Builders, Budgets, and Beers
The Builders, Budgets, and Beers Podcast is where the construction industry comes to talk about the financial side of building — the decisions, the mistakes, and the systems that separate profitable companies from the rest. From regional GCs and high-volume builders to construction accountants and industry tech leaders, our guests share what's actually working and what they wish they'd known sooner.Produced by the team at Adaptive, it's real talk on the financial operations behind growing, scaling, and running a complex construction business. One budget, one story, and one beer at a time.
4 Perspectives On When Why And How Builders Scale Profitably
This compilation episode revisits past conversations with Tyler Grace, Shawn Van Dyke, Isabel Affinito, and Paul Atherton to explore when, why, and how builders should scale their businesses.
Across four different perspectives, the conversations cover profitable growth, knowing your numbers, building the right team, simplifying systems, getting the owner out of day-to-day operations, and deciding what growth is actually supposed to provide. The common thread is simple: more revenue and more volume do not automatically create a better business.
Tyler Grace, TRG Home Concepts
Know Your Numbers, Not Just Your Craft
...
Stop Confusing Markup With Margin with Kevin Aycock
Reece sits down with Kevin Aycock of Southern Luxury Homes to talk about what it actually takes to get control of the financial side of a construction business. Kevin shares how COVID forced him to rethink estimating, cost-plus construction, preconstruction, and the systems his team used to understand costs before work began.
They break down markup versus margin, tracking overhead, using purchase orders, and why builders need someone helping them review their financials every month. Kevin’s biggest lesson is simple: financial discipline takes work, but putting it off only makes the problem harder.
https://so...
How Builders Get Control Of Their Numbers with Jared Westergard
Reece sits down with Jared Westergard of Blackline Financial to talk about why so many builders are still making financial decisions without fully trusting the numbers in front of them.
They cover overhead, deposits, cash flow, bad data, and the systems that can make the financial side of a construction business easier to understand. The goal is simple: stop the financial guesswork and start making decisions with better information.
https://blackline.financial
https://www.instagram.com/jaredwestergard
Show Notes:
00:07 Show Intro
00:52 Meet Jared
03:29 Money Conversations
05:59 Financial...
What AI Means For The Future Of Construction Through 3 Perspectives
Reece revisits conversations with Julie Adams of Sage, Deepti Yenireddy of Boone AI, and Ryan Rademann of Wipfli about how AI is changing the work of construction.
Pulled from three past episodes, these conversations explore estimating, financial reporting, outdated systems, workforce shortages, and AI literacy. Together, they point toward a bigger shift: AI is not simply replacing people or automating tasks. It is changing where people provide value and what contractors need from their teams, systems, and processes.
Julie Adams, Sage
The AI Opportunity In Construction with Julie Adams
Listen to...
The Hidden Costs Of A Messy Back Office with Aimee Roden
Reece sits down with construction bookkeeper Aimee Roden to talk about the back-office mistakes that quietly cost contractors money, from poor cost coding to delayed billing and unreliable job-cost reports.
Aimee breaks down why contractors overload their chart of accounts, how coding connects directly to AIA billing and accounts receivable, and why waiting until the end of a job to understand performance is a dangerous way to run a business. They also get into when owners become the bottleneck, why these problems grow with revenue, and how better systems and AI can make the financial side of...
Building A Future In The Trades with Bryan Eberson
Reece sits down with Bryan Eberson, founder of Eberson Construction and Remodeling, to talk about why the trades may be one of the biggest business opportunities available to the next generation, and what separates simply having a job from building a company with long-term value.
Bryan shares how he grew from a one-man operation to a 20-person design-build firm, why field experience still matters, and how investing in people, EOS, systems, and clear ownership helped him stop being the bottleneck.
https://ebersonconstruction.com
Show Notes:
00:12 Show Intro
00:58 Meet Bryan<...
Making The Numbers Matter To Builders with Tyler Krueger
Reece sits down with Tyler Krueger, controller at Canopy Builders, to talk about why construction accounting has to be more than something owners check at tax time. From a million dollars in the bank that may not actually be yours to milestone billing, clean books, jobsite involvement, and monthly financial reviews, Tyler explains how better accounting leads to better business decisions. They also cover what makes a strong construction controller, why financial teams need to understand the field, and how builders can make the numbers easier for the entire company to use.
https://www.linkedin.com/in...
