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The Claim Clinic — “What the RIA Cost of Doing Business Report Means for 2026”
In this episode of The Claim Clinic, host Andrew McCabe breaks down the just-released 2025 RIA Cost of Doing Business Report, revealing what the latest financial and operational data say about the future of the restoration industry. Drawing on fiscal year 2024 data, this year’s report paints a picture of an industry growing up fast — with mid-tier firms scaling aggressively, TPAs losing ground, and contractors getting smarter about their true costs.
Andrew walks listeners through the major shifts: small firms saw a huge jump in profitability, large companies faced margin compression, and the average overhead across the industry now sits at a hefty 38.5%, obliterating the old “10 and 10” myth once and for all. He also explores how cash flow stress — with the average receivable sitting at 60 days — is quietly reshaping business models, forcing restorers to run leaner and think like CFOs.
Finally, Andrew ties the data to on-the-ground realities: the rise of independent pricing, the growing divide between residential and commercial strategies, and what the next wave of technology and training investment means for contractors heading into 2026.
It’s data with teeth — and proof that the restoration world isn’t just surviving, it’s evolving.