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C&R Report: Carriers and Cashflow Keep Restorers up at Night

There have been several headwinds impacting the restoration industry over the past few years including the lingering uncertainty caused by a pandemic, rising interest rates, threat of a recession, and challenges with labor supply. These forces have required business owners to navigate multiple challenges and redirect their teams to find opportunity and growth. 

In their State of the Industry Report for 2022, C&R analyzed and summarized data from 150 leaders of independent companies and franchises. The report highlights many ongoing trends in the cleaning and restoration industry. Notably, it finds that (1) dealing with insurance companies, (2) maintaining sufficient cash flow levels, and (3) hiring labor are the three main things keeping company owners up at night.

C&R biggest concerns restorers face stats

When it comes to addressing some of these concerns, we at One Claim Solution (OCS) can provide a solution. We are a third-party insurance billing specialist that works directly with carriers on behalf of restorers to optimize the invoicing and collections process. Our expertise and services help contractors to better deal with carriers and manage their cash flow – two of the three things that keep them up at night the most.

Dealing With Carriers

One main challenge restorers face is negotiating payment with insurance carriers. When restorers complete a job, they should expect timely and sufficient payment for the services they delivered. However, this is often not the case as the billing and collections process is usually hindered by inefficient back-and-forth communication with adjusters. It should be no surprise then that contractors want to distance themselves from carriers. 

According to C&R State of the Industry Report, contractors want to decrease their reliance on the third-party administrators (TPAs) that work on behalf of insurance carriers. In fact, almost half (45%) would prefer not to do any TPA work at all while very few want more than 30% of their work from TPAs.

C&R TPA Stats

A TPA is an organization that provides operational services under contract to another company. Insurance companies often outsource claims processing and vendor management to third parties. Whether TPA’s do more harm than good is a debatable topic in the restoration industry, but there are definite benefits that come from TPA work, including reliable leads, a steady volume of work, and opportunities to become a specialized service provider.

Despite these benefits, most contractors still prefer to lean away from TPA’s. Here are some of their reasons:

  • Thinner profit margins: Contracts, often dictated by the carriers, have strict pricing and service-level requirements which make it difficult for a contractor to generate margin on a job. Some contractors accuse TPAs of further undercutting them and creating roadblocks to make any margin at all.
  • More administrative requirements: Working with TPAs requires the adoption of their claims system which can be a laborious experience. Program work creates an administrative burden on the company staff – estimators, project managers, and technicians are all given additional duties which strain their efforts.
  • Costly fees: Access to TPA services require enrollment and referral fees which don’t always lead to immediate benefits. 

“With so many restoration firms indicating a strong desire to transition away from TPA programs, we predict that this will create both opportunities for firms that optimize for TPA work and create significant pressure on TPA providers to find ways to change aspects of their operation that are driving so many restorers to look elsewhere for their revenue needs.” (C&R State of the Industry 2022, Chapter 2)

At One Claim Solution, we work with restoration contractors who are not overly reliant on TPA work. We are better suited to help more independent contractors increase profitability and accelerate cash flow because they are not limited by a set of contracts that impose the pricing, service level, or operational requirements of the carriers. You will sleep better at night knowing our well-trained claim advocates are more than capable to deal with the carrier on your behalf.

Managing Cash Flow

“A common area of frustration in the restoration industry is the need for a more streamlined process of collecting job payments. Business leaders point out that getting paid is a problem.” (C&R State of the Industry 2022, Chapter 7).

Waiting to get paid is always frustrating. Without an advocate, the billing and collection process can be laborious for contractors. According to C&R’s State of the Industry Report, it takes most (~80%) contractors more than 30 days to get paid in full after a job is complete, and for a little more than half of contractors, the wait time is greater than 45 days. While there is some variation in these metrics by job and contractor types, almost no one wants to wait more than a month to get paid, especially with the added stresses of keeping up with payroll and overhead costs.

C&R payment speed stats

There are several reasons why it takes so long for contractors to get paid. One of them is inefficient communication with adjusters. The claims process can be complicated, and it requires a lot of back and forth between the contractor and the adjuster. When contractors are out working on restoration jobs, they may not always have the time to drop everything and answer questions from the adjuster, which can prolong the process. 

