Built to Build: Blog

MOST CONTRACTORS DON’T UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THEIR CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS Most builders start construction businesses for two reasons: They love to build things and they want freedom.  Maybe you want the freedom to make your own schedule, or the freedom to produce your own high-quality projects. And let’s not…
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MOST CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS OWNERS ARE NOT PROFITABLE Most construction business owners aren’t charging enough for their work, which limits their profits and their ability to grow. Without profits you will either go out of business, or you’ll stay afloat by not paying yourself what you should. Both of these situations…
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YOU CAN’T DO IT ALL YOURSELF Most construction business owners make the mistake of thinking they have to be THE expert in the business to grow the business.  Making this mistake creates stress and frustration for you because you will spend all your time answering questions and reacting to day-to-day…
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Watch or listen to episode 63 of the AFT Construction Podcast. Shawn shares insights on: How to hire experts How to build a company culture Marketing Lump sum versus cost-plus Establishing trust with your clients

The Built to Build Academy’s® Effective Time Management Session was rated one of the top 10 most popular IBSx Education Sessions for two years in a row. This nationally recognized session made the Top 10 for a reason.  Most construction business owners struggle finding enough time to get everything done.…
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If you’re ready to excel in leadership, better your team culture, and set up repeatable systems for growth, then register for the Jobber Professional Development Day.  It is a one-day event of expert and actionable advice for construction business owners on March 24, 2021. And it’s 100% free and online.…
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MOST CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS OWNERS ARE STUCK When you started your construction business, you didn’t set out to become an unpaid employee in a profitless business.  You didn’t start your construction business so you could do a lot of paperwork, argue with strangers about the price of your estimates, and lose…
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MOST CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES AREN’T BALANCED You sell a product or service for money. That’s where your business starts. SALES. If you aren’t able to deliver value to your customers and make a profit, then your business is out of balance. Construction businesses, as well as businesses in general, must stay…
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If you’re having trouble finding the right employees for your construction business, then you’re probably looking for them as opposed to attracting them. Without a systematic way to attract, prequalify, and indoctrinate your next best employee, your construction business is going to suffer. You’ll waste time interviewing multiple candidates who…
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As soon as you read the words ‘organizational chart,’ your brain conjures up an image of some complex flowchart in the back of an employee handbook. You’ll think, “I don’t really need one of those for my construction business,” especially if you own a small business. But, you would be…
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Most of your employees are not engaged in the work they do. Sure, they show up and put in their time, but they have little to no passion about the job itself.  They also suck the energy out of your business. If you’ve ever wanted to increase productivity, decrease turnover,…
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In this episode of the Profit First Professionals – Grow My Accounting Practice Podcast – Shawn joins the Profit First OG – Mike Michalowicz and the co-founder of Profit First Professionals, Ron Saharyan to discuss niche specialization, how not to launch a book, and the two things you need to…
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YOUR BUSINESS STARTS HERE Many construction business owners don’t have a marketing plan for their business. They don’t know where to start. Start with your Profit and Loss Statement (P&L) and reverse engineer your marketing plan from there. (Read this article: THE #1 RULE YOU NEED TO HACK YOUR PROFIT…
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CUSTOMERS ALWAYS ASK THIS QUESTION You’ve talked about the budget with your potential customer, and they have agreed to pay you for the planning and estimating work. (What?!!! You’re giving this work away for free?  Stop. Get this free sales training program.)  The next question customers always ask is, “When…
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NO ONE LIKES DELIVERING BAD NEWS You probably remember the last time you had to call a customer and deliver bad news.  It sucks.  Not just for you, but for the customer, too. The pain of disappointing your customers is compounded when you wait until the last minute to contact…
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YOU MUST MAKE A PROFIT The goal of every business is to make a profit. If that statement makes you feel uneasy, check out this diagram to see what your construction business SHOULDN’T be. If you don’t identify the opportunities that generate a profit, you’ll be out of business.  …
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BECOME MORE PRODUCTIVE BY DOING LESS We all have the same number of hours in a day. But why is it that some people seem to get more done or be more effective than others?  This was a question I struggled with for a long time, so I started researching…
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WELCOME TO THE NEW AND IMPROVED SVD Now it is easier than ever for you to find the business tools you need, apply for a program in the Build to Build Academy®, or book me for a speaking gig. DROP IN ON THE CONVERSATION: NEW PODCAST PAGE And, after being asked…
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RISING MATERIAL PRICES & SHUTDOWNS CAUSE DELAYS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Lumber prices are higher than they have been since 2018, according to NAHB. In fact, the Random Lengths Framing Composite Price is up 50% since April 2020. Higher prices for construction materials, combined with the shutdown of manufacturing plants and…
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In Episode 12 of the Builtby Podcast, Shawn shares some of his proven tactics to turn managers and owners into true home improvement leaders. Listen and learn: Shawn’s experience in the industry and engineering that helped him become a better business manager. The proven five-step process that Shawn used –…
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FREE ESTIMATES ARE NOT FREE Most construction business owners spend countless hours estimating, scheduling, and planning projects for people who never intend to actually buy. All those hours spent chasing clients add up. Free estimates are not free at all. That time costs in other areas of your business. You…
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On Season 1 Episode 6 of the EXtreme Carolina Podcast, MichaelLevi Borkman and Shawn discuss Shawn’s path to becoming a construction business coach, his work as an author, as well as the most valuable advice he has received throughout his career.

ADJUSTING TO THE NEW NORMAL Mask-wearing, social distancing, and zoom meetings are the new normal. These changes are minor in comparison to finding the new normal in your construction business.  How do you take care of your employees’ needs, maintain jobsite safety, and protect your profits in this new world?…
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WHAT’S YOUR PLAN? Most construction business owners don’t have a plan when a crisis occurs or the market changes. We get so caught up in reacting to the day-to-day fires that planning for the future gets delayed.    JUST REACTING TO EMERGENCIES STUNTS BUSINESS GROWTH This causes stress for the…
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In this Episode of the Contractor Growth Network Podcast, Shawn details the Craftsman Cycle, how a friend convinced him to run his business, and why every contractor should be charging for professional services. Plus, how you don’t have to have a contracting background to run a successful contracting business.