Mastering Al Levi's 7 Powers for Better Collections in General Contracting

Been running my general contracting business for 10 years now, and I just watched this video where Al Levi breaks down the 7 powers every contractor needs to master for real success. Out here in the Phoenix area, slow season doesn't really exist but collections can still drag you down, especially on those bigger remodel jobs where clients nitpick every change order. He talks about stuff like gaining control over your schedule and building leverage with subs, which hit home when I had to chase a $8k payment last month after a kitchen gut. I've started applying his advice on the leverage power, like locking in deposits upfront with my Milwaukee tool packages for jobsites, and it's already cut down on the BS excuses. Guy in the Contractors Network Facebook group was raving about it too, said it turned his cash flow around. If you're in general work dealing with invoicing headaches, give it a listen, might save you from some pissed-off mornings. Saw a similar thread on r/smallbusiness about payment chases, mixed advice there but Al's approach feels solid.

god i hate chasing payments, had a client ghost me on $5k for a deck build last summer.

how does the leverage power actually work in practice for smaller jobs?

man, al levi's stuff is gold, been using it since i started.

controversial take: skip the powers talk, just add late fees from day 1.

screw the homeowners who think they can lowball after the work's done.

i feel you, been there with hvac installs turning into money pits.

lol, had a mover client pay me in pizza once, what a joke.

watch out for those fake payment promises, lost a whole week once.

same here, cleaning contracts are the worst for this.

asking, anyone use small claims for under 10k? worth it?

i feel your pain, painting jobs always have that one picky payer.

screw these clients, they ruin the whole industry.

helped my buddy set up auto-invoicing, cut collections time in half.

man, after 15 years this still gets me down.

proud of sticking to al levi's schedule power, hit 200k last year no drama.

i feel ya, roofing payments are brutal in wet seasons.

try milestone billing, changed everything for my duct work.

helped a guy in the group with his first collections win.

screw the deadbeats, they deserve the liens.

had a similar issue with a garage paint job.

watch for bounced checks, happened twice this month.

i feel that frustration deep.

screw insurance companies too, they delay everything.

helped turn around a bad payer with a firm letter template.

proud moment: collected 95% on time after al's tips.

controversial: fire clients who haggle payments.

goddamn clients think work is free sometimes.

i feel so seen right now.

screw the whole payment system, needs reform.

had to repo tools once, wild story.

helped a newbie avoid collections hell with contracts.

lol, client paid in crypto, what even.

screw these tech savvy but cheap ass clients.

humor: my dog's better at collecting than me.

controversial opinion: al levi overrates the powers.

controversial: charge interest, make em pay for delays.

i feel that burnout from chasing money.

had a mover stiff me on a haul job.

screw the economy, payments drying up.

frustrated as hell with seasonal dips.

i feel ya, cleaning gigs worst.

funny: client sent a goat as payment.

frustrated, lost a big contract to non-payment.

screw subs who don't pay on time.

helped mediate a collections dispute last week.

proud of my zero bad debt streak.

i feel the struggle every quarter.

screw these group projects with multiple payers.

funny story: chased payment in a clown suit.

i feel that daily grind.

helped a fellow contractor collect via lien.

frustrated with bank delays on wires.

screw the banks too.

i feel so isolated in this.

controversial: boycott slow payers publicly.

had wiring job turn into collections nightmare.

screw the whole chain, subs to owners.

proud: implemented al's powers, collections up 20%.

controversial: payments should be crypto only now.

screw traditional banks, too slow.

i feel that in my wallet.

frustrated, flooring install unpaid for months.

screw these remodel flippers.

helped with a payment plan that worked.

funny: client paid with vintage comics.

i feel the relief when one pays up.

asking, best app for tracking collections?

humor: my invoice is my therapy.

screw the holidays, payments freeze.

i feel that seasonal pain.

frustrated beyond words.

i feel ya brother.

i feel the same exhaustion.