Coaching for Builders
You know how to build now let’s build a business that doesn’t depend on you being on-site every single day.
Margins getting eaten by variations. Subbies you can’t rely on. Clients who don’t pay on time. Keith Collins has coached building and construction businesses across Australia to fix exactly these problems and scale past the ceiling most builders hit.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
The Challenges Every Builder Business Owner Faces
Variations are killing your margins
You quote a job, win it, then watch the profit disappear through scope creep, rework and variations you didn’t price correctly. Every project ends up worth less than you planned.
Subcontractors let you down constantly
Scheduling subbies, chasing them to show up, fixing their mistakes and covering their no-shows is eating your time and ruining client relationships.
You're carrying all the risk yourself
Cash flow is lumpy, progress claims are slow and you’re personally guaranteeing everything. One bad project can wipe out months of profit.
Growth feels impossible past a certain point
You’ve hit a ceiling. Taking on more work means more stress, not more money. You can see what you want the business to be but you can’t see how to get there.
25+ years coaching trade and service business owners just like you across Australia.
HOW WE HELP
What Keith Works on With You
Project Profitability
Price variations correctly, manage scope and protect your margin from the first sod to practical completion.
Subcontractor Management
Build a reliable subcontractor network. Contracts, expectations and guidance that protect your business.
Cash Flow & Progress Claims
Get your money faster. Systems for claiming, invoicing and chasing payment that keep your cash flow positive.
Sales & Client Selection
Choose the right clients and projects. Stop winning jobs you shouldn’t take and start winning the ones that actually make money.
Leadership & Team
Build a site team that runs jobs the way you want without you micromanaging every decision.
Business Planning & Growth
A clear 90-day plan and 3-year vision so you know exactly where the business is going and how to get there.
CLIENT STORIES
Hear from Real Trade and Service Businesses
Client: Russell Pearson
Business: Crimson Fox Studios
Industry: Marketing industry
We’ve had the pleasure of using Brett Burden and the ActionCoach business coaching program for 9 months now. In that time we have had well over 200% growth in our business and have seen significant improvements within the business, including additional processes, better staff management and larger profits.These improvements have largely been the result of Brett’s advice regarding implementation of measurement criteria and a strategic focus on business activities to ensure we are placing our attention on the right activities at the right time. Other than tangible results, I have also been greatly impressed with Brett’s professionalism and friendly manner when dealing with not only myself, but also with my staff.
I would recommend Brett’s coaching services to any business owner who is ready to do some hard strategic work and focus their attention on developing a successful business.
Thanks Brett. The results speak for themselves.
Client: Scott Stafford
Business: KATANA
Industry: Building and Construction
Katana’s been around for 12 years now. We specialise in architectural extensions and renovations in the inner suburbs of Melbourne. I started as carpenter over 20 years ago, and from there I progressed to becoming a builder. I’ve been with Action Centre now for 10 months. I do a weekly session with them and I go to all the business seminars. Some of the issues that I was having before Action Centre was lead conversion and being confident talking with clients during the interview process.
Prior to starting with Action Centre Katana was turning over five to seven hundred thousand dollars a year. In the last four month we’ve signed up $AUD2.5 million worth of work and I attribute a fair majority of that to being with Action Centre.
[Coaching] allowed me to more time to work on my business rather than in my business, which is one of their key phrases. I’ve got more time to have with the kids and the wife and to be able to plan holidays and just have a bit more freedom in my life. [Action Centre] have given me confidence in what I can do and my potential as a builder and a businessman. It’s been important to have a mentor to tell me I’m doing the right things, and to reinforce that or to show me other ways of doing things that are better or more efficient.
The 90 Day plans good, it gives you an ability to step back and really focus on what you’re gonna do move forward rather than putting out fires. You’re not as nervous as talking to people because you need the work. More referrals are coming through. It’s just confidence.
[Coaching] is something I’d wished I’d done 12 years ago when I first started to show me how to conduct a business the right way rather than feel my way in the dark.
Client: Brett Dashwood
Business: The Document Institute
Industry: Document Management
I’m Brett Dashwood, and I run The Document Institute. It’s all been around high volume transaction documents – your bills, your invoices, your statements etc. As I think that many small business owners are at least initially, I was I think, a great level of arrogance at the start. “If I built it they will come” kind of approach. I hated the fact, but I got to the stage where I was [saying] “should I go and get a job”.
Mike is an advisor to me. I see Mike almost as a part-time General Manager. He will [push me] when necessary. He will help me with strategy and I guess give me clarity and I think one of the big things that I have got through this entire process with Action Centre so far and I expect to continue to do so, is clarity. And clarity and focus around what I think that I need to do. I had general ideas, but it just wasn’t happening. So through the process with Mike I’ve been able to get budgets happening, get quarterly targets happening, get monthly targets happening and all of the sudden actually achieve them.
With the 90 Day Planning it’s so important to me to help structure my next 90 Days so that it not only focuses you on your business but it focuses you on all of your life. Your family life, your other personal life, your interests etc, outside of business. Having that person that I’m able to strategically plan with and has gone through that process already is paramount in importance to my business.
So for anybody who I meet who might be contemplating their future around their small business whether they’re starting or they’re already in, and contemplating getting out I think they need to speak to someone like Action Centre. The [Action Centre] Business Coach was integral to what has become the success of my business.
Ready to Build a Better Building Business?
Book a free, no-obligation strategy call with Keith. In 30 minutes you’ll get clarity on what’s holding your business back and what to do about it.