Foundations Of A Better Building Experience with Alex Wolfe
Reece sits down with Alex Wolfe of Wolfe Homes to discuss how builders can grow by getting clear on what their company actually does best. Alex explains why Wolfe Homes stepped back from in-house labor to focus on project management, even knowing it would reduce margin on paper, and how that decision created more leadership capacity.
https://wolfehomes.com
Show Notes:
00:00 Intro
00:55 Meet Alex Wolfe
03:08 Raving Fan Vision
04:44 Building The Vision
11:38 Elevating Trade Partners
17:50 Creating Client Moments
22:10 Leadership Through Excellence
25:03 Systems And Priorities
26:49 Defining...
How Technology Is Reshaping The Construction Workforce with Dexter Bachelder
Reece and Dexter Bachelder, Head of Sales at Speckle, examine whether construction’s labor shortage can be solved by hiring more people alone, or whether contractors need to redesign how work gets done. They discuss using AI, automation, BIM data, and frontline change agents to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce wasted labor, and make better decisions before problems reach the field. Dexter also explains why pairing a tech-forward employee with an experienced operator may be one of the most practical ways to make new tools stick.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dexter-bachelder
Show Notes:
00:00 In...
When The Job Becomes More Than A Paycheck with Paul Durst
Reece sits down with Paul Durst of Waldman Construction to talk about what happens when a construction business grows past gut feel, old habits, and numbers that live in one person’s head.
They cover why purpose still has to connect to healthy financials, how training protects growth, and why better invoicing and delegation can give owners the space to actually work on the business.
https://waldmannconstruction.com
Show Notes:
00:00 Intro
01:05 Meet Paul
03:27 Learning Financials
06:10 Growth Without Experience
08:32 Finding Your Why
13:00 Financial Responsibility
16:37 Leadership Gr...
The Cost Of Becoming The Owner with Chris Ehrenfeld
Reece talks with Chris Ehrenfeld of Bold Companies and Bold Construction about the real risk behind growing a construction business, especially when a builder moves from doing the work to leading the company.
Chris shares how he started framing houses to raise capital, built into luxury custom homes, learned from a fixed price contract hit by COVID cost spikes, and changed how he thinks about hiring, systems, and risk.
https://www.chrisehrenfeld.com
https://www.bold-life.com
Show Notes:
00:00 Intro
02:14 Real Estate Advantage
04:55 Framing For Capital
09:34...
Stop Promoting People Into Failure with Andrew Amrhein
Reece and Andrew Amrhein of Precision SME talk about why builders struggle to turn strategy into real execution, and why the missing layer is often management.
Andrew breaks down how contractors can connect numbers to meaningful action, avoid promoting good people before they are ready, and use projects instead of hope to test future leaders. He also goes over levels of work, why managers need to translate vision into priorities, and how better systems can keep teams from repeating the same mistakes.
precision-sme.com
app.precision-sme.com
Email: andrew@precision-sme.com<...
When Contractors Become The Bank With Aaron Dearborn
Reece sits down with Aaron Dearborn, president of Amerail Systems, to talk about one of the strangest cash flow problems in construction: why GCs and subs often end up financing the project before owner money arrives.
They get into delayed progress payments, deposits, retainage, paying subs early, and how clear expectations can protect relationships without draining your business.
https://www.amerailsys.com
Show Notes:
00:53 Aaron’s Background
02:44 Building For Growth
04:08 Contractors Become The Bank
07:07 Paying Subs First
10:44 Deposits And Retainage
12:57 Owner Payment Delays
Why Builders Leave Profit On The Table with Russ Stephens
Reece sits down with Russ Stephens, co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, to talk about why so many builders look successful on paper but still miss the profit sitting inside their business. Russ breaks down work in progress, pricing, overhead, owner pay, and the danger of chasing bigger jobs without understanding what they actually cost.
This episode covers how builders can stop guessing at margins, price from true break even, stay focused on the right type of work, and build a company that is worth something beyond the owner’s daily grind.
To ge...
Stop Making Decisions With Bad Numbers with Scott Franchini
Reece sits down with Scott Franchini of RedHammer to talk about why contractors often blame their software when the real issue is messy job costing, unclear WIP, and financial reports they cannot trust.
They cover indirect costs, overhead allocation, budgeting gaps, chart of accounts cleanup, and why bigger software does not automatically create better visibility. This episode is a practical reminder to slow down, understand what you actually need to measure, and build a system your team can use consistently.
https://www.redhammer.io
Register for the webinar here: https://us06...
