Let me ask you a blunt question…
If one of your best team members handed in their resignation tomorrow—what would you do?
Would you scramble to replace them? Take on more yourself? Blame the labour shortage?
Or would you shrug it off because your business is built to keep the right people and grow them from within?
Because here’s the uncomfortable truth:
You’re either building a company that attracts and retains top talent—or you’re training them for your competitors.
And in 2025, with skilled labour scarcer than ever, retention isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s your survival strategy.
We hear it all the time from frustrated builders.
“I’ve tried everything—bonuses, flexible hours, even Friday beers—and I still can’t keep good people.”
But what if the problem isn’t your team?
What if the real issue is your system?
Russ Stephens put it perfectly on a recent episode of Professional Builders Secrets:
“You don’t have a hiring problem. You have a business model problem.”
You’re not losing people because “kids these days” don’t want to work.
You’re losing them because your business isn’t set up to give them a future.
Let’s break this down…
Perks are great—but they’re not what keeps your best people from scrolling job listings on a Monday morning.
The real driver?
A clear path forward. A sense of progress. A culture that values growth.
That’s what Barb and Kris MacGregor tapped into when they launched My Home Renovations in New Zealand.
“We take a lot of satisfaction out of seeing our team grow professionally and personally,” Barb shared. “The fact we can help someone buy their first home—that makes it all worth it.”
They built career progression into their model. Apprentices became site leads. Labourers became leaders.
And because they hired employees, not subcontractors, they were able to invest deeply in training, mentorship, and team culture.
The MacGregors aren’t alone.
We have seen this pattern across hundreds of growing building companies:
And here’s the kicker…
These companies aren’t just keeping staff—they’re getting referrals.
From clients. From neighbours. Even from the team’s own friends.
Why?
Because a tight-knit team that takes pride in their work becomes your best marketing asset.
When your team stays:
You stop being the firefighter and start being the leader.
You create consistency, control, and confidence—not chaos.
And that? That’s how you go from a $1M operator glued to the tools… to a $10M builder with time, freedom, and profit.
So, how do you start retaining staff today?
Here’s your 5-step action plan:
The best builders in our community don’t “hope” their team stays.
They build a culture that makes people want to stay.
So here’s the question:
Are you building a business that retains talent… or just crossing your fingers every payday?
If you’re ready to stop losing good people and start scaling with confidence, we can help.
Drop a comment. Book a call. Or just send this to your business partner and start the conversation.
Because your next million in revenue won’t come from more clients…
It’ll come from keeping the right team.