The Builders Ladder: Business Growth Strategies for Residential Construction Businesses

Marti sits down with Jamie and Brady, best mates and founders of a Brisbane-based bathroom renovation company. They share their journey from running separate sole trader businesses to joining forces over a "drunken conversation" and building a specialized renovation brand. They discuss the harsh reality of their first year where they acted more like a "marketing agency" than a building company—spending big to block in jobs but realizing at the end of the year they had nothing to show for it. Jamie and Brady reveal how they cut their overheads, implemented a strict "Default Diary" to stop the chaos, and shifted from being "good builders" to actual business owners. They also break down their specific tiered pricing model (marking up jobs under $50k by 60%) and how they are scaling to 13 jobs starting in the new year. 🕒 Timestamped Key Points [02:18] Joining forces over a "drunken conversation" [04:40] The first year mistake: Acting like a "marketing agency" [05:28] First fix: Recalculating overheads and "spending minimization" [07:03] Tiered pricing: 60% markup on jobs under $50k [08:23] Leadership: Getting subbies to provide solutions (PSR) [10:52] The "Default Diary": From doing "10% of 10 tasks" to completion [12:01] Why the 10-step sales process is a "Bible" [14:32] Scaling to 13 jobs in the new year [16:00] Future goal: Expanding down the coastline - Our construction business coaching has helped 2,500+ building companies succeed. Subscribe to The Builder’s Ladder Podcast for weekly, actionable insights — tailored to help you grow a profitable construction business. Follow TPB for more: 👥 FB Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/professionalbuilder 📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theprofessionalbuilder/ 🖥️ Get your business health audit + free resources (including website audit) here – https://www.theprofessionalbuilder.com 🚀 Head to https://tpb.tools/pod-call to book your FREE strategy session. 📈 Resources For Builders – https://tpb.tools/resources  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TPBmember: https://www.facebook.com/TheProfessionalBuilderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marti sits down with Damian and Katryna from Ellari Homes, a Melbourne-based building company that found a unique niche handling "takeovers" after the massive Porter Davis collapse. They share the reality of navigating that industry chaos and how they transitioned into a stable, profitable custom home business. They discuss the hard lessons learned about why "chasing every job" is a trap and how shifting their mindset to "chase margins, not jobs" changed their bottom line. Damian and Katryna reveal their specific "Trial Day" hiring process to stop hiring the wrong people, why they finally started charging for prelims to filter out time-wasters, and the incredible story of how they bounced back after their office was destroyed in an arson attack. 🕒 Timestamped Key Points [02:21] The Porter Davis collapse: Opportunity vs. Chaos [04:20] Charging for prelims: Why "free estimates" attract the wrong clients [08:16] The new mindset: "Markup, Margin, Markup, Margin" [12:28] Defining an A-Player: "Someone you don't have to babysit" [13:48] The "Trial Day" hiring hack: Pay them to prove it first [17:36] The win: Completing 8 takeover jobs successfully [20:44] Advice to past self: "Slow down" to speed up [21:38] Resilience: Turning an office arson attack into an upgrade - Our construction business coaching has helped 2,500+ building companies succeed. Subscribe to The Builder’s Ladder Podcast for weekly, actionable insights — tailored to help you grow a profitable construction business. Follow TPB for more: 👥 FB Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/professionalbuilder 📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theprofessionalbuilder/ 🖥️ Get your business health audit + free resources (including website audit) here – https://www.theprofessionalbuilder.com 🚀 Head to https://tpb.tools/pod-call to book your FREE strategy session. 📈 Resources For Builders – https://tpb.tools/resources  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TPBmember: https://www.facebook.com/TheProfessionalBuilderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marti sits down with Sarah Lowe, co-owner of a renovation-focused building company (Refresh Renovations). Sarah shares her unique journey from being a school teacher to buying into the construction industry 18 months ago with her husband, driven by a lifelong passion for property. They discuss the specific challenges of scaling from "small renovations" to full house extensions, the initial discomfort of charging for quotes (and why it's necessary), and the mindset shift required to move from "I have to do it all" to delegating effectively. Sarah also opens up about overcoming "imposter syndrome" as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry and how implementing scorecards has transformed her team's accountability. 