In this episode of The Builder's Ladder, we talk with Corey Brown, owner of Kiwi Built in Wellington. Corey shares his journey from working for others to running his own successful small business specialising in high-end heritage renovations.

Corey reveals the lessons learned and struggles overcome while growing Kiwi Built - sharing actionable advice for builders, remodelers, and tradespeople looking to scale effectively. 

Tune in to discover:

✅Building Systems for Success: Learn how Corey transitioned from doing everything himself to implementing systems that give him his life back and allow for scalable growth.

✅Strategic Partnerships for Growth: Hear about the power of collaborating with architects and other professionals to pre-sell services and expand your reach.

✅Financial Management for Profitability: Learn how real-time budget tracking and accurate quantity surveying can maximise your profit margins.

✅The Importance of Community and Mentorship: Hear how finding positive communities and investing in business coaching accelerated Corey's growth.

✅Developing a Skilled Workforce: Learn Corey's strategies for finding, training, and retaining talented tradespeople in a competitive market.

Tune in now and learn from Corey's experience - to get insights to help you scale your building business effectively.

Key moments:

00:02:00 Starting Kiwi Built
00:03:00 Wife runs the office
00:05:00 Real-time budget tracking
00:06:59 3D model pricing
00:08:02 Delegate, don't DIY
00:10:05 Marketing strategy evolution
00:12:30 Seamless villa renovations
00:16:20 Coaching builds confidence
00:19:56 No weekend work
00:22:00 Positive builder communities
00:23:02 Training restoration apprentices

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👉👉Secure your seat at The 2025 Builders Growth Summit: https://www.builderssummit.co.nz/ 

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Connect with Corey from Kiwi Built:

https://www.kiwi-built.nz/  
https://www.instagram.com/kiwibuilt/  
https://www.facebook.com/KiwiBuilt  

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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/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The difference between a struggling and thriving construction business isn't volume - it's controlling the four profit levers most building business owners never touch. 

While most chase revenue, top builders and contractors maintain 25% margins by mastering these hidden profit zones

Tune in as we expose why revenue pursuit without profit focus keeps builders trapped on the hamster wheel. 

You'll discover exactly how top-performing construction companies maintain 20-25% profit margins while staying booked 6-12 months in advance with quality projects.

Discover:

✅ How one Sydney builder grew from $1.5M to $8.5M in just two years using these exact strategies

✅ Why most builders confuse markup with margin, instantly reducing profits by 3-4% on every job

✅ The simple daily accountability systems that improved one builder's project profits by 27% without complex software

✅ How properly handling variations can increase your gross margin from 21% to 27% on high-end projects

Key moments:

00:03:50 Profit over revenue
00:05:00 Pricing for profit
00:07:20 Markup versus margin
00:09:50 Track labor hours
00:11:40 Visibility creates accountability
00:12:10 Variations bring profit
00:15:20 Control your progress
00:17:20 Beyond price competition
00:18:50 Free profit tool

Check out this episode to stop pricing to win work and start pricing for profit. 

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Access your FREE 4-lever profit calculator and resources:
https://info.theprofessionalbuilder.com/4growthlevers-training

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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/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

76% of construction business owners spend 15+ hours a week on tasks their foreman could handle

Today, we’re exploring why 80% of your building project's success depends on your foreman - and how to transform this role from a glorified carpenter into your mini-CEO. 

We dive deep into practical systems for empowering your foreman with clear scorecards, ‘Wildly Important Goals’ (WIGs), and accountability measures that drive results. 

You’ll see how to create visibility across your projects, implement default calendars to eliminate constant interruptions, and build competitive performance tracking between sites - so you can boost company-wide success.

Key Moments:

00:01:20 The foreman escape plan
00:02:20 Foreman-appropriate tasks
00:03:30 Busy builder vs business owner 
00:04:40 Foreman scorecards
00:06:40 Site success = company-wide performance
00:07:10 Visibility equals accountability
00:08:20 Default calendars
00:12:10 PSR method for problem-solving 
00:14:10 Three delegation questions 
00:18:10 Foreman and project pricing

Tune in now to escape the "busy builder" trap and become a true business owner by leading your foreman the right way. 

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👉👉Secure your seat at The 2025 Builders Growth Summit: https://www.builderssummit.co.nz/

-

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/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a critical difference between being a great builder and running a great construction company. 

Most builders are working 60+ hours weekly yet struggle to break past mediocre margins. This is because running a successful building company requires an entirely different skillset AND mindset than being a great builder. 

