Contractor Growth Network #458 The 6 Biggest Remodeling Business Struggles & How to Fix Them (ft. Kyle Hunt)
In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser sits down with Kyle Hunt, remodeling business coach and founder of Remodelers on the Rise. Kyle breaks down his signature "Remodelers Roadmap"—a six-system framework designed to simplify and strengthen every core aspect of a remodeling business. From financials and marketing to people and operations, Kyle shares actionable advice and mindset shifts that help remodelers move from chaos to clarity in their business strategy.
Key Takeaways: Start with Strong FinancialsKyle emphasizes that a healthy remodeling business begins with financial clarity:
- Understand job costing, gross vs. net profit, and pricing strategy.
- Establish a solid financial foundation to support sustainable growth.
- Avoid burnout by making your business serve your life—not the other way around.
Kyle shares how too many remodelers treat marketing like a side task instead of a strategic priority:
- Every business owner must be a student of marketing—even if they’re not executing it directly.
- Build a clear marketing plan and pair it with a defined budget.
- Track lead sources consistently to make data-backed decisions.
A wishy-washy sales approach leaves clients confused and kills conversion:
- Define your “This is how we work” process in 3–5 clear steps.
- Display your sales process on your website and reinforce it in person.
- Charging for design becomes easier when clients understand the value and flow.
Kyle urges remodelers to elevate the client experience from day one on the job site:
- Pre-construction meetings are essential to set expectations and avoid surprises.
- A systematic “final 5%” process ensures projects end as strong as they start.
- Communication, cleanliness, and consistency are critical soft skills on the job.
The quality of your remodeling business is directly tied to the quality of your team:
- Empower team members with 1-on-1s, leadership development, and capacity checks.
- Great leaders create space for others to lead—inside and outside their roles.
- “Your people are more important than your profit margin.”
Behind-the-scenes systems create forward momentum:
- Use software to track jobs, log daily updates, and align estimating with accounting.
- Establish a meeting cadence with clear agendas, action steps, and timekeeping.
- Effective meetings are a business unlock—and a leadership responsibility.
“If you’re wondering why your remodeling business feels so hard—it’s because it is hard.” “Don’t try to implement five things halfway. Pick one thing and really implement it.” “The quality of your remodeling business will never outpace the quality of your people.”
Actionable Advice:- Identify Your Starting Line: Before tackling all six systems, get clear on time management, pricing, and financial health.
- Document Your Sales Process: Put it in writing, share it online, and walk clients through it every time.
- Run Better Meetings: Prepare agendas, assign timekeepers, and prioritize action over updates.
- Track Marketing Sources: Don’t just “feel” like something works—measure it.
- Choose the Next Right Thing: Focus on one area, implement fully, and move forward with momentum.