🕒 Timestamped Key Points [01:23] From school teacher to renovation business owner [03:00] Specializing in full house renovations and extensions [04:39] Being a female owner: "I feel like I have an unfair advantage" [06:45] Overcoming imposter syndrome: "I can do this" [07:47] Using scorecards to level up the office team [08:41] The goal: Going away for six weeks without the business stopping [09:12] The mindset shift: "Can someone else do this?" [09:28] Leveraging systems on site so "I don't need to be there" [10:18] Connecting with other builders who are "doing what you want to do" [12:22] Advice: Keep putting yourself in motivating situations - Our construction business coaching has helped 2,500+ building companies succeed. Subscribe to The Builder’s Ladder Podcast for weekly, actionable insights — tailored to help you grow a profitable construction business. Follow TPB for more: 👥 FB Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/professionalbuilder 📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theprofessionalbuilder/ 🖥️ Get your business health audit + free resources (including website audit) here – https://www.theprofessionalbuilder.com 🚀 Head to https://tpb.tools/pod-call to book your FREE strategy session. 📈 Resources For Builders – https://tpb.tools/resources  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TPBmember: https://www.facebook.com/TheProfessionalBuilderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marti sits down with Tyrone Galloway from TJ's Kitchens and Bathrooms, a specialist renovation and cabinetry builder based in Hunua, New Zealand. Tyrone shares his raw journey from being "ready to pack it in" just before Christmas last year to doubling his turnover and growing his team from two to ten in under 12 months. They discuss the critical moment when Tyrone realized he was "running on fumes" and trying to do everything himself, leading to near-burnout. He reveals how he shifted from a poverty mindset to a prosperity mindset, implemented strict sales processes to qualify leads ("fishing for tuna," not just anything on the hook), and built a team structure that allows him to finally take a breath. This is a powerful story of rapid turnaround through clarity, systems, and the courage to ask for help. 🕒 Timestamped Key Points [03:58] The breaking point: "I was basically done" before Christmas [05:06] The power of back costing in real-time (not just at the end) [07:34] Past mistakes: Hiring 14 guys but only making $4k profit [11:40] Refining the sales process: Fishing for "tuna" not everything [12:39] From 2 people to 10 in under 12 months [14:14] The "running on fumes" reality of the last few months [15:12] Realizing he was "undervaluing himself" and his skills [20:00] Trusting the team: "You're only as good as the people around you" [26:06] The crazy goal: Delivering a house a week in two years - Our construction business coaching has helped 2,500+ building companies succeed. Subscribe to The Builder’s Ladder Podcast for weekly, actionable insights — tailored to help you grow a profitable construction business. Follow TPB for more: 👥 FB Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/professionalbuilder 📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theprofessionalbuilder/ 🖥️ Get your business health audit + free resources (including website audit) here – https://www.theprofessionalbuilder.com 🚀 Head to https://tpb.tools/pod-call to book your FREE strategy session. 📈 Resources For Builders – https://tpb.tools/resources  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TPBmember: https://www.facebook.com/TheProfessionalBuilderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marti sits down with husband and wife team Ben and Lindsey Ockenden from Perth, Western Australia. They share their rapid journey from a small carpentry crew of two to a team of ten in just six months, transitioning into a full building company specializing in high-performance, lightweight construction. They discuss the "madness" of their early days—"flying by the seat of our pants" without systems—and the breaking point where Ben was "running on fumes" and ready to collapse. They reveal how they turned it around by embracing builder-specific systems, hiring key staff like a site foreman and VA, and shifting their mindset from "I can do everything" to trusting their team. Ben also shares his ambitious new goal: delivering a house a week within two years. 🕒 Timestamped Key Points [02:37] The chaotic start: "flying by the seat of our pants" [03:53] Lindsay joining full-time and their son starting his apprenticeship [06:00] The breaking point: "You're going to pick me up in A&E" [06:50] Finding TPB: The "off-field support staff" they needed [11:30] Mindset shift: "Last night I had the best sleep I've had for a long time" [12:03] Rapid growth: From 2 people to 10 in six months [15:12] Realizing Ben was "undervaluing himself" and his skills [19:57] The power of trusting your team and not micromanaging [25:55] The crazy goal: Delivering a house a week in two years   - Our construction business coaching has helped 2,500+ building companies succeed. Subscribe to The Builder’s Ladder Podcast for weekly, actionable insights — tailored to help you grow a profitable construction business.   Follow TPB for more: 👥 FB Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/professionalbuilder 📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theprofessionalbuilder/ 🖥️ Get your business health audit + free resources (including website audit) here – https://www.theprofessionalbuilder.com 🚀 Head to https://tpb.tools/pod-call to book your FREE strategy session. 📈 Resources For Builders – https://tpb.tools/resources https://www.facebook.com/groups/TPBmember: https://www.facebook.com/TheProfessionalBuilderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.