<p>Ever wondered how to transform a simple service business into a thriving design-build company? In this episode, Amy Hayes shares her remarkable 9-year journey from painting cabinets as a mother-daughter summer project to scaling three successful companies, including her $3.5M design-build firm. Her story proves that with determination and the right mindset, you can build something extraordinary without formal industry experience.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What You’ll Learn</strong></p><ul><li>How to transition from a service-based business to a design-build model</li><li>Why niching down can accelerate your growth and profitability</li><li>How to build and lead an all-female team in a male-dominated industry</li><li>Strategies for solving the proposal problem in design-build businesses</li><li>The importance of finding resources and support systems in the contracting world</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Time Stamps</strong></p><p>00:45 - Episode &amp; Guest Intro</p><p>01:11 - About Bloom: The Business Overview</p><p>02:33 - Women-Owned and Operated</p><p>06:15 - Starting with Cabinet Painting</p><p>10:21 - Challenges and Growth in Cabinet Painting</p><p>22:02 - Transition to Design-Build</p><p>31:56 - Monetizing the Business</p><p>32:28 - Exploring the Venue as a Lead Generator</p><p>34:13 - Addressing the Proposal Problem</p><p>35:04 - Challenges in Pricing and Communication</p><p>39:54 - Lessons Learned and Future Strategies</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Snippets from the Episode</strong></p><ul><li>&quot;I think I had a pivotal moment there, saying, &#39;Am I really gonna let this stop something that is moving forward because of this one man and how he treated me?&#39; And I decided, no, I&#39;m not.&quot;- Amy Hayes</li><li>&quot;You have to invest in your business in order to grow it. It was just a really good time for us to do that.&quot;- Amy Hayes</li><li>&quot;A phrase that we used a lot, we would say we were building the plane as we&#39;re flying it, because that&#39;s what it felt like.&quot;- Amy Hayes</li><li>&quot;Find your resources, find your support... Don&#39;t be afraid to ask for help.&quot;- Amy Hayes</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><ol><li>Start where you are with what you have</li><li>Focus on serving clients exceptionally well before worrying about pricing</li><li>Learn to price appropriately by seeking industry guidance</li><li>Set clear budget expectations early in client relationships</li><li>Find peer support even among competitors</li><li>Surround yourself with people who complement your weaknesses</li></ol><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://offer.growth-kits.com/24-things-construction-business-owners-assistant">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠24 Things⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> Construction Business Owners Need to Successfully Hire &amp; Train an Executive Assistant</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://www.growth-kits.com/schedule-a-call">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> a 15-Minute Roadblock Call</li></ul><ul><li>Build a Business that Runs without you. Explore our<a href="https://www.growth-kits.com/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GrowthKits⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> </li></ul><ul><li>Need Marketing Help? We Recommend<a href="https://bit.ly/benaliconstructyoursuccess">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Benali⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>Need Help with podcast production? We recommend<a href="https://www.demandcast.co/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Demandcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>More from Amy Hayes</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://kitchensbybloom.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Bloom Kitchens</a></li><li><a href="http://www.bloompaintingcompany.com/cabinet-painting.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Bloom Painting Company</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyleehayes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Linkedin</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>More from Martin Holland</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/The-Profit-Problem">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theprofitproblem.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Anneal-Business-Coaching">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠annealbc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>   </li></ul><ul><li><a href="mailto:martin@anealbc.com">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Meet-With-Martin">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meet With Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Martin-Holland-LinkedIn">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Martin-Holland-Facebook">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Anneal-Business-Coaching-Instagram">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>More from Khalil</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/benaliconstructyoursuccess">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠benali.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="mailto:khalil@benalimarketing.com">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email Khalil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/meet-khalil">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meet With Khalil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Khalil-Benalioulhaj-LinkedIn">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/benali-facebook">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/benali-instagram">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>More from The Cash Flow Contractor</strong></p><ul><li>Subscribe to our<a href="https://bit.ly/thecashflowcontractoryoutube">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@cashflowpod">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://www.thecashflowcontractor.com/subscribe">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li>Follow On Social:<a href="https://bit.ly/thecashflowcontractorlinkedin">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>,<a href="https://bit.ly/thecashflowcontractorfacebook">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>,<a href="https://bit.ly/thecashflowcontractorinstagram">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Cashflowpod">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X(formerly Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li>Visit our <a href="http://thecashflowcontractor.com">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="mailto:info@thecashflowcontractor.com">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> The Cashflow Contractor</li></ul><p></p>

The Cash Flow Contractor

Benali

285 - From Cabinet Painting to Design-Build: A 9-Year Journey to Scaling 3 Companies with Amy Hayes

