Why Most Builders Stay Small (and How Some Build Businesses That Last) In the inaugural episode of Brickonomics. We explore the challenges faced by local general contractors and uncover why many remain small-scale operators while others build sustainable businesses. Drawing from personal experiences and lessons learned from various stages of growth, we discuss how the real bottleneck isn't effort but a lack of structured systems. From observing his father's struggles in residential construction to working with a successful property management company, the host illustrates the importance of intentional business design. Highlighting the significant role of sales, marketing, HR, finance, admin, and operations, this episode lays the groundwork for future discussions on how to build enduring businesses that go beyond mere survival.

00:00 Introduction: The Plight of Local Contractors

01:43 A Personal Journey: From Firefighting to Construction

03:29 Learning from Business Success in Chicago

05:08 Revamping the Family Business

07:54 Founding a New Company with Better Systems

11:03 Navigating Growth and Challenges

12:04 The Impact of COVID-19

14:01 Redesigning the Business for Sustainability

14:39 Key Business Functions: Sales, Marketing, HR, Finance, Admin, Operations

17:24 Conclusion: Building Businesses That Last