# Buyout: Locking in Subs & Suppliers
You won the job at a certain number. **Buyout** is how you keep that profit.
## What buyout means
- Solicit and **level subcontractor bids** — compare them apples-to-apples for the same scope.
- **Lock in pricing** to (or below) your estimate.
- Hunt for **scope gaps between subs** — work that fell between two trades and isn't covered.
## The stakes
Buyout savings drop straight to your bottom line; buyout overruns come straight out of it. This is one of the highest-leverage hours in the whole project.
**Takeaway:** Level every sub bid and close the gaps — buyout is where bid profit is kept or lost.
> *Educational content — not legal, financial, or accounting advice. Run your numbers with your CPA.*
