Demand for contracting services has been better than ever for business owner K.C. Murphy—up 75% to 100% in the past two years—but it’s come with a heavy price tag. In these inflationary times, the cost of supplies is eroding his profit margins while putting a dent in his clients’ wallets.

In a rural state like Wyoming, contractors and handymen typically log upwards of hundreds of miles to bid projects and earn new customers. For Ivan Trivitt, owner of Interior Paint and Drywall in Casper, it’s not uncommon for him to drive 40 miles one way for a home project.