Build A Business That Buys Back Time with Brad Stokes
Reece sits down with Brad Stokes of Highspire to talk about the shift from owner operator to strategic owner, and why top-line revenue alone does not mean a construction business is healthy.
They get into real estate development, market timing, KPIs, org charts, gross profit tracking, and the systems that give owners more time to think clearly instead of constantly reacting. This episode is about building a tighter business first, so bigger opportunities do not break what you already built.
https://www.highspire.com
Register for the webinar here: https://us06...
How Building Science Reduces Costly Callbacks with Sam Myers
Reece sits down with Sam Myers of Retrotech to talk about why comfort issues, humidity problems, and buckled floors often turn into expensive callbacks for builders. They cover how air tightness, HVAC design, ventilation, and testing all work together, and why code minimum is not always enough to protect the homeowner or the contractor.
If you build homes and want fewer surprises after move-in, this conversation is a practical reminder that measuring the house matters.
https://retrotec.com
Show Notes:
00:00 Show Intro
00:47 Meet Sam Myers
04:34 Who Retrotech Helps<...
How Contractors Can Adopt AI Agents Without Chaos with Ryan Rademann
Reece is joined by Ryan Rademann from Wipfli to talk about why contractors cannot treat technology, AI, and systems as random tools anymore. As builders grow, weak integrations, messy data, and outdated processes can quietly limit cash flow, reporting, and scale.
They get into AI agents, cloud systems, process mapping, accounting workflows, and why the right tech stack has to support the way a construction business actually runs. This conversation is about using technology with intention so contractors can make better decisions, protect their team, and grow without creating more chaos.
https://ryanrademann.com
<...
Your Tech Stack Needs To Start With Strategy with Dustin Stephens
Reece sits down with Dustin Stephens, CEO of Alliance Solutions Group, to talk about why contractors cannot treat AI like a shortcut around broken systems. As labor gets tighter and construction businesses get more complex, the companies that understand their tech stack, data, and back office will be in a better position to compete.
Dustin shares what he is seeing across construction ERP, cloud accounting, project management, preconstruction, AP workflows, and AI adoption. The big takeaway: start with the business problem, understand the process, then use technology to make the work faster, clearer, and more human.
<...
How AI Speeds Up Profitable Bids with Deepti Yenireddy
Reece sits down with Deepti Yenireddy, founder and CEO of Boon AI, to talk about the real business case for AI in estimating: tighter bid timelines, thin margins, and why speed matters when builders are chasing more work. They get into how Boone handles preconstruction from plan review to takeoff, why specialized AI beats generic tools in construction, and why the best estimators are becoming better reviewers and decision-makers, not obsolete. If you want to understand where AI actually helps builders today and how to stay competitive without buying the hype, this episode gives you a practical place to...
Why Contractors Need Better Accounting with Chris Murphy
Reece sits down with Chris Murphy of Breakaway CAAS to talk about why so many contractors struggle with bookkeeping, payroll, and job costing, and what better financial systems can unlock for a growing business. It matters because weak accounting processes do not just create messy books, they create bad decisions, wasted time, and unnecessary risk for builders.
They go over the warning signs of broken back office workflows, why day to day tracking matters more than only thinking about taxes, and how construction specific tools can reduce duplicate work and clean up reporting. Chris also shares a...
How Builders Can Raise The Standard with Andrea and Brian Seymour of Springdale Custom Builders
Reece sits down with Andrea and Brian Seymour of Springdale Custom Builders to talk about the systems, pricing discipline, and process thinking it takes to build a company that is actually worth something. For builders, this matters because bad estimating, weak operations, and owner dependence can quietly kill profit long before the work dries up.
They go over why the old three-bid mindset creates bad relationships, how Springdale qualifies clients and estimates more accurately, and what retained earnings and real financial visibility make possible. They also unpack the bigger play here: building repeatable systems, hiring the right...
Don’t Let Weak Process Stop Your Growth with Archibald McLellan
Reece sits down with Archibald McLellan of CBIS to talk about why weak process can quietly hold a construction business back long before the owner realizes it. For builders trying to grow without losing control, this episode gets into why better systems, cleaner numbers, and stronger communication matter more than ever.
Arch shares the hard lesson of losing leverage on a project because the paperwork, documentation, and financial visibility were not where they needed to be. Reece and Arch also break down job costing, cash flow planning, transparent communication, and why knowing your numbers early is what...
