As Heard On

Talking construction finance,
on the record.

Blackline founder Jared Westergard is a guest on the podcasts builders actually listen to — Adaptive's Builders, Budgets & Beers and the Brad Leavitt Podcast — talking real overhead, cash flow vs. profit, and how contractors get control of their numbers.

Builders, Budgets & Beers Episode 94 September 9, 2026

How Builders Get Control of Their Numbers

Builders, Budgets & Beers is the construction finance podcast from Adaptive — the financial automation platform we implement for our clients as a preferred accounting partner.

In this episode, Jared and the Adaptive team dig into why so many builders are flying blind on their own financials — and how to fix it without a giant overhaul: accurate, consistently coded data; an overhead number you actually trust; deposits structured around real project costs; and one focused improvement per month.

"Pick one thing that you know you can get right this month, and let's focus there." — Jared Westergard, Ep. 94
In The Adaptive Episode

What we get into.

Numbers you can actually trust
Financial control starts with data accuracy — consistent cost coding, a clean close, and reports you'd bet a bid on. It's the same discipline behind a reliable WIP schedule.
Knowing your real overhead
You can't price work profitably if you don't know what it costs to keep the doors open. Why overhead belongs in every bid — and why 20% markup isn't 20% profit.
Cash flow vs. reported profit
A profitable P&L and an empty bank account can both be true. How deposit structuring and billing timing decide which one you feel — the theme of our guide on why profitable contractors run out of cash.
One improvement at a time
Skip the six-month systems overhaul. Connect your tools so data is entered once, then fix one process per month — the approach we use with every client, from cleanup through a 13-week cash flow forecast.
Also Featured On

The Brad Leavitt Podcast.

The Brad Leavitt Podcast Episode 230 February 2024

Understanding Construction Finances

Brad Leavitt of AFT Construction hosts one of the most-listened-to podcasts in custom building. In this episode, Jared joins Brad to break down financial best practices for construction companies — cleaning up the accounting process, integrating the software stack so data is entered once, and what a fractional CFO actually does for a builder.

Recorded back when Blackline operated as Sonoran Business Advisors — same team, same construction-only focus, sharper name.

Want this level of control
over your numbers?

Everything in the episode — clean data, real overhead, cash flow visibility — is what Blackline delivers for contractors every month. Start with a conversation.

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