286 - Solving People Problems in Construction with Tom Bunn
What if you could build a thriving $2M construction business by focusing on the right team structure and core values? Tom Bunn shares his journey from corporate burnout to successful contractor, revealing how his team-first approach and EOS framework transformed Bunn and Sons from a handyman service to a thriving design-build firm, without the chaos that typically plagues construction businesses.
What You’ll Learn
How to transition from working IN your business to working ON your business
Why core values are essential for qualifying both team members and clients
How to structure and manage trade partner relationships for long-term success
The importance of maintaining margin in your business decisions
Why "table stakes" business practices can become a major differentiator in construction
Time Stamps
00:45 - Episode & Guest Intro
01:11 - About Bloom: The Business Overview
02:33 - Women-Owned and Operated
06:15 - Starting with Cabinet Painting
10:21 - Challenges and Growth in Cabinet Painting
22:02 - Transition to Design-Build
31:56 - Monetizing the Business
32:28 - Exploring the Venue as a Lead Generator
34:13 - Addressing the Proposal Problem
35:04 - Challenges in Pricing and Communication
39:54 - Lessons Learned and Future Strategies
Snippets from the Episode
"I've found that a lot of people we hire come to us in a state I'd loosely describe as 'battered wife.' This industry has just become far too commonplace for tradespeople to be undervalued, overworked, and stressed out."- Tom Bunn
"When things get lean, there's a constant temptation to want to say 'maybe we could make this work,' but you have to be careful. It's very easy to burn a lot of relationship capital with your team when you bring a bad client on board."- Tom Bunn
"If you don't have the moral courage to say no to the wrong opportunities so you can say yes to the right ones, your margins of time and sanity won't be protected."- Tom Bunn
"Simple doesn't mean easy. Pricing is simple: direct costs, indirect costs, and margin on top. But if you don't know what those are, that very simple thing becomes tough."- Tom Bunn
Key Takeaways
Define your core values first, then hire to match them
Focus on coordination and client experience
Maintain long-term trade partner relationships
Pay invoices on time and respect trade partners' expertise
Qualify clients against your values and ideal client profile
Protect your margins by saying no to the wrong opportunities
Basic business practices can be your biggest differentiator
Resources
24 Things Construction Business Owners Need to Successfully Hire & Train an Executive Assistant
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