
Why a 10% Discount is Negotiating Against Yourself
Get every episode summarized
Each time The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
About this episode
Get Your Sales Leak Score: https://thecontractorfight.com/leak
You just found out that "small" discount is costing you way more than 10%. In this episode, Tom breaks down the actual math behind discounting a job, and why giving away 10% off your price can wipe out 20% (or more) of your profit. If you've ever caved on price because a customer pushed back, this one's for you.
What you'll learn:
- Why your costs don't move when your price does
- The real math behind a "harmless" 10% discount
- How much additional work you have to sell just to break even on a discount
- Why the math gets uglier the thinner your margins already are
- The difference between a strategic discount and a fear-based one
Timestamps
- 00:00 – The problem: contractors negotiating against themselves the moment a customer pushes back
- 00:40 – The example: a $10K job at 50% gross margin
- 01:00 – What actually happens when you cave and knock off 10%
- 01:40 – Your costs don't drop just because your price did
- 02:00 – The real hit: a 10% price discount = a 20% gross profit hit
- 02:20 – Mid-show break: the Sales Leak Scorecard — find out where your sales process is actually breaking down
- 03:20 – Back to the numbers: what it costs to earn that profit back
- 03:40 – How much additional revenue you have to go sell just to replace what you gave away
- 04:20 – The math gets worse at lower margins (30% example)
- 05:20 – When discounting is okay — legit strategic reasons vs. reacting out of fear
- 06:00 – The close: know your numbers, hold your price, protect your profit
Get Your Sales Leak Score: https://thecontractorfight.com/leak
Get every episode summarized
Each time The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

The Real Reason You're Burnt Out (It's Not the Work)
The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

His $2.7M Contracting Business Runs Without Him
The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

Why The Best Salespeople Disqualify More Than They Sell
The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

Stop Trying to Build Rapport
The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber