Builders, Budgets, and Beers

Adaptive
  • 5.0 (9)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. Why Contractors Need Better Accounting with Chris Murphy

    1D AGO

    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 brutal real world payroll example and explains what builders should look for if they know their current process is holding them back. https://www.breakawaycaas.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-j-murphy-cpa-498547123 Show Notes: 00:00 Show Intro 00:44 Meet Chris 02:59 Why Construction 05:55 The Opportunity 07:24 Wrong People 16:24 Taxes Vs Tracking 20:56 Discovery Questions 22:26 Worst Payroll Process 30:03 Best Software Stack 46:49 Signs You Need Help 47:56 Where To Find Chris Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes Matt Calvano Podcast  Produced By: Motif Media

    49 min
  2. How Builders Can Raise The Standard with Andrea and Brian Seymour of Springdale Custom Builders

    APR 29

    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 people, and creating a business that can scale, sell, or survive without the owner pushing every button. https://springdalecharlotte.com Show Notes: 00:00 Show Intro 00:54 Meet Springdale 02:09 Starting On Honeymoon 05:09 Fixing The Bid Process 08:49 Sell As Advisor 10:07 Their Sales Process 15:12 Pivoting Project Types 17:03 Knowing Your Numbers 21:16 Lessons And Grit 26:12 Software For Builders 33:48 Build To Exit 37:27 Hiring The Right People 40:29 Peers Over Competitors Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes Matt Calvano Podcast  Produced By: Motif Media

    46 min
  3. Don’t Let Weak Process Stop Your Growth with Archibald McLellan

    APR 22

    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 keeps growth from turning into chaos. https://construction-integrators.com Show Notes: 00:00 Show Intro 00:42 Meet Arch 04:05 From Marines To Construction 08:05 Private Equity Lessons 11:42 Proving His Value 16:00 Starting CBIS 18:21 Early Hard Lessons 22:02 Why Pain Matters 23:55 Strategic Partnerships 34:50 Process Starts With Numbers 41:17 Transparent Communication 43:55 Closing Thoughts Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes Matt Calvano Podcast  Produced By: Motif Media

    44 min
  4. Build Wealth Before You Step Away with John Steiger

    APR 15

    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 trucks just to save on taxes is not the same as building wealth. This episode will help builders think more clearly about profit, assets, succession, and what it takes to create options later. Check the links to connect with John and follow more Builders, Budgets, & Beers conversations. https://www.wprplanning.com email: john@wprplanning.com Show Notes: 00:42 Show Intro 01:45 Meet John Steiger 05:35 Why Exit Planning Matters 07:32 Financial House First 16:44 Build Assets Outside 20:03 Start Planning Early 22:14 Phantom Ownership Explained 25:34 Teach Business Development 29:36 Retirement Plans That Work 37:24 Stop Buying Deductions 41:15 Make Planning Simple Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes Matt Calvano Podcast  Produced By: Motif Media

    47 min
  5. The AI Opportunity In Construction with Julie Adams

    APR 8

    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 run leaner and make better decisions, this one is worth the listen. https://www.sage.com/en-us Show Notes: 00:00 Show Intro 00:54 Meet Julie Adams 02:15 State Of Construction 03:53 AI Builds Demand 06:01 Industry Headwinds 09:25 Better Decisions Faster 11:36 Why Builders Resist 13:01 Mindset And Adoption 20:18 Tech Provider Responsibility 27:09 Where AI Lands 31:14 Finance Gets Clearer 35:32 End To End Visibility 42:41 Final Takeaways Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes Matt Calvano Podcast  Produced By: Motif Media

    46 min
  6. Funding Big Builds Without Losing Control with Brad Robinson

    APR 1

    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://www.instagram.com/bradfordbuilt Show Notes: 00:48 Show Intro 02:04 Brad's Background 05:37 Owner Rep Model 10:28 Holiday Show House 12:59 Where To Follow 16:47 Capital Viewpoint 20:23 Equity Vs Debt 23:53 Picking Investors 28:27 JV Vs Fund 30:25 Wellness Strategy 35:59 Systems Before Scale 38:53 SOPs Save You Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes Matt Calvano Podcast  Produced By: Motif Media

    41 min
  7. When Growth Outruns Cash Flow with Christian and Deanne Lawson

    MAR 25

    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 Show Notes: 00:14 Show Intro 01:45 Meet The Lawsons 06:15 Bookkeeping Reality Check 11:31 How Draws Work 14:45 Floating Jobs Problem 17:25 Deposits And Leverage 23:44 Loan Officer Red Flags 34:43 Charging For Quotes 43:11 Life Notes System 46:46 Write Off Talk 48:42 Final Takeaways Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes Matt Calvano Podcast  Produced By: Motif Media

    49 min
  8. Strategic Partners That Reduce Risk And Help You Scale With David Werschay

    MAR 18

    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 From code to construction 05:40 Starting Werschay Homes 11:08 Mentors and partners 13:46 Exclusive builder deal 20:30 Building community value 24:09 Risk and recession 30:21 The spec home play 36:46 Processes and feedback 43:00 Advice for builders 47:01 Wrap up Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes Matt Calvano Podcast  Produced By: Motif Media

    49 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

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.

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