Well Built: How the Top 2% of Construction Contractors Create Superior Value, Profits, and Excellence

by Chad Prinkey

Overview

The construction industry faces major headwinds—from fluctuating markets and attracting enough talent to unreasonably tight margins, and so much more. Yet some elite contractors consistently achieve double or triple the profits through these challenges.

What's the key to their success?

After advising hundreds of contractors for fifteen years, author Chad Prinkey knows it comes down to having the right systems and culture in place across your business. In his book Well Built, Prinkey lays out the roadmap for contractors to make meaningful upgrades in how they operate, strategize, manage teams, win new business, and deliver for customers. You'll learn the step-by-step process contractors can use to join the top 2% and gain durable competitive advantages that increase profits for the long haul.

Real transformation doesn't happen overnight—but with Prinkey's straightforward methodology, construction executives finally have a clear path to reach the top tier of industry performers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798891880610
Publisher:	Advantage Media Group, Inc.
Publication date:	06/18/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296
Sales rank:	818,543
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

CHAD PRINKEY is the Founder of Well Built Construction Consulting, where he guides construction executives to unlock higher performance and success. He has successfully developed nearly two hundred meaningful client relationships in the building industry across North America by delivering real results and maintaining trust since 2008.

In addition to his background and passion for construction, Chad is a performer by nature and by training. He relishes opportunities to speak to groups and move people and is a co-host of The Morning Huddle Construction Show podcast. He lives in Baltimore County, Maryland, with his wife Lindsey, their three sons, and two black labs.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Well Built Construction Companies

System I: Installing the Foundation
Chapter 1: Financial Transparency
Chapter 2: Financial Roadblocks
Chapter 3: Measure What Matters and Make a Profit
Chapter 4: Master Meetings

System II: Engineering a Clear Strategic Direction
Chapter 5: Gain Owner Clarity
Chapter 6: Build a Strategic Business Plan
Chapter 7: Execute the Plan

System III: Building Operational Excellence
Chapter 8: Embrace Process
Chapter 9: Excellence in Estimating
Chapter 10: Excellence in Project Management
Chapter 11: Excellence in Field Operations

System IV: Constructing Relationships
Chapter 12: Vendors versus Partners
Chapter 13: There Is a Customer, and They Do Come First
Chapter 14: Always Prepare for Succession
Chapter 15: Eliminate Unforced Communication Errors
Chapter 16: Hiring Excellence
Chapter 17: Employee Pride

System V: Powering Up the Building
Chapter 18: Stake Your Claim
Chapter 19: Maintain a Healthy Diet
Chapter 20: Deliver, Sell, and Buy Value over Price
Chapter 21: Build Real Relationships with Your Clients

System VI: Topping Out and Running Up the Score
Chapter 22: Being Known as the Best
Chapter 23: Pitfalls of Top Performers
Chapter 24: Strategies for Running Up the Score

CONCLUSION: You Will Encounter Obstacles and Pushback—Execute Anyway

Acknowledgments About the Author

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"[Well Built] is a treasure trove of lessons and a must-read for anyone interested in the construction field or companies seeking to improve their business.”
Readers' Favorite

"Prinkey’s passion for helping companies reach excellence shines throughout [...]." BookLife by Publishers Weekly Editor's Pick

"A masterful introduction to succeeding in a difficult industry."
Kirkus Indie

"Well Built is a clear, in-depth step-by-step guide to creating and maintaining a successful construction business."
Foreword

"Prinkey gives us the model and tools to consistently be the best as a construction contractor. Those that adopt these principles will no longer need to ask how they can be considered best in class but will be well on their way to achieving that goal."
Dan Novack
President, Balfour Beatty

"I’ve had the good pleasure of working with Chad and his team for over 14 years. During that time, our business has grown tenfold and Chad played a leading role on the team that made this possible. The concepts and principles he taught us when we had 300 employees apply today with our team of 2,500. His sincere interest in others, his passion for teaching and his ability to relate and articulate the basic principles of training and sales makes this book worth the read. I highly recommend it."
Craig Ruppert
Founder Ruppert Landscape / Ruppert Companies

