Why Most Contractors Hit a Wall at $2 Million with Dustin Young
Fri Jan 16 2026
Are you great at your trade but confused by the financial side of your business? You’re not alone. In this episode, Chris G sits down with Dustin Young, a construction finance expert, to break down the numbers that actually matter. They talk about the four key things every contractor should be tracking, how often you should look at your reports, and why cash flow feels so hard to understand. Dustin shares what usually happens when businesses hit the $2M mark, how to know when it's time to hire someone, and the role software can play in keeping your team on track. They also chat about setting goals, building a vision, and why sharing simple financial info with your team can make a huge difference.
Dustin Young is a fractional CFO and financial advisor who works primarily with construction and trade business owners to help them understand and improve their financial performance. He runs Raven CFO, where he focuses on helping contractors read financial reports, track key performance numbers, forecast cash flow, and build business plans that match their goals. Dustin has nearly a decade of experience working with construction firms and their finances, combining practical industry insight with accounting knowledge. He’s based in the Arizona area and helps clients simplify complex finance topics like cash flow, budgeting, growth planning, and when to hire or invest in systems.
Connect with Dustin:
Website: https://ravencfo.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhyoung/
Phone: 480-269-2236
Episode highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(1:10) Meet Dustin Young
(2:21) The 4 numbers you should always track
(3:38) What a cash flow report actually tells you
(4:57) How often to check your numbers
(5:54) What changes when you hit $2M in revenue
(9:40) Simple software that helps
(12:59) Should your team know the company’s numbers?
(14:33) Start with your long-term goals
(18:07) Budgeting for the whole company, not just the job
(21:09) What if all you have is your tax return?
(23:55) Why having a vision matters
(27:12) Hiring vs. using tools, and how to decide
(30:01) Same money problems, different businesses
(33:33) How to reach Dustin at Raven CFO
(34:19) Outro
Connect with Hard Hat to CEO on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BrHqc3wdF/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardhattoceo/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgilman/
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Are you great at your trade but confused by the financial side of your business? You’re not alone. In this episode, Chris G sits down with Dustin Young, a construction finance expert, to break down the numbers that actually matter. They talk about the four key things every contractor should be tracking, how often you should look at your reports, and why cash flow feels so hard to understand. Dustin shares what usually happens when businesses hit the $2M mark, how to know when it's time to hire someone, and the role software can play in keeping your team on track. They also chat about setting goals, building a vision, and why sharing simple financial info with your team can make a huge difference. Dustin Young is a fractional CFO and financial advisor who works primarily with construction and trade business owners to help them understand and improve their financial performance. He runs Raven CFO, where he focuses on helping contractors read financial reports, track key performance numbers, forecast cash flow, and build business plans that match their goals. Dustin has nearly a decade of experience working with construction firms and their finances, combining practical industry insight with accounting knowledge. He’s based in the Arizona area and helps clients simplify complex finance topics like cash flow, budgeting, growth planning, and when to hire or invest in systems. Connect with Dustin: Website: https://ravencfo.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhyoung/ Phone: 480-269-2236 Episode highlights: (0:00) Intro (1:10) Meet Dustin Young (2:21) The 4 numbers you should always track (3:38) What a cash flow report actually tells you (4:57) How often to check your numbers (5:54) What changes when you hit $2M in revenue (9:40) Simple software that helps (12:59) Should your team know the company’s numbers? (14:33) Start with your long-term goals (18:07) Budgeting for the whole company, not just the job (21:09) What if all you have is your tax return? (23:55) Why having a vision matters (27:12) Hiring vs. using tools, and how to decide (30:01) Same money problems, different businesses (33:33) How to reach Dustin at Raven CFO (34:19) Outro Connect with Hard Hat to CEO on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BrHqc3wdF/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardhattoceo/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgilman/