationsHow to identify hidden cash flow issues without becoming a financial expertSimple strategies to create accountability for company spendingWhy cost cutting should be celebrated, not viewed as failureHow to build a culture that protects your profit margins
Time Stamps
- 00:47 - Episode Intro02:54 - Introducing Duane Deason05:42 - Common Cost Issues in Businesses22:10 - Identifying Cash Flow Issues22:27 - Engaging Owners in Cost Management27:05 - Implementing Cost Management Centers31:04 - Incentivizing and Sustaining Cost Savings39:36 - Signature Authority
Snippets from the Episode
- "Most companies I work with have 10 to 20% of their expenses that could be eliminated without changing how they operate, that's low-hanging fruit that goes straight to the bottom line."- Duane Deason"Learn to be comfortable with 'no.' You can't appease everybody. 'No' to things we can't afford yet helps us say 'yes' to what's truly important."- Duane Deason"If you want people to understand what the score is and they're responsible for the score, they need to know how to read the information."- Martin Holland"For every dollar of sales, you may pocket 10 cents. But for every dollar you save in costs, you keep the entire dollar."- Duane Deason
Key Takeaways
- Start with Your Disbursement Journal, Not P&LCreate a Cost Management CenterMake Cost Savings Visible and CelebratedImplement Clear Signature Authority RulesRestrict Who Can Sign ContractsAudit Utilization of All ResourcesReframe Cost Cutting as Opportunity Finding
Resources
- 24 Things Construction Business Owners Need to Successfully Hire & Train an Executive Assistant
- Schedule a 15-Minute Roadblock Call
- Check out OpenPhone
- Build a Business that Runs without you. Explore our GrowthKits
- Need Marketing Help? We Recommend BenaliNeed Help with podcast production? We recommend Demandcast
More from Duane Deason
- Efficacy Group websiteDuane Deason on LinkedInOperationally Svelte: Manage Costs to Increase Profit and Enhance PerformanceWatch out for the Cost Management Center Podcast
More from Martin Holland
- theprofitproblem.com
- annealbc.com
- Email Martin
- Meet With Martin
- LinkedIn
- Facebook
- Instagram
More from Khalil
- benali.com
- Email Khalil
- Meet With Khalil
- LinkedIn
- Facebook
- Instagram
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