"Leading a construction company through turbulent, complicated times like ours is challenging. Well Built is an actionable playbook on how to do it well. This is a must-read for any current or aspiring construction executive."
Kevin Rogge
President, Harvey-Cleary Builders

"Well Built is a game-changer for construction business owners and executives seeking lasting prosperity. This book is a blueprint for excellence, providing a strategic approach that will help you build an action plan to ensure your construction business thrives. We have considered Chad a partner to our business for a long time, and I would urge you not to miss out on the wisdom that has in-part fueled our success."
Frank Settleman
President, Chesapeake Contracting Group

"Having had the privilege of collaborating with Chad Prinkey during his tenure with our company as a consultant, I can attest firsthand to his profound insights into effective leadership. In his new book, Well Built, Chad Prinkey distills years of hands-on experience and strategic wisdom into a comprehensive guide for aspiring and established leaders alike."
Buddy Henley
LEED AP, BD+C­­; President, Henley Construction Co., Inc.

"Chad Prinkey's Well Built: How the Top 2% of Construction Contractors Create Superior Value, Profits, and Excellence is a game-changer for the industry. His insights have helped me build the competitive edge needed for success. Prinkey's guidance equips contractors with the strategies and mindset necessary to transform their construction business. This book is a blueprint for excellence, empowering leaders to thrive and stand out in an ever-competitive landscape. It is a must-read for those committed to achieving remarkable results."
Aaron Shapiro
Business Development Manager, Shapiro & Duncan, Inc.

"I discovered Chad through his efforts to create content to help improve GC-subcontractor relations. His advocacy for creating a healthier environment for everyone by working on the root causes of industry dysfunction was refreshing and caught my attention immediately. We work closely with Chad and his team to help Contexture deliver customer delight without sacrificing our business objectives. The construction industry needs more voices like his."
Brianna Goodwin​
President & CEO, Contexture

"Strong leaders show the path forward and inspire people to become the best version of themselves. They also have the courage and conviction to challenge the status quo and stand for positive change. Chad has risen to his position as a sought-after consultant and thought leader in the construction industry by doing both of these things consistently. His book, Well Built, provides clear, inspirational, and actionable advice for General Contractors and Trade Contractors. The message is right on target for the needs of today's construction industry."
Jason E. Keller
Managing Partner, Block Companies

"As a multigenerational mechanical contractor with multiple locations, we were seeking a systematic way to run our business into the future. We read [other books on the subject] and loved the framework but wanted someone who deeply understood contractors to help facilitate the essential business decisions we needed to make. We've found the systematic approach Chad has taken with our team to mesh nicely with concepts with EOS to drive real results for us. In Well Built, Chad brings answers to questions facing contractors who want to create a more sustainable business."
Dominic D. Magnolia
Vice President, Magnolia Companies

"Chad inspires construction leaders wherever he goes, which I’ve experienced firsthand in his work with our team. When he speaks at trade association events, they are consistently the best-attended and reviewed events of the year. We’ve considered him a trusted partner to our business for years, and through that partnership, we’ve become a larger, more effective, and more profitable business. Chad’s in-depth experience with so many contractors has given him an extremely well-rounded and valuable perspective on common challenges and best practices from around the industry. Well Built is clearly a culmination of the principles we’ve found so influential over the years, and every commercial construction leader should keep a copy on hand."
Evan Winston
President, Hercules Fence

"We first met Chad as a speaker at an industry conference and found his insights to be right on target with the realities facing trade contractors. His team has been delivering excellent results for our company ever since! We especially appreciate his perspective from working with General Contractors and Developers to help us understand what our clients need from us. Well Built organizes Chad’s insights into a system we can follow to create consistent success in our business."
Mark Huntley
Principal, Anchor Mechanical

