Operations pro Angie Aki joins Reece to demystify payroll tax savings, W-2 vs 1099 trade-offs, benefits that actually help retention, and the liability/insurance pieces builders overlook. We finish with a simple action plan—clean AR, right retirement setup, and a smarter way to pay yourself. https://angieaki.com Show Notes: 0:00 Welcome and who’s Angie 4:25 From “Go Ask Angie” to operations pro 5:54 Payroll taxes and benefits most builders miss 6:49 W-2 vs 1099: true costs ...

Brady Fenn shares how Fenn Rogers went from “tearing up floors” to a trusted luxury custom home builder in the Phoenix area by partnering with the right designers/architects and bidding to the actual spec, not the plan assumptions. He shares hard-won lessons on fixing budget misses, building a dependable subs bench, and using clear expectations and communication to keep clients confident through an imperfect, first-time build. https://www.fennrogers.com Show Notes: 00:00 Welcome + wha...

Victor Rybak shares how he moved from “bags-on” to building systems that protect profit—covering fixed price vs cost-plus, change orders, retainers, and allowances that don’t burn you. He also breaks down the House Pro workflow for bids, selections, invoicing, and job-cost clarity so builders stop giving away work and start pricing like a real business. https://simplyhomebuilders.com Show Notes: 0:00 Welcome & why this show exists 4:46 From bags-on to the office—why Victor changed lane...

Gabe Joseph shares how getting past ego made him a better builder—leaning into curiosity, standardizing specs, and scaling without bloat. We dig into procurement, margins, architect fit, permitting, and the upstream moves that erase change orders. https://www.jdbatx.com Video Notes: 0:00 Cold open — curiosity as the builder's edge 1:01 Gabe's background and Austin roots 6:08 Specs over one-offs: standardization that scales 10:36 Procurement: high-design without high cost 14:27 Margins, mater...

Tyler Grace shares how he shifted from over-delivering to running a lean, profitable small-shop—tracking every hour, pricing for reality, and choosing lifestyle over headcount. He breaks down T&M vs cost-plus in plain English, why “good enough” (when scoped) beats burnout, and how to design a business that actually pays you back. http://trghomeconcepts.com Find more of Tyler at "The Modern Craftsman" podcast: https://www.moderncraftsman.co Show Notes: 0:00 Good enough finally clic...

Adam Copenhaver shares how Cope Grand scaled from small cottages to ultra-luxury builds in Charleston by systematizing pre-construction, translating “ankle-grabber” chaos into clear scopes, and making budgets readable to clients. He dives into cost code organization, lessons from the COVID lumber spike, working with owner’s reps, and how he uses Buildertrend to keep accountability visible. https://www.copegrandhomes.com Show Notes: 0:00 What we’re tackling today 4:15 How high-end builds work ...

Trent Waldrop shares how confusing cash flow with profit can quietly sink a small builder—and why ruthless job costing is the only way to know if you’re actually making money. He breaks down moving from 75–80% cost capture to billing every line item (even the $25 ones), hitting budgets within ~5%, and choosing the right pricing model so you can net 10–12% (or better) on $200–$400K homes. https://waldropcompany.com Show Notes: 0:00 Hitting Budget Within 5% on Every Build 9:17 Building Homes ...

Would you jump on a plane if the pilot didn’t understand their cockpit dials? Randy Stanbury of 4 Level Coach shares how builders and remodelers can stop “flying blind” by mastering financial literacy, building systems, and creating a clear vision. Learn the steps to free yourself from day-to-day operations while scaling profitably. https://4levelcoach.com Show Notes: Opening Analogy & Randy’s Background (0:00) Breaking Down the Four Level Success System (2:53) Why Builders Struggle to Tr...

In this episode of Builders, Budgets & Beers, Reece sits down with Owen Drury of Bricks & Bytes to tackle the pressure from big-tech clients demanding lightning-fast delivery. They dig into UK vs. US timelines, the surge in HVAC/heat-pump installs, the chaos of forecasting & retainage, and how offsite prefab + AI-powered tools are turning 24-month schedules into predictable, profitable builds. https://bricks-bytes.com Show Notes: Welcome & Quick Intros (00:00) HVAC Boom ...