At One Claim Solution, we work with adjusters on behalf of contractors to accelerate the claim management process – resulting in our clients getting paid in 32 days, on average.

Three things are needed to accelerate a receivables cycle – people, technology, and processes. Our billing process is supported by a team of highly qualified claim advocates. We’ve created an intensive training program that ensures our advocates are equipped with the tools and expertise to justify invoices. Our understanding of industry guidelines and legal knowledge for restoration work helps us get our clients the optimal amount for the jobs they perform. Additionally, outsourcing insurance billing to a team of specialists can save contractors from having to hire and manage an in-house billing team. A side-effect of working with One Claim is decreased office staff turnover and increased focus on training field staff.

We also built proprietary software that helps our claim advocates stay on track and manage invoices through a carrier’s claims process. Jeremy Traasdahl, a Co-founder of One Claim and the mastermind behind the software, says “Our software is the backbone of our claims management process. We originally created it to store claim documents, capture adjuster communication, and give our claim advocates something to track their work with. Over the last six years, we’ve built in automation, robust data capture technology, and nuanced sequencing that reflects our deep experience with insurance billing,” Traasdahl said.

A lot of documentation and communication occurs throughout the lifecycle of a claim, and it’s important to keep a record of it all. Our software not only does that, but it also reminds our team to take action at certain points in the process. Purpose-built software helps our claim advocates stay on top of invoices and ultimately accelerate cash flow.

Lastly, we have a rigorous claims management process that has been built out over the last six years. The roles and responsibilities of our claim advocates and technologies are well mapped and in sync with one another throughout the billing and collection process. Since each carrier has a different way of processing claims, it’s important for the process to be rigid and flexible at the same time. It’s a tricky balance to maintain if you’re not solely focused on it. 

Jason Podany, owner of PureTec, a cleaning and restoration company based out of Mesa, AZ, notes that he has seen exponential growth in his business since partnering with OCS almost five years ago. “OCS is a great source I wish I knew about on day one. I have the utmost respect for these people. I’ve worked with them for years, and it’s been a great experience,” Podany said. “Since OCS started doing our insurance billing, my business has grown by 4x!”

Contractors only have so much money to work with when they’re running a business and want to reach their profit goals. Working with OCS will not only accelerate cash flow, but also alleviate staffing labor to manage the receivables process resulting in more time and resources to focus on other important aspects of a restorer’s business.

Looking Forward to 2023

At One Claim Solution, we are dedicated to helping restoration contractors reach their goals. Success for contractors in the coming year will be largely dependent on a series of strategic decisions, which may include partnering with an insurance billing specialist like us. A streamlined billing process will get contractors paid faster, which gives them the time and means to perform more jobs, manage their field staff, and focus on other important aspects of building a great business. Let us deal with the insurance carriers and help manage cash flow so you can – among other things – sleep better at night!

Connor Trahan

Account Executive

Hi there! I’m Connor, the Account Executive for One Claim. My goal is to guide our contractors through the sales process, ensuring you’re equipped with all the information you need to make your decision and hit the ground running once aboard. We view ourselves as an extension of your business and I strive to make the process an enlightening and consultative one.
My career has primarily been focused in software sales over a few different industries but the last few years were spent helping general contractors solve similar problems to what we’re doing here at OCS! Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, cooking and boating during the summer months.

Nicole Liesenfelt

Director, Human Resources

Hello! I’m Nicole, and I’m here to champion for our employees, recruit for new talent, and impact culture at One Claim Solution. I find satisfaction in supporting a memorable employee experience and bring innovation, problem solving, and strategic view to the process. Nothing is more important than our people, and a healthy culture is my top priority! I have had the pleasure of building my career in various sectors, specializing in small to medium size firms focused on high-growth. My experience is centered around driving and implementing change, leading high-performing teams, and driving process improvements. I am excited to make an impact at One Claim. Outside of work, my family and I enjoy getting outdoors as much as possible to explore beautiful Colorado!