"Chad Prinkey’s Well Built provides construction companies with an actionable blueprint for success. Chad’s years of experience as a consultant to construction firms have lent him the expertise and perspective to identify what smart companies need to do to build winning teams, run profitable projects, and skillfully manage risk. From my personal experience in working closely with Chad, leaders seeking to grow their firms won’t want to miss this thoughtful guide."
Steve Houff
President, Plano-Coudon Construction

"Chad has done a lot of work in our industry with a lot of companies. We truly value his knowledge, insight and instincts."
Scott Harding
President & CEO, FB Harding Electrical Contractors

Editorial Reviews

06/10/2024

Prinkey, writing specifically for “general and specialty contractors,” debuts a step-by-step guide to transform construction companies into what he terms a “Well Built Construction Company”—that is, one that maintains consistent profitability while successfully serving its clients and employees at the same time. He draws from years of professional experience as a consultant to contractors, walking readers through the basics—such as establishing financial transparency and a strategic business plan—to more granular details of day-to-day operations, including sample agendas, customizable email formats, and more. Prinkey’s advice can easily be replicated, making this guide as practical as it is informative.

Using helpful tables and graphics to illustrate the more complex ideas, Prinkey tackles the unique problems of an “account-based and project-based industry” that’s often plagued by uncertain cash flow: “The top reason contractors go out of business is the continued negative cash flow” he writes, though “this is only the symptom, not the disease.” To mitigate that risk, Prinkey offers readers down-to-earth advice centered on financial transparency, structured business planning (including a rundown on business meetings and how to ensure their productivity), and training techniques to enhance field operations. When it comes to the daily processes that determine business outcomes, Prinkey delves more deeply, outlining the difference between core and supporting processes as well as the most efficient ways to document and implement those—cautioning that “things change… you must be ready to accept positive changes to your processes if you wish to be at your best.”

Prinkey’s passion for helping companies reach excellence shines throughout, and his guidelines—though somewhat narrow in scope—are achievable for dedicated construction companies willing to work towards goals that may not be “fun in the moment but have a long-term payoff.” That payoff, he promises, will land those who follow his recommendations in the top 2 percent of construction companies.

Takeaway: Impressive guide to building a top 2 percent construction company.

Comparable Titles: Paul Netscher’s Building a Successful Construction Company, Thomas C. Schleifer, Kenneth T. Sullivan, and John M. Murdough’s Managing the Profitable Construction Business.

Production grades Cover: A- Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A Marketing copy: B+

BookLife Reviews

2024-05-22
Prinkey provides a comprehensive plan for building a successful construction company.

In this nonfiction work, the author astutely catalogs the many challenges that beleaguer the construction industry—the dominance of low-price bids, the financial rollercoaster of “feast-or-famine conditions,” and razor-thin margins are only some of the difficulties firms typically face. The average construction company only nets a yearly profit of 1.5%. However, the top 2% of contractors can achieve many times that and generate millions of dollars in net profits. Prinkey is the founder and head of Well Built Construction Consulting and has advised nearly 200 construction companies over the past 15 years (approximately 50 of those were in the top 2% category); here, he shares what all those companies have in common, clearly and accessibly distilling the data into a system. The author is impressively thorough—he covers everything from the financial end of the business to operations, including hiring, choosing the right projects, sales, and safety control. The chapter on estimating costs and setting prices is particularly painstaking, and it alone makes this a worthwhile guide. (“Estimating must be a replicable, trainable science in your construction business.”) Here and there he indulges in some of the touchy-feely rhetoric so common in contemporary business guidebooks—the discussion of “core values” seems like a dutiful rehashing of the genre’s tropes. However, for the most part, this is an exceedingly practical book. (“Absolutely nothing you do as a construction company matters as much as your ability to produce a project that meets the scheduling, budgetary, and quality expectations of your own business.”) The intended audience is general and specialty contractors; both those just starting out and more experienced construction professionals will benefit greatly from this rigorous and encyclopedic instruction manual.

A masterful introduction to succeeding in a difficult industry, appropriate for veterans and newbies.

Kirkus Reviews