In this episode of The Mobilization Mindset, Drew Aldridge talks with Natalia Zacharin of Zacharin Consulting about the financial foundation contractors need to scale.

They break down the difference between bookkeeping, controllers, and CFO strategy, why profit does not equal cash, and the common financial blind spots that hold growing construction companies back.

Topics include:
• Where cash actually goes in a growing contractor
• When to hire a bookkeeper, controller, or CFO
• Labor profitability and pricing issues
• Forecasting and financial visibility for growth
• Preparing financials for financing or a future sale

If you want better control of cash, margins, and growth decisions, this episode explains how strong financial leadership creates options.

Free resources as mentioned: https://zacharinconsulting.com/mobilization/

Natalia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/growyourbottomline/
Zacharin Consulting Website: https://zacharinconsulting.com/

Learn more: https://mobilizationfunding.com/

Subscribe to the Mobilization Minute newsletter: https://mobilizationfunding.com/newsletter-subscriptions/

In this episode of The Mobilization Mindset, Drew Aldridge sits down with Suzanne Bach of Saltmarsh Advisors to break down one of the most overlooked growth strategies in construction: accounting.

This conversation makes one thing clear. Accounting is not a back-office function. It is a competitive advantage. They cover:

• Cash vs. accrual tax accounting and why it can dramatically affect liquidity
• The importance of accurate WIP schedules, retainage tracking, and job cost reporting
• How tax planning, bonding capacity, and financial statements all work together
• The real difference between compiled, reviewed, and audited statements
• Why growth-focused contractors must prepare for audits before they need them
• Common red flags that trigger IRS scrutiny

Whether you are a smaller contractor scaling up or an established firm chasing larger bonded work, this episode highlights the financial infrastructure required to grow responsibly.

Suzanne's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-bach-cpa/

Saltmarsh's Website: https://www.saltmarshadvisors.com/

Learn more: https://mobilizationfunding.com/

Subscribe to the Mobilization Minute newsletter: https://mobilizationfunding.com/newsletter-subscriptions/

In this episode of The Mobilization Mindset, Scott Peper sits down with Meli Figueras, CEO of Coastal Painting & Concrete Restoration, for a candid, real-world conversation about leadership, cash flow, and what it truly takes to operate and scale a construction business.

Meli shares her unexpected path into construction, bringing a corporate leadership background into an industry where execution, trust, and cash discipline matter more than titles or resumes. What followed was a fast education in job sites, schedules, retainage, payroll pressure, and the human reality behind every dollar spent before a dollar is ever collected.

Together, Scott and Meli unpack the challenges contractors face every day, including:

• Why construction cash flow works differently than most businesses and why jobs that look profitable on paper can still strain a company
• The responsibility behind payroll and why protecting your team financially must come first
• Lessons learned moving from corporate leadership into the field and onto active job sites
• How misalignment between accounting and project management quietly creates cash problems
• When walking away from a job is the smartest decision a leader can make
• Why performance, trust, and consistency matter more than credentials in construction
• The mindset shift required to grow responsibly without putting the business or people at risk

This episode offers a grounded look at construction leadership, from balancing relationships with general contractors to staying close to the field and building a culture rooted in accountability, communication, and financial discipline.

Meli's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melifigueres/

Meli's Website: https://www.coastalpaintingfl.com/

Learn more: https://mobilizationfunding.com/

Subscribe to the Mobilization Minute newsletter: https://mobilizationfunding.com/newsletter-subscriptions/

In this special FAQ-style episode of The Mobilization Mindset, Scott Peper is joined by Mobilization Funding President Drew Aldridge to answer the most common questions they hear from business owners every single week.

Drawing from thousands of conversations with contractors, executives, bankers, sureties, and high-performing companies, Scott and Drew break down what really separates businesses that scale from those that stay stuck. This is a fast-paced, candid conversation covering growth stages, leadership transitions, risk, performance, and the mindset shifts required to build a durable business.

