We’ve all been there: You price a job carefully, line everything up, and get started. But halfway through, the client adds extras, materials cost more than expected, or the job drags on—and the profit you planned starts to vanish.

📉 This is profit erosion—and if you don’t manage it, it will quietly kill your business.

In this post, we’re going to show you:

• Why profit loss usually happens mid-project

• How to keep control of costs and client expectations

• The exact tools smart builders use to stay on top

💸 Where Most Builders Lose Money

Here’s what usually goes wrong:

1. Scope Creep: The client adds extras—“while you’re here…” jobs that go undocumented.

2. Material Price Changes: Costs fluctuate, but you haven’t tracked or adjusted accordingly.

3. Delays on Site: Extra time = more labour, more overheads.

4. No Change Order Process: Work gets done, but there's no signed approval—and no extra pay.

It’s death by a thousand small cuts. Each one feels minor, but they add up fast.

🧱 Real Example:

A builder in Nottingham quoted £62,000 for a kitchen and ground floor extension. Halfway through, the client asked to extend the patio, change the rooflight spec, and move an internal wall. The builder agreed—but didn’t get it in writing or adjust the budget.
By the end, they were £5,800 over budget with no way to claw it back. 📄 Don’t let extras eat your profit. Inside the ProBuilders Network Document Library, you’ll find our Change Order Form — a ready-to-use template that makes it easy to document and price every client variation before the work starts.

👉 Upgrade to ProBuilders Premium (£11.99/month) and get instant access:
Get the Change Order Form

✅ How to Stay Profitable (Even When the Job Changes)

1. Track Material & Labour Costs in Real Time
Don't wait until the job’s done to see if you made money. Use a simple tracker to monitor:

• What you’ve used vs what was budgeted

• Actual labour hours vs estimate

• Weekly totals vs planned spend

2. Use a Change Order Form for Every Variation
Before you lift a finger on any extras, document it.
Get the client to sign off on:

• Description of the change

• Extra cost

• Time impact

• Payment terms (upfront or end-of-job)

This protects you legally and financially. And yes—it works just as well for small changes.

3. Revisit Your Pricing Before You Start
Price increases and supplier changes mean last month’s numbers could already be out of date. Build in contingency, and don’t be afraid to update your quote if a delay pushes the start date.

🔧 Tools to Help You Fix This

🧾 Material & Labour Cost Tracking Sheet
Track job costs in real time, line by line—so you always know where your profit stands.

📝 Change Order Form
A simple, professional document to confirm all mid-job extras and protect your margin.

👉 Both tools are included in the Construction Essentials Library — available now inside ProBuilders Network Premium. 🔐 Join for £11.99/month and get instant access

Final Thought:
Your quote sets the tone. But your tracking and process protect your profit.
Start treating change requests and mid-job shifts as business decisions—not favours.