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Case Study

SBS Contracting: $400K to $4M

Builder Type
Custom Home / Remodeler
Revenue Size
$400K → $4M
Employees
Owner + 3 Subs
Primary Pain
Estimating & Systems
Services Used
6-Week MAP™
$400K/yr → $4M/yr Annual revenue after systems implementation

What They Were Struggling With

SBS Contracting was a classic growing-pains story. The owner was doing quality work, referrals were coming in, and revenue was ticking up — but the business felt like it was running the owner, not the other way around.

The symptoms were everywhere:

  • Pricing by gut feel. No cost code structure, no labor burden calculation, no repeatable estimate format. Every bid was a fresh stab in the dark.
  • No job-level financial visibility. They'd finish a job not knowing if they made money until the accountant called — three months later.
  • Proposal chaos. Every proposal was different. Some deals closed. Others died because the client didn't understand the scope or price.
  • Growth felt dangerous. Taking on more work meant more exposure to the same margin leaks. Scaling felt like scaling the problems, not the profits.

What We Implemented

Over 6 weeks, we worked through three core sprints:

  • Sprint 1 — Financial Foundation: Built a CSI-format cost code structure specific to SBS's project types. Identified their true labor burden (it was 34% higher than the owner thought). Set a break-even and minimum markup threshold for every job category.
  • Sprint 2 — Estimating System: Built a master budget template with pre-loaded assemblies. Turned the 8-hour estimate process into a 45-minute exercise with consistent margin built in. Created a proposal template with clear scope language that closed faster.
  • Sprint 3 — Operations & Automation: Built a daily log system in JobTread. Set up Zapier automations for client updates and job milestones. Created SOPs so subcontractors knew what was expected without owner involvement in every decision.

Timeline: 6 weeks kickoff to live operating system. No open-ended retainer. Fixed milestones, fixed deliverables.

Measurable Outcomes

10x
Revenue multiple — $400K to $4M
45min
Estimate time (down from 8+ hrs)
34%
Labor burden they weren't accounting for
6 wks
From chaos to operating system

"We went from not knowing if we were making money on jobs to having a system that tells us before we even start. The 6-Week MAP changed how I think about every bid."

— SBS Contracting, Owner

Related Services

The work done for SBS Contracting pulled from three core GO First service areas:

The 6-Week MAP™ → Estimating & Pricing Systems → JobTread Implementation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the 6-Week MAP™ program take to complete?
The 6-Week MAP™ is completed in exactly 6 weeks from kickoff to a live operating system. Each week has fixed milestones — there's no open-ended retainer. SBS Contracting had their full estimating and operations system live within that window.
What results can a builder expect from working with GO First Consulting?
Results vary based on your starting point and services used. SBS Contracting grew from $400K to $4M in annual revenue after building a proper estimating system and operational foundation. Most clients see significant margin improvement within the first 3–6 months.
Does GO First work with small builders, not just large GCs?
Yes. SBS Contracting started with the owner and 3 subs at $400K in revenue — a very typical starting point for GO First clients. The 6-Week MAP scales to your business size. GO First works with builders doing $500K–$5M in annual revenue.

See if you qualify.

Book a free diagnostic call. We'll review your numbers, identify where the margin is leaking, and tell you exactly what it would take to build the system SBS has today.

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