Together, they tackle questions like:

• What actually causes companies to stall at the same revenue year after year
• How growth from $1M to $5M differs from scaling $5M to $20M
• The leadership habits founders must develop to let go and scale
• Which risks owners overestimate—and which ones quietly threaten their business
• The single most important thing an owner can start doing today to be more successful tomorrow

This episode is real talk, no fluff—grounded in experience, honest reflection, and practical insight. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re truly ready to grow, or what might be holding your business back, this FAQ episode will challenge how you think and how you lead.

Learn more: https://mobilizationfunding.com/

Subscribe to the Mobilization Minute newsletter: https://mobilizationfunding.com/newsletter-subscriptions/

Growth doesn’t fail because of a lack of work. It fails when financial systems can’t support it.

In this episode we talk with Mobilization Funding's own, Drew Aldridge, who has spent years inside business banking and now works closely with construction leaders. He breaks down why commercial construction companies often face resistance from banks just as they begin to scale and how misunderstood cash flow dynamics create tension during credit approval and bank loan decisions.

You’ll hear:

 - Why growing construction firms appear higher risk to banks.
 - How retainage and pay when paid clauses distort cash flow visibility.
 - The difference between survival financing and readiness based financing.
 - Why customer concentration and project timing impact credit decisions.
 - How predictability and certainty support long term growth strategies.

We also explore how Mobilization Funding changes the equation by removing labor materials and mobilization costs from working capital unlocking cash flow clarity and allowing construction leaders to scale with control and confidence.


Learn more: https://mobilizationfunding.com/

#commercialconstruction #constructionbusiness #growthstrategies

In this week’s Mobilization Mindset, Scott Peper sits down with Trey Bohannan - Founder & President of Design One Contracting - to unpack what it really takes to build a construction company: leadership, risk, and relentless execution.

Inside this episode:

- The no-partner philosophy (and why trying to “look successful” with trucks, toys, and debt kills more businesses than bad margins)
 - Capital vs. debt: using delayed gratification, paid-off equipment, and retainage checks to build real freedom
 - How to manage cash when you can’t see what’s behind the next door
 - Getting paid: draws, retainage, when to lean on a job, and when to pull off and never go back
 - Hiring and promoting: give everyone a shot, watch where they make you money, then put them in the right seat
 - Building culture in the yard: clean trucks, clean shop, winter rebuilds, cooking together, and zero participation trophies
 - Letting go of control the moment you realize others could do the work better than you – and how that unlocked growth

If you’re a contractor trying to grow without drowning in debt, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar in all the best ways.

Hit play, take some notes, and then go bid that job.

#Leadership #CashFlow #DebtFreeGrowth #TheMobilizationMinds

In this episode of The Mobilization Mindset, Scott Peper, Founder & CEO of Mobilization Funding, sits down with Steve Cona III, President & CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors - ABC Florida Gulf Coast - to explore what the best construction companies are doing differently - and why “doing business as usual” is the fastest way to fall behind in 2026.

Steve leads ABC Florida Gulf Coast, the regional chapter of a national construction trade association representing hundreds of member firms across the Florida Gulf Coast - including general contractors, specialty contractors, material suppliers, and professional associates. Working closely with member companies across different trades and business sizes gives him a clear view into the challenges contractors face day to day, from workforce shortages and contract risk to cash pressure and permitting delays.

Those pressures are shaping how construction enters 2026. While there is no shortage of opportunity, the companies that come out ahead won’t be the ones chasing “bright and shiny” projects. They’ll be the ones that perform consistently, understand their risk, protect their people, and stop treating the business like a lifestyle operation.

You’ll hear:

- How top contractors turn performance into leverage - better terms, faster pay, and less retainage
- The most common mistake smaller contractors make: taking on risk without knowing the cash required to deliver
- How workforce investment, safety, and training unlock larger and better projects
- What contractors should do when projects go sideways - and how strong companies protect their reputation
- Why infrastructure, healthcare, and public work will dominate the next decade
- How smaller and mid-sized contractors can break into public work through continuing contracts
- The real impact of permitting delays, policy, and cash strain on contractors and workers
- Where technology, prefab, and AI actually help - and where they can’t replace skilled labor

The takeaway:

As markets grow and projects get larger, the margin for error disappears. Contractors who don’t understand their cash requirements, sign bad contracts, or underinvest in their people put themselves at risk long before the job ever starts.