DEC 11, 202556 MIN
The Cash Flow Contractor

285 - From Cabinet Painting to Design-Build: A 9-Year Journey to Scaling 3 Companies with Amy Hayes

DEC 11, 202556 MIN

Description

<p>Ever wondered how to transform a simple service business into a thriving design-build company? In this episode, Amy Hayes shares her remarkable 9-year journey from painting cabinets as a mother-daughter summer project to scaling three successful companies, including her $3.5M design-build firm. Her story proves that with determination and the right mindset, you can build something extraordinary without formal industry experience.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What You’ll Learn</strong></p><ul><li>How to transition from a service-based business to a design-build model</li><li>Why niching down can accelerate your growth and profitability</li><li>How to build and lead an all-female team in a male-dominated industry</li><li>Strategies for solving the proposal problem in design-build businesses</li><li>The importance of finding resources and support systems in the contracting world</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Time Stamps</strong></p><p>00:45 - Episode &amp; Guest Intro</p><p>01:11 - About Bloom: The Business Overview</p><p>02:33 - Women-Owned and Operated</p><p>06:15 - Starting with Cabinet Painting</p><p>10:21 - Challenges and Growth in Cabinet Painting</p><p>22:02 - Transition to Design-Build</p><p>31:56 - Monetizing the Business</p><p>32:28 - Exploring the Venue as a Lead Generator</p><p>34:13 - Addressing the Proposal Problem</p><p>35:04 - Challenges in Pricing and Communication</p><p>39:54 - Lessons Learned and Future Strategies</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Snippets from the Episode</strong></p><ul><li>&quot;I think I had a pivotal moment there, saying, &#39;Am I really gonna let this stop something that is moving forward because of this one man and how he treated me?&#39; And I decided, no, I&#39;m not.&quot;- Amy Hayes</li><li>&quot;You have to invest in your business in order to grow it. It was just a really good time for us to do that.&quot;- Amy Hayes</li><li>&quot;A phrase that we used a lot, we would say we were building the plane as we&#39;re flying it, because that&#39;s what it felt like.&quot;- Amy Hayes</li><li>&quot;Find your resources, find your support... Don&#39;t be afraid to ask for help.&quot;- Amy Hayes</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><ol><li>Start where you are with what you have</li><li>Focus on serving clients exceptionally well before worrying about pricing</li><li>Learn to price appropriately by seeking industry guidance</li><li>Set clear budget expectations early in client relationships</li><li>Find peer support even among competitors</li><li>Surround yourself with people who complement your weaknesses</li></ol><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://offer.growth-kits.com/24-things-construction-business-owners-assistant">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠24 Things⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> Construction Business Owners Need to Successfully Hire &amp; Train an Executive Assistant</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://www.growth-kits.com/schedule-a-call">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> a 15-Minute Roadblock Call</li></ul><ul><li>Build a Business that Runs without you. Explore our<a href="https://www.growth-kits.com/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GrowthKits⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> </li></ul><ul><li>Need Marketing Help? We Recommend<a href="https://bit.ly/benaliconstructyoursuccess">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Benali⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>Need Help with podcast production? We recommend<a href="https://www.demandcast.co/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Demandcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>More from Amy Hayes</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://kitchensbybloom.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Bloom Kitchens</a></li><li><a href="http://www.bloompaintingcompany.com/cabinet-painting.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Bloom Painting Company</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyleehayes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Linkedin</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>More from Martin Holland</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/The-Profit-Problem">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theprofitproblem.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Anneal-Business-Coaching">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠annealbc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>   </li></ul><ul><li><a href="mailto:[email protected]">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Meet-With-Martin">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meet With Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Martin-Holland-LinkedIn">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Martin-Holland-Facebook">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Anneal-Business-Coaching-Instagram">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>More from Khalil</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/benaliconstructyoursuccess">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠benali.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="mailto:[email protected]">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email Khalil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/meet-khalil">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meet With Khalil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/Khalil-Benalioulhaj-LinkedIn">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/benali-facebook">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/benali-instagram">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>More from The Cash Flow Contractor</strong></p><ul><li>Subscribe to our<a href="https://bit.ly/thecashflowcontractoryoutube">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@cashflowpod">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li>Subscribe to our <a href="https://www.thecashflowcontractor.com/subscribe">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li>Follow On Social:<a href="https://bit.ly/thecashflowcontractorlinkedin">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>,<a href="https://bit.ly/thecashflowcontractorfacebook">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>,<a href="https://bit.ly/thecashflowcontractorinstagram">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Cashflowpod">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X(formerly Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li>Visit our <a href="http://thecashflowcontractor.com">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="mailto:[email protected]">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> The Cashflow Contractor</li></ul><p></p>