Elizabeth McGlone

Demand Generation Manager

Great to meet you! I’m Elizabeth, and I’m the one behind all the emails and advertisements you’ve been seeing. As the Demand Generation Manager at One Claim Solution, my mission is to connect with contractors like you who need our services. I’m passionate about having an impact on others and I bring a wealth of experience in demand generation and marketing strategy to create moments of delight, curiosity, and education for you.

Prior to One Claim Solution, I had the privilege of building marketing departments from the ground up at companies in a variety of industries, including IT consulting, first protection, and healthcare. Personally, I love being outdoors, playing Dungeons and Dragons and board games, singing, and traveling.

Alisha Yartzoff

Director of Contractor Success

Welcome! I’m Alisha, and I’m here to champion your success as the Director of Contractor Success at One Claim. With a passion for helping contractors thrive, I bring a wealth of experience in onboarding, customer service, and account management to ensure your journey with us is nothing short of exceptional.

Prior to joining One Claim, I had the privilege of scaling SMB and Enterprise Customer Success teams at fast-growing SaaS startups. With over six years of experience at companies like Mavenlink, Teamwork, and ServiceTitan, I honed my expertise in building high-performing teams and fostering proactive, consultative relationships. This background has equipped me with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by businesses like yours, and I’m dedicated to helping you overcome them.

Eric Terry

CTO

Hi there, my name is Eric! I am the Chief Technology Officer here at OCS, spearheading our technical strategy. I have a background in computer science, graduating cum laude from BYU-Idaho with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Technology.

Before coming to One Claim, I served as the Director of Engineering at Slingshot Technology, Inc., a company later acquired by WorkWave in 2021. My professional journey has spanned both emerging startups and established corporations, with a steadfast focus on cultivating high-trust, low bureaucracy teams and innovating technology using agile methodologies.

In my free time, you can find me flying drones, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with my family.

Cam Smith

COO

Hello, my name is Cam, I’m the COO of One Claim Solution! I come from a management consulting background (Bain & Company) and hold an MBA from the University of Michigan. I have worked at a wide variety of organizations, from Fortune 500 to small-cap, in an equally wide variety of industries. I have over 15 years of experience in operations and strategic growth, and I have spent much of my career focused on developing high-performing tech-enabled service organizations through early stage and high growth phases.

Outside of work, my wife Brittny and I have four kids, ages 13 to 6. As residents of Mesa, Arizona, we love to ski and explore the national parks of the southwest!

Dan Doud

CEO

Hello, my name is Dan, and I am the CEO of One Claim Solution. I am super excited by everything we are doing at OCS to be the market leading insurance billing specialist that advocates on behalf of our restoration contractors. 

My professional experiences are predominantly corporate in nature. My career started at General Electric in finance and accounting. Immediately prior to joining OCS, I spent time as an investor at Bondcliff Partners and management consultant with Bain & Company. I also hold an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and got my BS in finance and accounting from Northeastern University.

Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my wife, two young children, and our family dog, Whiskey. We live in Charleston, SC and take advantage of the beautiful weather by spending as much time as possible outside at the beach or adventuring around town

Josh Ehmke

Co-Founder and General Counsel

Hi, I’m Josh! In 2016, I co-founded One Claim Solution with my partner Jeremy Traasdahl, and I serve as General Counsel of One Claim Solution. Working in the restoration industry, Jeremy and I saw contractors struggling to get paid quickly and fairly and we knew there was a need for change. We founded One Claim Solution to be this change and it’s been my privilege to see our company grow and to advocate for our clients as general counsel.

Outside of my passion for helping the restoration industry, I enjoy spending time outdoors, fly-fishing, hunting, skiing, and coaching my kids’ baseball teams. I’ve been married to my amazing wife for 20 years and we have a beautiful family of 5 children.

Jeremy Traasdahl

Co-Founder

Hey, I’m Jeremy! In 2016, I co-founded One Claim Solution with my partner Josh Ehmke. Working in the restoration industry, Josh and I saw contractors struggling to get paid quickly and fairly and we knew there was a need for change. We founded One Claim Solution to be this change and it’s been my privilege to lead our amazing team.

Prior to One Claim Solution, I started my career as an inside sales rep for Avnet, then moved to Pepsico as a district sales manager. Outside of work, I love spending time with my wife and four children, two boys and two girls!