Watch the full episode now and learn how contractors can grow responsibly, protect their people, and position their business for sustained success as the industry moves into 2026 and beyond.

#ConstructionLeadership #ContractorGrowth #WorkforceDevelopment #ConstructionTrends #RiskManagement #MobilizationMindset

This year was filled with hard work, real progress, and powerful stories - from the owners, leaders, and teams who make this community what it is.

In this year-end episode of The Mobilization Mindset, Scott Peper, CEO and Founder of Mobilization Funding, looks back at the lessons, wins, and turning points that shaped the past year.

From rebranding the podcast to watching owners and leaders skyrocket their businesses, this year has proven one thing: when you apply the right tools, ask the right questions, and surround yourself with the right people, you can change your entire trajectory.

Scott shares:

Why your feedback transformed the podcast into The Mobilization Mindset
Why sharing your challenges openly (not hiding them) accelerates success
The power of community, mentorship, and honest conversation
What’s ahead for 2026 - new guests, new stories, and a deeper look into the real struggles leaders face

This episode is a thank-you to everyone who showed up, learned, shared, and grew alongside Mobilization Mindset - to the guests who brought their experience and vulnerability, and to the business owners who put these ideas into practice and rewrote what’s possible.

As this year comes to an end, Scott leaves you with a reminder:
Success matters. Growth matters. But nothing matters more than the time you invest in the people you love. Take a break this holiday season. Be present. Recharge.

We’ll see you in 2026 - stronger, clearer, and ready to grow.
Hosted by Scott Peper - CEO, Mobilization Funding
Learn more: https://mobilizationfunding.com/

#TheMobilizationMindset #YearEndReflection #2026Goals

Entrepreneurship can feel like a lonely climb - especially in industries as demanding as construction and manufacturing. But the truth is, no one builds something great entirely on their own. 

In this episode of The Mobilization Mindset, Scott Peper, CEO and Founder of Mobilization Funding, unpacks what it really means to find joy in the struggle, lean into the hard moments, and surround yourself with people who help you push through. 

Because behind every strong leader is a network of mentors, peers, and teammates who make the journey possible.

You’ll learn:

- Why “doing it all yourself” isn’t a badge of honor, but rather a bottleneck
- How the right partnerships can turn obstacles into opportunities
- The mindset that helps you stay open and optimistic, even after setbacks
- Practical ways to find your people - coaches, peer groups, and allies who pour into your growth
- Why sharing your challenges (not hiding them) builds stronger teams and deeper trust

Whether you’re leading a crew, running a manufacturing line, or trying to grow your business without burning out - this episode is your reminder that strength isn’t built in isolation. Tune in, reset your mindset, and remember - you’re never really alone in this journey.

Hosted by Scott Peper - CEO, Mobilization Funding
Learn more: https://mobilizationfunding.com/

#TheMobilizationMindset #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #GrowthJourney

Too many construction businesses see financials as paperwork for banks, bonds, or taxes - not as tools to actually run the business. Then they’re surprised when margins fluctuate and cash gets tight. 

In this Mobilization Mindset episode, Scott Peper sits down with Jason Kruger, Partner at Citrin Cooperman and longtime construction finance expert, to break down the financial infrastructure contractors need to run their business - not just report on it.

You’ll hear:

- Cash first - build and update a simple 13-week cash flow
- WIP is your guide - accurate job-level WIP drives decisions and cash timing
- Stabilize your P&L - match revenue and costs to the right periods
- Protect margin - track to the percentage point
- Be strategic with quick-pay offers - discounts/debt add up fast - make a payoff plan
- Close monthly, consistently - set the date and stick to it 
- Hire for construction finance - industry expertise matters
- Look forward - use solid historicals to forecast taxes and set targets
- Use tech wisely - let ERP/AI handle busywork so you can analyze

Mindset shift: Don’t build reports for lenders - build them for next week’s decisions. When cash flow and WIP guide your actions, you avoid surprises, capture margin, and your business can experience steady growth.

Watch the full episode now!

#ConstructionFinance #CashFlow #WIPReport #ContractorMargins #MobilizationMindset