In this episode of The Builders Ladder Podcast, TPB growth advisor Josh shares what he's learned from analysing thousands of building company financials - along with guiding contractors through business transformation. 

Tune in to discover:

✅ Why 70% of builders can't track their true margins (and how to fix this)

✅ The "golden ratios" profitable building companies hit (this is about gross profit, net profit, & overheads)

✅ Specific mindset shifts required to evolve from "busy builder" to strategic business owner

✅ How to stop wearing all the hats without sacrificing quality or control

Plus, you’ll hear about what separates builders who achieve remarkable transformations from those who stay stuck working IN their business rather than ON it.

Key moments:

00:01:10 Josh's background

00:05:30 Financial numbers

00:06:20 Golden ratios 

00:08:40 Surrounding yourself success 

00:11:50 Top 5% do this

00:13:30 Sports team vs a family 

00:15:10 The "stop doing list" for builders

00:17:40 Working ON vs. IN your business 

00:19:10 When to check numbers 

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👉👉Secure your seat at The 2025 Builders Growth Summit: https://www.builderssummit.co.nz/ 

-

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/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hidden costs in your construction business which could be killing your profits.

David Baker, founder of RapidQS, joins us for another episode of The Builders Ladder podcast to share exactly why most builders are silently losing money on every project. 

After losing $2,500 on a $6,000 bathroom renovation early in his career, David discovered a key pricing element most building business owners overlook - properly accounting for time and management costs.

In this episode, David shares:

✅Why sitting at your desk pricing jobs at night isn't "free time" - it's profit walking out the door

✅The exact “P&G” costs you must include on every quote (from site admin to vehicle charges)

✅How his company scaled from 2 jobs per week to 140 monthly by mastering these fundamentals

✅Why growth often means lower initial profits (and how to navigate this transition)

Plus, discover RapidQS's journey from small local operation to international expansion. Including candid insights about the realities of scaling a construction-focused business. 

Key moments:

00:02:10 Beyond materials and labor
00:03:20 New builds & small jobs
00:06:00 Site protection costs 
00:08:20 Losing money on jobs 
00:13:30 Growth = smaller margins 
00:18:30 What to focus on in tough times
00:24:00 Create content to save time & energy
00:30:50 The best partnerships

Tune in for practical wisdom about pricing, leadership, and finding your "zone of genius" in a growing construction company.

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👉👉Secure your seat at The 2025 Builders Growth Summit: https://www.builderssummit.co.nz/ 

-

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/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine structuring your week so effectively that you only need to visit sites once or twice a week, while your residential building business runs better than ever. 

Join your host, Marti Amos, for another episode of The Builders Ladder podcast - where he shares the ‘perfect week formula’ successful residential builders are using to scale & operate their $10M-$25M+ building businesses.

Most building companies hit a ceiling at $2M-$5M because they're trapped by the "no one can do it like me" mindset. 

Learn how to break free using Marti's proven frameworks and strategies, including:

✅The specific activities $10M-$25M+ builders focus on (and what they deliberately ignore)

✅How to structure your perfect week for maximum impact with minimum hours

✅The "Business Maturity Date" concept that helps you plan your exit from daily operations

✅Exactly how to train your team to handle problems without constantly needing you

Whether you're doing $1M or $10M, if you're tired of being chained to your business and want to build a building company that runs without your constant involvement - pay close attention to this episode.

-

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/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve been curious about breaking into luxury residential construction, this episode of The Builders Ladder provides a realistic roadmap for you - from someone who's built this path over 15+ years.

Award-winning builder Stephen Malinger shares his journey from doing decks and bathroom renovations to becoming Sydney's leading specialist in bespoke architectural and luxury homes. 

With achievements, including the 2021 HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year, Stephen reveals how he built Mallinger Construction's reputation in the premium market - including a recent $180,000 bathroom renovation that showcases the scope of truly high-end work.

Tune into hear about key elements that differentiate successful luxury builders, including:

• Creating professional documentation that resonates with architects and wealthy clients
• Building relationships with 6-15 person architectural firms for consistent premium work
• Managing weekly payment schedules and cashflow on multi-million projects
• Structuring contracts to protect yourself on complex, multi-year builds
• Understanding when to use cost-plus vs fixed price models

Whether you're currently running a standard building company looking to step up, or already operating in the premium building space but wanting to improve your systems - this episode provides practical insights for building a sustainable high-end residential construction business.

