Ever finished a job perfectly, only to wait weeks or months to actually get paid for it? For blue collar businesses, cash flow isn't just an accounting concept—it's the lifeblood that keeps crews working, equipment running, and families fed.
In this revealing conversation, tech entrepreneur Joe Kaye shares how his journey from corporate boardrooms to blue collar solutions began when he nearly purchased a trades business himself. During due diligence, he discovered a universal pain point across the $657 billion trades industry: inefficient invoicing processes creating cash flow nightmares. This revelation sparked the creation of Procured, a veteran-built mobile invoicing platform specifically designed for smaller trades businesses.
What makes this discussion particularly valuable is Joe's recognition that existing software solutions have failed the trades. "The smaller businesses have been forgotten," he explains, as most platforms are prohibitively expensive and needlessly complex. Procured takes a different approach—simple mobile workflows that let field teams create professional invoices on-site, integrated with QuickBooks, without exposing sensitive financial information.
The episode also explores the demographic shifts transforming the trades, with retiring baby boomers creating both challenges and opportunities. We're witnessing private equity firms actively purchasing plumbing, HVAC, and other trades businesses, consolidating them into larger entities—a trend that underscores the long-term value and stability of these essential services. As Joe notes, "Robots aren't coming to replace plumbers or fix septic tanks anytime soon."
Whether you're an established contractor struggling with administrative bottlenecks or a growing trades business looking to scale operations efficiently, this conversation offers practical insights on using technology appropriately to solve real-world problems. As Joe reminds us, success ultimately comes down to personal initiative: "Make it a great day or don't. The choice is yours."
Ready to transform how your business handles payments? Reach out to Joseph at joseph@procured.us to learn how Procured can help your business invoice faster and get paid sooner.
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More About this Episode
Closing the Cashflow Gap: How Technology Is Helping Blue Collar Businesses Get Paid Faster
If you're in the trades, you already know what it feels like to knock out a long day of hard work, sun up to sun down, and then get home only to face a stack of unpaid invoices and time-consuming admin tasks. It's frustrating, it's discouraging, and it often makes you question if it’s even worth it. That feeling right there? That’s exactly what we’re tackling in this conversation with Joe Kaye, co-founder of Procured, a software company aiming to revolutionize invoicing and cash flow for blue-collar business owners.
In this episode, Joe and I unpack what’s really going on behind the scenes of the trades industry and how tech is finally starting to catch up to what blue-collar pros need on the ground.
The Cashflow Struggle Is Real
One of the most universal pain points in this industry is cash flow. Whether you're a plumber, electrician, excavator, or general contractor, getting paid for the work you’ve already done shouldn’t feel like pulling teeth. And yet, for most, it still does.
Joe, who started his career in the tech world and was part of a high-growth startup, transitioned into blue blue-collar business after exploring acquisition opportunities in HVAC and plumbing. What he found was a surprising and concerning trend: nearly 50% of the companies he spoke with didn’t even know when they’d get paid. No clean invoicing system. No reliable accounts receivable tracking. Just chaos.
Let that sink in. Half of the skilled trades businesses out there have no idea when money’s coming in. You can’t grow, hire, or even sleep at night with that kind of uncertainty.
Why Joe and Luke Built Procured
Joe and his co-founder Luke didn’t just set out to build “another app.” They saw a giant hole in the market for a user-friendly, affordable invoicing solution that’s mobile-first and designed with blue-collar workflows in mind.
Here’s the issue: A lot of the software out there (think QuickBooks, ServiceTitan, and similar platforms) is either too complicated, too expensive, or not tailored for guys in the field. They’re bloated with features that a million-dollar plumber may never use and priced in a way that locks out the smaller, growing shops.
So Procured is built differently:
- Built for simplicity: If your dad can’t type on a computer and can still use it, you’re on the right track.
- Veteran-owned: Luke, the co-founder, served in the military. And that matters—a huge number of tradespeople are veterans too.
- Price-accessible: No nickel and diming for every new user. They’re not chasing whales; they’re trying to lift the whole ocean.
And most importantly, Procured is helping companies go from “we’ll get to that invoice later” to “it’s already done, paid, and closed.”
Designed for the Field, Not the Office
Let’s get real: most of the time, you’re not sitting behind a desk. You’re in a trench, up a ladder, or under a crawl space. That’s why Procured works on your phone, in the field, where the work is happening.
Let’s say you just replaced a water heater. Right then and there, you pull up Procured, create the invoice, text it to the customer, and they can pay via credit card immediately. Boom—done. No delays, no chasing, no “I’ll do it when I get home.”
And if you’re working in crews, you can assign invoice permissions to supers or foremen without giving them full access to financials. That’s been a huge pain point with QuickBooks and other systems—you don’t want the whole team seeing your books, but you still need them to get the paperwork out.
Why This Matters Right Now
We’re at a tipping point in the trades industry.
There’s a massive transfer of ownership happening. Boomers are retiring. Gen Xers are aging out. And Millennials and Gen Z are stepping in—but they want to run smarter businesses. The new generation isn’t scared of software. They expect it to work, be mobile-friendly, and help automate the crap they hate doing.
And if we’re being honest, that transition is going to leave some folks behind.
That’s why it’s so important for current owners—especially the ones who’ve been running businesses for 20–30 years—to get their financials in order now. Joe made a great point in the episode: nobody is going to buy your business if your books are a mess. CPA-audited financials, P&Ls, clean cashflow reports—those are the basics if you want to build a sellable, valuable business.
Starting Small: Replacing Clipboards and Spreadsheets
Not every leap has to be a giant one. You don’t need a million-dollar ERP system. You don’t even need to change everything at once. But if you’re still tracking time on paper and jotting down jobs on a clipboard, it’s time to start leveling up.
Joe shared how one young entrepreneur in Georgia is navigating this exact issue. He’s 28, working under a 61-year-old business owner, trying to modernize a high-volume operation. The resistance is real, but the need is bigger. That kid is taking control of time tracking, job costing, and invoicing. Why? Because he knows that better systems mean better cash flow.
If that sounds like you—stuck in between old habits and new opportunities—take the first step. Test a new tool. Learn one new system. Put in that effort now, and you’ll look back in six months wondering why you didn’t do it sooner.
Just Win the Day
I asked Joe what advice he’d give to anyone stuck in the mud—mentally, emotionally, physically. His answer was simple and powerful:
“You’ve got to want it. And if you want it, just start by winning the day.”
That’s it. Not the year, not the quarter—just today. Get up a little earlier. Write down your goals. Learn one thing. Call one mentor. Read one page.
Nobody’s coming to save you. But there are people like Joe and tools like Procured out there trying to make your life easier. Take them up on it.
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