Cash Flow and the 5Cs of Credit - Overview

Contractors need strong financial partners, including banking, surety, and insurance to grow sustainably.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

They are putting their capital at risk, making a calculated bet on the business generating consistent financial returns at the lowest risk possible.  

Cash Flow: 5C's of Credit. Character, Capital. Capacity, Collateral, and Conditions.

Whether you are an equity owner in a contracting business, plan to be or are choosing to invest your professional “career equity” into the business, you should look at the same factors an outside financial partner does. This will truly align everyone’s interests and make the business run more successfully.  

Greg Martin does a great job of describing the 5 C’s of Credit in a series of articles below.  

Effectively managing cash flow is about balancing what you can do internally while building and maintaining strong external financial partner relationships.  

  • What are your internal capital management policies? 
  • Are they in alignment with your outside financial partners?  
  • How does this look over the next 5 years or during succession if that is on the horizon for you?

Cash Flow and the 5Cs of Credit - Overview
Great cash flow is a key driver of valuation and successful successions. Running out of cash is is the #1 reason contractors fail. Improving cash flow improves your Return on Equity. Protect yourself and never let cash flow be the limitation to your profitable growth....

Cash Flow and the 5Cs of Credit - Overview
Great cash flow is a key driver of valuation and successful successions. Running out of cash is is the #1 reason contractors fail. Improving cash flow improves your Return on Equity. Protect yourself and never let cash flow be the limitation to your profitable growth....

Creating Value
Know the difference between creating real value versus creating transactional value. Creating wealth and not just re-allocating it is the path to sustainable growth. Understand the differences and how to incorporate them into your strategy and planning.
Definition - Aptitude
The inborn Potential to do something (skill) to a certain level (competency) to achieve something (capability).
Issue 7 of 9: Growth Strategy
Construction Ownership Transition Issue 7 of 9: In general, with all other key factors including cash flow, profitability, and customer satisfaction being equal, a contractor that is growing will be able to better handle an ownership transition.