Construction Business Consulting for Contractors
An outside business perspective for contractors and construction-related companies.
Construction and specialty contracting businesses depend on a lot of moving parts working together - sales, estimating, purchasing, scheduling, labor, project management, communication, billing, and customer expectations.
When those functions do not stay aligned, the result can show up as lower margins, missed schedules, rework, frustrated employees, dissatisfied customers, or an owner who has to stay involved in too many decisions.
I provide construction business consulting for owners of construction companies, contractors, specialty trades, and related businesses who want an experienced outside perspective on how the business is operating and where improvement may be possible.
Based in St. Louis, Missouri, I work with contractors, specialty trades, and construction-related businesses in the region and with select companies beyond Missouri.
That regional work can include companies in nearby Illinois, along with select businesses beyond Missouri.
Experience That Translates to Construction Businesses
My background comes from more than four decades in the landscape architecture and construction industry, including 30 years building and operating my own successful landscape architecture design-build company.
While the specific trades may be different, many of the underlying business processes are very similar.
Generating leads, selling work, estimating accurately, purchasing materials, scheduling people and equipment, managing projects, controlling costs, communicating with customers, completing the work, and collecting payment all have to connect.
That firsthand experience gives me a practical understanding of the problems that develop when one part of the business is working against another.
Where I Can Help
Profitability, margins, pricing, and estimating
Sales and the transition from sales to production
Project management and communication
Operations, scheduling, and project execution
Leadership and owner dependency
Labor, staffing, roles, and accountability
Growth and organizational structure
Identifying processes that create delays, duplication, or unnecessary cost
The objective is not to introduce complexity where it is not needed.
It is to understand how the company actually operates and identify
where changes could make the greatest difference.
Contractors and Specialty Trades
My experience is particularly relevant to general contractors, specialty contractors, remodeling and design-build companies, and related home-service businesses.
That can include companies working in areas such as concrete and masonry, asphalt and paving, roofing, siding and exterior construction, HVAC, electrical, carpentry and remodeling, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, pools and outdoor living, and other specialty trades.
These businesses often face many of the same challenges: maintaining margins while staying competitive, finding and retaining good people, improving estimating and project execution, creating accountability, and reducing the number of issues that continually come back to the owner.
The trade may change. Many of the business problems do not.
Advisor or More Involved Support
Sometimes the need is simply for a business consultant for contractors who can look at the company from the outside, challenge assumptions, and help the owner determine priorities.
Other situations may benefit from more sustained involvement to help implement changes, strengthen accountability, or work alongside ownership and management for a period of time.
The role should fit the needs of the business.
Start a Conversation
You do not need to have the problem completely diagnosed before reaching out.
If something in the business is not working as well as it should - or if growth is creating new challenges - an experienced second set of eyes can be a useful place to start.