Build Wealth Before You Step Away with John Steiger
Reece sits down with John Steiger of Wealth Planning Resources to talk about a problem a lot of builders avoid until it gets urgent: how to build real wealth outside the business before it is time to step away. For owners thinking about succession, retirement, or simply getting their financial house in order, this conversation is a practical look at what needs to happen long before an exit is on the table.
They cover grooming the next generation, why business development matters more than most owners realize, how phantom ownership can prepare future leaders, and why buying...
The AI Opportunity In Construction with Julie Adams
Reece sits down with Julie Adams of Sage to talk about how AI is changing the way builders manage jobs, data, and decision-making across the business. They get into why this matters right now as builders face labor shortages, pricing pressure, and a market that still has real opportunity for firms that can see their numbers clearly. This episode covers the economic headwinds hitting construction, where firms are actually investing in AI, and how better visibility across estimating, operations, and finance can lead to smarter moves. If you want a clearer picture of how technology can help your business...
Funding Big Builds Without Losing Control with Brad Robinson
Reece sits down with Brad Robinson for his second time on Builders, Budgets, & Beers to talk about funding bigger projects without giving up the driver’s seat. They break down equity vs debt, what investors actually expect after you take their money, and how to choose the right partners for the deal. Brad also shares how he is connecting wellness-driven building with real estate strategy, plus the systems and SOP mindset builders need before they scale.
Website: https://bradfordbuilds.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfordrobinson
Instagram: https://ww...
When Growth Outruns Cash Flow with Christian and Deanne Lawson
Reece sits down with Christian and Deanne Lawson of Lawson Development to talk about the real cash flow squeeze behind fixed price custom builds, and why draw schedules can quietly force builders to finance jobs. They break down deposits, milestones, profit vs. payroll, and how to spot loan officer red flags before they wreck a project. You will also hear how charging for quotes and tracking simple “life notes” helped them level up fast. If this helped, share it with a builder friend and follow for more straight talk money conversations.
https://www.lawsondevelopmentllc.com
Sh...
Strategic Partners That Reduce Risk And Help You Scale With David Werschay
Reece sits down with David Werschay of Werschay Homes to break down how builders can punch above their weight in land development and spec building without blowing up cash flow. They talk strategic partners, exclusive builder agreements, and a creative spec home funding play that got subs and banks aligned. You will walk away with practical ways to reduce risk, build repeatable processes, and keep momentum even when the market gets weird.
https://werschayhomes.com
Show Notes:
00:00 Big land, shared risk
00:19 Show intro
00:54 Meet David
01:57 Werschay Companies overview
03:59...
The Tech Stack Upgrade Contractors Need With Connor Watumull
Reece sits down with Connor Watumull from Miter to talk about the biggest labor money leak most builders miss: getting every hour, burden, and benefit tied back to the right job. They break down what “contractor built” payroll and HR actually means, plus simple ways to level up onboarding, compensation, and performance without making it feel corporate. If labor is your biggest cost, this is the playbook for making it measurable, motivating, and profitable.
https://www.miter.com
Show Notes:
00:00 New generation
01:11 Connor’s path
03:21 Why construction
06:12 What i...
Why the Design to Bid System Fails with Trapper Roderick
Reece sits down with Trapper Roderick of Roderick Builders to talk about why most custom homes blow up on budget before they ever break ground. They discuss the broken “architect first, builder later” pipeline, and how to pull the builder into design early so the scope, the money, and the build reality actually match. You will hear how Trapper wins work through real estate relationships, design-forward content, and tighter processes so profit supports quality instead of fighting it. If this helped, share it with a builder friend who is tired of value engineering after the bid.
https://www...
Price Per Square Foot is Lying to You with Mark Willie
Reece sits down with Mark Willie to break down why price per square foot can wreck budgets on custom homes, and what builders should lead with instead. They get into expectation setting, where costs are really climbing (hint: the envelope), and how finishes can quietly 4x a plan in one showroom visit. You will walk away with a clearer way to talk budgets, scope, and durability without getting trapped in a single number.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-build-small-casitas-wille
https://www.instagram.com/wille.build
Show Notes:
00:00 Notice what’s ri...