Key moments:

00:03:00 Journey from basic building to luxury projects
00:07:00 Positioning strategies for premium builders
00:12:00 Marketing approaches that work in luxury
00:21:00 Building strong architect relationships
00:26:00 Managing high-end client expectations
00:32:00 Navigating complex contract structures
00:44:00 Cashflow management in luxury projects
00:50:00 Keys to successful market transition

Listen now to learn how to transition to a high-end residential builder - while avoiding the common pitfalls that catch many builders off guard.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TPBmember: https://www.facebook.com/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stop being the best-paid tradie in your company and start being a true business owner.

If you’ve grown your construction business, but still find yourself caught between running sites, chasing materials, and putting out fires - you’re spending more time behind the steering wheel and on your phone than building your business.

In this episode of The Builder's Ladder, host Marti Amos sits down with Matt Banks, a construction coach with 15 years of business experience in construction. 

Matt shares his journey from running a chaotic operation with 25 staff to helping builders implement systems that create both profit and freedom.

Learn why most builders stay stuck in their business…

How to keep quality consistent across different project managers…

And the powerful ‘PSR’ framework that simplifies problem-solving - by having team members come to you with solutions, not problems

Matt also breaks down the common mistakes that keep builders trapped in day-to-day operations.

00:01:30 Matt's background 
00:08:00 3 crucial onboarding sessions
00:15:40 Quick wins in 90 days
00:21:00 Reasons builders stay trapped in day-to-day operations
00:24:25 The PSR (Problem, Solutions, Recommendation) framework
00:29:20 Most important numbers builders should track 
00:35:15 One habit every builder should adopt tomorrow

Listen now to learn how to build a business that runs without your constant presence.
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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/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fixed price contracts work great for cookie-cutter homes and simple builds. But unique architectural projects demand a different approach. 

Award-winning builder Stephen Mellinger shares his proven “cost-plus strategy” that's transformed his high-end residential construction business.

In this detailed episode of The Builders Ladder Podcast, Stephen reveals his exact approach to cost-plus contracts, including: 

• The deposit approach that protects your final payment and maintains a positive cash flow in your building business
• A practical way to structure project management fees 
• The powerful alternative to “variations” that maintains better client relationships
• A transparent invoicing system that builds trust while protecting margins

Stephen also shares critical insights on avoiding legal pitfalls, and why quantity surveyors are essential for million-dollar-plus projects.
 
Key moments:

00:02:15 - Types of projects best suited for cost plus
00:04:35 - Handling admin and project management fees
00:07:55 - How to structure payment claims and frequency
00:13:35 - Managing deposits and final payments
00:15:35 - How to handle margin transparency
00:21:15 - Including contingencies in labour rates
00:31:15 - Avoiding legal pitfalls and misrepresentation
00:33:15 - The importance of quantity surveyor estimates

Whether you're currently handling complex residential projects or considering your first cost-plus contract, this episode provides a practical roadmap for implementation. 

Stephen even shares specific strategies for maintaining margins while building trust with premium clients.

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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/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re a building company owner, you’re probably stuck doing EVERYTHING in your business - while a never-ending to-do list keeps you up at night. 

All for painfully low margins.

Which means no rewards, holidays, or fun from all your hard work.

This episode of The Builders Ladder podcast aims to change that for you. You’ll hear about the three critical challenges that keep most builders trapped working 80-hour weeks…

And the proven systems to break free - so you can grow your construction company to create the business and lifestyle you deserve.

Join your hosts, Marti, and The Professional Builder’s very own growth advisor, Brynn Wilson. They share why builders struggle with cash flow, unreliable teams, and razor-thin margins. 

Tune in to discover:

• Why most builders are trapped handling day-to-day tasks instead of growing their business
• How one Aussie company tripled their revenue to $9M, cleared $400k of debt, and nearly doubled their personal salary
• The crucial difference between accounting profit and what actually lands in your pocket
• Why marketing should focus on conversion rather than traffic
• The systems needed to step away from day-to-day operations

Whether you're drowning in admin work or ready to scale, get practical strategies that’ve helped thousands of builders like you transform their companies.

Key moments:

00:01:40 - Three main challenges most building businesses face
00:06:35 - What marketing must focus on
00:08:35 - Real vs accounting profit 
00:11:00 - Calculate your Professional Builder's Rate
00:13:35 - How two builders transformed their business
00:21:15 - The importance of working ON vs IN your business
00:24:35 - Five key levers that impact business success
00:29:05 - Why mentorship accelerates business transformation

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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/TheProfessionalBuilder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.