Financial Tools

Tuesdays, 3:00-4:30 PM EST
4 weeks

February 3-24, 2026

This 4-session course will cover the basics of how to read and understand financial reports like your Profit & Loss statement and Balance Sheet, help you understand the difference between Markup and Margin, and introduce the core principles of job cost accounting. Understanding your company's unique financial metrics (target gross profit margin, burdened labor rates, and overhead) is critical to inform your estimates and help you make decisions about billing rates and markups. This course is designed to provide construction companies with a better handle on what financial metrics to track to become more resilient and plan for the future.

Understanding your company's unique financial metrics (target gross profit margin, burdened labor rates, and overhead) is critical to inform your estimates and help you make decisions about billing rates and markups. This course is designed to provide construction companies with a better handle on what financial metrics to track to become more resilient and plan for the future. 

Format

Online via Zoom. Sessions are recorded and available for review, but attending all sessions in real-time is required.

Registration

$800 per person.

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Rachel Murphy

Rachel has over 17 years of experience as an operations manager and consultant in the high-performance construction industry. She thrives on helping other people grow and manage their businesses and particularly enjoys working with small and medium-sized businesses to design effective systems and feel fully comfortable with their financial and operations management.

  • Accessibility: We offer closed-captioning and simultaneous interpretation upon request. Please email us if you need any accommodations to participate fully in the course.

    Refunds: We offer a 100% refund up to 72 hours prior to course start time. After that no refunds are available; we will credit your registration fee towards another HELM course.

  • Solidarity Scholarships

    Scholarships available to participants from businesses owned by Black and Indigenous people, People of Color, Immigrants, LGBTQIA folks, and Women. Apply Now.

    State programs

    In Massachusetts: 100% Tuition reimbursement is available for MA-based companies through the Workforce Training Fund Express Program.

    In Vermont: 50% Tuition reimbursement is available for VT-based companies through the Vermont Training Program.

    In other states: Check our Workforce Training Funds page for more details.

Register