Designing a construction business with the right systems and processes from day one is how you build for lasting profit and freedom. New Hampshire home builder Tom Raisanen shares how he set up pre-construction, project handoffs, a CEO schedule, and his first hire so the company can eventually run without him.
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👉 Here's how to build a construction business that runs without you, starting with the systems most owners wait too long to put in place.
After 15 years in his family's construction business, Tom Raisanen struck out on his own and launched Raisanen Home Builders in Southern New Hampshire. Most builders chase projects first and deal with the business side once chaos and burnout force the issue. Tom built the systems and processes to grow before he hired anyone or broke ground on his first new home.
On this episode, Todd Dawalt and Tom get specific about what that looked like. They dig into charging for pre-construction as a profit center, and why a paid process filters out tire-kickers and funds real planning. They break down nailing the handoff from estimating to the field, with drawings and selections locked in up front so the schedule doesn't stall. Tom explains why he gets every selection made before the build starts, and how carrying allowances sets builders up for change-order fights later.
From there, they get into how Tom runs his week like a CEO, planning each day ahead so he does owner-level work instead of grabbing a hammer because it's the easy thing. He shares why a virtual assistant was his first hire and how she keeps him accountable to protected CEO time. Narrowing his focus to the Big Five keeps him out of the hundred-item to-do trap. If you want more control and fewer costly mistakes while you build a company that can eventually run without you, this one's worth your time.
Key Takeaways:
00:00 Building the Business Right From the Start
02:28 Free Resources: Builder CEO and Buyout Playbook
06:16 Introducing Tom Risanen of Risanen Home Builders
09:34 Business Evaluation Call
12:06 Why Tom Built Systems Before Projects
15:22 One Estimating Mistake Can Cost You Everything
17:00 How Tom Started Charging for Pre-Construction
21:10 No More Free Estimates
22:26 Nailing the Pre-Construction Handoff
28:06 How to Get Clients to Make Selections on Time
30:28 The CEO Schedule and Staying in Your Lane
33:00 Why a VA Was the First Hire
37:46 The CEO Alliance and the Power of a Peer Group
43:08 Construction Does Not Have to Be Chaotic
47:28 One Piece of Advice Before You Make the Jump
Additional Resources:
⚡Download the How to Buyout a Construction Project Playbook - HERE
⚡Builder CEO Weekly Operating System - HERE
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The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time.
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