Building a successful construction business isn’t just about laying bricks and pouring concrete; it’s about having a clear vision, understanding the business side of construction, and knowing when to ask for help. In our latest Builders, Budgets, and Beers podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Atwood, co-founder and CEO of Otter Creek Homes, a design-build firm in New Hampshire. Chris has spent years growing and transforming his business from a hands-on operation to a well-managed team, and his insights can be very valuable for anyone on a similar path in the industry. Let's dive in!

Understanding Your Vision as a Business Owner

For many builders, growth is an aspiration, but without a clear vision of what that growth looks like, it can be hard to achieve real success. Chris emphasized the importance of starting with a goal, not just in terms of revenue, but in terms of what you want your life and your business to look like in the future.

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"Think about what you want your life to look like in five or ten years. What do you want your days to look like?" Chris advised. He believes that understanding your end goal is the first step in making your vision a reality. By working backward from that end goal, you can make the decisions needed today to help you get there.

Breaking Common Industry Beliefs

There’s a common belief in the construction industry that to be successful, you need to move away from the tools and being on site and into management. Chris challenged this misconception, highlighting that growth doesn’t necessarily mean leaving the hands-on work behind if that’s what you love. The key is aligning your goals with what truly brings you fulfillment, whether that’s managing projects, building a team, or staying on the job site.

Chris also addressed a common challenge in the industry: the pressure many builders feel to do everything on their own to prove their competence. This often stems from a sense of pride and competence, but it can limit growth opportunities. Breaking free from this mindset and embracing collaboration and asking for help are all  crucial steps toward growth and lasting success.

Knowing Your Numbers

A successful construction business starts with knowing your numbers. Chris shared his journey of learning the financial side of his business, starting small and gradually gaining the knowledge he needed to scale.

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"Just break this down into small chunks, make it digestible... and start writing those numbers down," Chris explained. By setting capacity-based measurements and tracking costs carefully, he was able to transform his business from a small $400,000 operation to a multi-million dollar company.

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Chris’s journey involved reading books and articles, listening to podcasts, leveraging his network, and asking the right questions to better understand his numbers. It’s about being resourceful, not being intimidated by the financial side, and understanding that you need to start somewhere—just like laying the first brick leads to building an entire house.

The Importance of Community and Asking for Help

One of the biggest challenges in construction is the feeling of isolation, the sense that you need to figure everything out on your own. Chris shared how community and collaboration have made a huge difference in his business' success.

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"If you get someone's number that you look up to in this industry, just call them... There's no excuse not to have the knowledge," Chris said. The construction community has a wealth of knowledge, and tapping into that resource can help builders avoid common pitfalls and learn from the successes of others.

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Chris noted that younger builders are leading the way when it comes to sharing experiences and collaborating. Reaching out and asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a smart way to grow and learn.

Outsourcing, Hiring, and Delegating

Another key takeaway from Chris’s experience is the importance of hiring the right people and learning to delegate and outsource. Chris realized that to truly grow his business, he needed to take off the tool belt and focus on the bigger picture.

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"The single biggest decision that I've made is taking the bags off... It's the most important thing I did to focus on the business," Chris said. After stepping back from the on-site work, Chris began dedicating his time to building client relationships, managing operations, and setting strategic goals. By hiring skilled employees to handle the work on-site, Chris was able to dedicate his time to managing the business, securing new clients, and setting long-term goals.

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Knowing where you need help, whether it’s in sales, financial management, or day-to-day operations, and bringing in the right people to fill those roles is a game changer for growth. It enables business owners to focus on their core skills while bringing in specialists to handle other areas, fostering growth and efficiency.

How Adaptive Helps Your Construction Business Succeed

Chris’s journey highlights the challenges of running a construction business, from understanding your numbers to achieving your long-term vision. Adaptive helps builders by providing an integrated platform that automates bookkeeping, streamlines project financials, and helps you maximize margins and profitability.

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Adaptive’s powerful features that are as intuitive as they are effective allow you to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on what really matters—achieving your dream vision for your construction business.

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