Autobooks Blog

Construction and Trades Reveal How Small Business Banking Actually Grows

Written by Autobooks | Feb 9, 2026 2:32:12 PM
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A Large Segment With Clear Signals

Construction and trades firms account for roughly 15 to 20% of small businesses in many local markets. They exist in every community. They rely on local financial institutions. They are operationally consistent. They are also underserved.

This segment alone represents approximately $1.5 trillion in annual spend, exceeding retail e-commerce and food services. Ignoring it is not a strategy.

 

Payments Define Engagement

Trades businesses run on jobs, milestones, and delayed payments. Cash flow gaps are common. Getting paid is the primary financial event.

Approximately 80% of firms experience payments-related challenges. Despite this, paper checks remain dominant, with 76% of subcontractors still paid that way. At the same time, digital payment adoption intent is rising. The gap between how these businesses operate and how they want to operate is widening. That gap creates leverage.

Source: PYMNTS Intelligence, From the Ground Up: Rebuilding Payments in the Construction Industry (January 2024)

 

Why This Segment Works as a Starting Point

Construction and trades force focus. Their workflows are repeatable. Their engagement is measurable. Their success shows up quickly in usage and deposits.

The webinar outlined why this segment is ideal for adoption-led growth:

    • Clear operational triggers
    • High payment frequency
    • Natural alignment across checking, payments, and lending
    • Measurable outcomes tied to behavior

Designing for the trades creates internal discipline that strengthens execution. The playbooks built here scale outward to other small business segments.

 

The Broader Lesson

Construction and trades do not just represent opportunity. They expose the formula. When banks align internally, design around real workflows, and measure what customers actually use, growth follows.

Small business growth is engineered. Trades make that visible.

 

 

 Watch the webinar recording to see how this segment clarifies strategy, alignment, and execution.

 Reach out to the Autobooks team to learn how institutions are applyingthese insights in-market.