Mission Before Margin with Hayden Croxall
Reece sits down with Hayden Croxall to unpack how he built a multi-entity construction group by leading with purpose, not just profit. They discuss why residential work is so emotional, how Hayden thinks about holding companies and cross-serving trades, and what his tech stack changed for job costing and AP. You will walk away with a clearer filter for growth, culture, and hiring. If this one hits, share it with a builder who needs the reminder.
https://www.croxallcommercial.com
Show notes:
00:00 Money and purpose
00:49 Meet Hayden
01:51 From recession to...
Stop Guessing Your Margin with Jeremy Sloane
Reece sits down with Jeremy Sloane of Sloane Construction Company to talk about job costing, cost codes, and why clean data is the difference between protecting margin and getting blindsided. They get into hiring lessons and the simple systems that keep projects on track. You’ll walk away with practical ways to tighten up billing, align your cost code “language,” and price future work with confidence. If this helps, subscribe and share it with a builder friend who’s tired of guessing.
https://www.sloaneconstruction.com
Show Notes:
00:00 Intro and why job costing...
The Right People Protect Your Vision with Tim Calderala
Reece sits down with Tim Calderala of Apex Homes Florida to talk about the money impact of hiring, leadership clarity, and building a bench of talent. Tim shares what four acquisitions taught him about systems, KPIs, and why “right people in right seats” beats any process on paper. You will hear how he launched a custom home company from scratch and what builders can do today to stop letting team gaps wreck margin.
https://www.apexhomesfl.com
Show Notes:
00:00 Right people first
03:43 Tim’s builder path
06:30 Acquisitions lessons
09:51 Clarity and vi...
Successful Projects are Built on Clarity with PJ Antonik
Reece Barnes sits down with PJ Antonik of Oak Development to talk about the real difference between “having a gut feel” and actually knowing your job costs. PJ breaks down how he audits past projects, tightens his funnel, and uses budget vs actuals to catch mistakes before they wreck cash flow. If you have ever felt unsure whether you can safely spend what is in the bank, this one will help you get your confidence back. Subscribe and share this with a builder friend who is still estimating off vibes.
https://oakdd.com
https://www.instagram.com...
Job Costing Mistakes That Break Trust with Joel Route
Reece Barnes sits down with Joel Route of Mark D Williams Custom Homes to talk about the real cost of messy job costing and how it wrecks trust with clients. They break down how miscoded invoices can turn into double billing, end of job surprises, and $60K to $70K hits to margin. You will hear simple process rules, how to keep draws clean, and why real time cost tracking changes everything. If this helped, subscribe and share it with a builder who is still doing this in spreadsheets.
https://www.mdwilliamshomes.com
Show Notes:<...
One Bad Hire Can Break Your Culture with Paul Sanneman
Reece sits down with Paul Sanneman of Contractor Staffing Source to talk about the real cost of hiring mistakes, and why marketing and recruiting are no longer optional if you want to protect profit. They break down how AI is changing the game, plus Paul’s step by step recruiting process you can run in house if you have to. You will leave with clearer standards for who to hire, how to onboard them, and why one “almost good enough” employee is costing you way more than you think. If this helps, share it with a builder friend and check...
Protecting your Margins with Garrett Goldsberry
Reece sits down again with Garrett Goldsberry of Salt Creek Homes for round two, now that Garrett has been using Adaptive for a few months. They break down what changed after moving from Excel and QuickBooks into real job costing, and why it matters if you are trying to protect margin. You’ll hear how Garrett builds cost plus draw packages, improves transparency with clients, and catches missed costs before they quietly erode profit. If this helped, subscribe and share it with a builder who is still “making it work” in spreadsheets.
https://www.saltcreekhomesco.com
1...
Making Systems Stick with Matt Brill
Reece sits down with Matt Brill of Bauen Build to break down change management for builders, from new software to new build standards, without losing the team along the way. They talk about what actually drives buy in, how to keep craftspeople focused on the work they love, and why clarity is so important. You will leave with practical ways to tighten budgets, approvals, and communication while still building a great product. If this hit home, share it with a builder friend and check out the links for more.
https://bauenbuild.com
Show Notes:<...
Fixed Price vs Cost Plus with Chris Kerr
Reece sits down with Chris Kerr of White Oak Home to debate fixed price versus cost plus, and what each model really means for risk, profit, and client trust. They get into the real reason fixed price feels simpler for a small team, why missing receipts can quietly kill margin, and how job costing changes the whole conversation. You’ll also hear how to think about overhead, project management fees, and change orders when the client is still deciding mid build. If this helped, share it with a builder buddy and check out Adaptive for tighter job cost tracking.