Chloe Brown, founder of Wildest Dreams, discusses the importance of accurate job costing and financial tracking in construction. She highlights that many builders fail to recoup thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per job due to inadequate financial management. Brown emphasizes the value of using tools like Adaptive for better integration and efficiency, noting that Adaptive's user interface significantly outperforms QuickBooks. She also stresses the significance of optimizing the A...

Jake Bruton, from Aarow Building, talks about the painful $180,000 lesson that forced him to completely rethink his construction business pricing model. Learn how moving from fixed fee to cost plus saved his company, improved client relationships, and created a more transparent, financially sound business approach. This episode is a must-listen for builders looking to protect their profits and build trust with clients. https://www.aarowbuilding.com Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes Matt Calvano ...

Rudy Marroquin, founder of Atlas Homes in Austin, joins Reece to break down how he went from a $500 startup budget to building luxury homes in Montecito and Malibu. Rudy shares how vertical integration, strategic hiring, and cultural fluency helped him cut costs, maintain quality, and scale fast — including flying his Texas crews out to California to keep margins tight. Whether you're just starting or looking to systematize and scale, Rudy's no-BS insight is packed with practical lessons and ...

Thomas Joseph, co-founder of Joseph Design Build, joins Reece to talk about moving from high-end custom infill homes to building at scale—with intention. He walks through how getting out of the “just wing it” mindset and leaning into systems, numbers, and rhythms changed how he runs his business—and why clarity is the difference between having a job and building an actual company. https://jdbatx.com Show Notes: Introduction and Background of Thomas Joseph (0:00) Challenges and Market Co...

Custom builder Will King of High Cotton Homes shares hard-earned lessons on how to actually make money in construction. From markup vs. margin to pre-con agreements and spotting bad clients early, this episode is packed with real talk and tactical advice for builders who want to run a profitable business. https://www.highcotton-homes.com Show Notes: Introduction and Overview of High Cotton Homes (0:00) Will King's Journey from Fireman to Builder (3:18) Joining the Southern Living Cust...

Garrett “Goldsy” Goldsberry joins Reece Barnes to share how he and his wife left cushy jobs, started Salt Creek Homes from scratch, and grew it to a thriving remodel and new construction business. He walks through the overlooked pain points of early financial systems, the shift into software, and the real-life lessons that come from building while still figuring it all out. https://www.saltcreekhomesco.com Show Notes: Introduction and Background of Garrett Goldsberry (0:00) Transition f...

Dirk van der Velde, co-founder of Momenta, opens up about the early missteps in aligning business structure with execution—and how tightening operations led to meaningful gains. From auditing underused software to designing a high-output team culture, Dirk shares lessons on building a company that actually runs the way it was envisioned. https://momentasize.com/ Video Notes: Introduction and Guest Background (0:00) Dirk's Background and Momenta Size (2:47) Challenges and Solutions in ...

Julian Miller, Director of Operations at NS Builders, shares how his experience in commercial construction built the foundation for his process-driven approach in high-end residential work. From implementing operational systems to maintaining craftsmanship, Julian explains why structure, communication, and internal efficiency are critical for builders looking to scale sustainably. https://www.nsbuilders.com/ Introduction and Guest Background (0:00) Impact of Commercial Experience on Operati...

Melissa Leediker, Founder of Turquant Builder Services, LLC, discusses the most common and costly errors in construction accounting, focusing on job costing, cost coding, and duplicate payments. She emphasizes the importance of implementing consistent processes and leveraging technology to improve financial accuracy and profitability for construction businesses. https://turquantservices.com Introduction to Melissa Leediker and Construction Accounting (00:00) Three Most Common Accounting Error...

Shayne Glass, CPA Controller for Shrock Companies, shares his insights on Shrock’s sophisticated approach to managing multiple business entities by maintaining financial independence while sharing resources across construction, prefabrication, and restoration sectors. The company leverages adaptive software and strategic cost tracking to ensure precise financial management, resource allocation, and operational efficiency across its diverse business portfolio. https://www.shrockcompanies.com ...

Noi Calhoun, from JAG Construction, shares the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on Asheville, North Carolina, detailing the community's struggle and resilience. The conversation explores the challenges of rebuilding, the loss of infrastructure, and the powerful community spirit that emerged in the aftermath of the catastrophic flood. https://jaggreen.com/noi-calhoun Introduction and Hurricane Helene Context (00:00) Massive Flooding Destroys Local Infrastructure (01:31) River Levels Ex...