Year in Review: 2024

For many builders, 2024 was a year of challenges. Rising inflation, volatile costs, and unpredictable markets made it harder than ever to stay ahead. Leads dried up, deals fell through at the last minute, and the pressure to manage cash flow and keep projects on track only intensified.

Yet, amidst these difficulties, some builders thrived. Those who invested in systemisation, marketing, and robust business processes not only weathered the storm but also achieved remarkable results. By focusing on professionalism, consistency, and a commitment to continual improvement, these builders proved that success is possible even in uncertain times.

This Year in Review showcases how forward-thinking builders raised the bar in 2024 and how APB has worked to support the industry through education, innovation, and community.

The State of Residential Construction Industry Survey & Report

The State of Residential Construction Industry (SORCI) report has become a vital resource for builders, offering clear insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. In March 2024, the fourth installment of the report revealed critical trends from 1,817 builders. This year, participation in the survey grew to an impressive 2,240 builders, highlighting the growing demand for benchmarking and actionable data.

Key Insights

• Financial Literacy: While financial understanding continues to improve, the latest data revealed that only 11.4% of builders could correctly calculate the Work in Progress Accounting Adjustment (WIPAA). This underscores the ongoing need for better financial management education.
• Lead Generation: Lead quality remains a major challenge, but the percentage of builders citing it as their top sales challenge dropped from 45.9% to 33.5%, reflecting progress among those who have adopted proactive marketing strategies like content creation.
• Systemisation and Profitability: Builders with systemised processes performed better financially. For example, builders with a documented sales process achieved a median gross markup of 25% compared to 20% for those without. This reinforces a key finding from 2024: systemisation is essential for the success of a building company.

Emerging Trends for 2025

The data also highlighted shifting consumer preferences, with increased demand for energy-efficient builds and smaller, cost-effective homes. Builders who adapted to these trends by emphasising value and clear communication saw improved conversion rates and client satisfaction.

The 2025 SORCI Report, set to be published in February, provides builders with a blueprint for navigating market pressures and positioning themselves for success.

Live Events

2024 was another big year for live events at APB. We hosted 15 events across Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand, bringing hundreds of professional builders together to share ideas, learn, and grow.

The APB Summit

This year, the APB Summit moved to Sydney, Australia, where 120 building company owners gathered for two days of industry-leading insights. Featuring expert speakers and some of the brightest minds in residential construction, the event delivered innovative strategies to help builders grow their businesses.

The 2025 event will feature an expanded speaker lineup, a larger venue, and is expected to welcome over 200 building company owners.

Annual Retreat

In 2024, APB’s Annual Retreat was hosted in breathtaking Fiji, bringing together our top-performing builders. This exclusive event is designed for those who are committed to long-term growth and success, offering a mix of planning, networking, and personal development.

Next year, the retreat is heading closer to home for our North American members. The 2025 retreat will be held in Mexico on September 4th, providing the perfect setting to reset, strategise, and connect with fellow high-performing builders. Spots are limited, so don’t miss the chance to be part of this life-changing experience.

International Builders Show

In February, we exhibited at the International Builders Show (IBS) for the second year running. This premier event in North America allowed us to connect with builders, showcase our expertise, and strengthen our community.

Highlights from IBS 2024 included:

• Russ Stephens’ interview at the Buildertrend booth and multiple presentations at IBS education sessions.
• Opportunities to engage directly with builders at our booth, offering actionable insights for their businesses.

For IBS 2025, we’re taking it to the next level with a larger booth and an exciting lineup of activities:

• The Professional Builder Secrets Podcast recorded LIVE on-site with partners such as Buildertrend, JobTread, Buildxact, Houzz Pro, ECI BuildTools, BuilderComs, and Bundle.
• IBS education sessions featuring Andy Skarda and Russ Stephens, covering pricing for profit, finding your niche, creating demand for your services, and more.

Partnering with Buildertrend

We were proud to partner with Buildertrend, for our North American events, helping to bring even greater value to attendees. Additionally, over 60 industry partners sponsored our events throughout the year, reflecting their trust in APB’s mission to improve the residential construction industry.

The value of our live events continues to grow each year, and we’re excited to bring that same energy again in 2025.

Preferred Partners Network

In 2024, we grew the APB Preferred Partners Network, taking our total to 95 trusted partners. This growing network is carefully vetted to ensure members have access to the best products and services for their building companies, from software solutions to marketing services and beyond.

Since the launch of APB Rewards, our members have received an impressive $605,242.50 in rewards payouts. These rewards represent significant savings that many of our members reinvest into growing their businesses—one of the many benefits of being part of APB.

Explore the full list of APB’s trusted partners and learn how you can maximise your rewards.

Professional Builders Secrets Podcast

The Professional Builders Secrets Podcast had an incredible year in 2024, continuing to provide builders with valuable insights and strategies for growing their businesses.

This year, the podcast hit new milestones:

• Reached 170,000 audio plays across platforms.
• Gained over 250,000 video views on social media.
• Saw a 62% increase in followers, showing its growing popularity in the industry.
• The most popular episode of the year was Episode 117: Systemising a Building Company with David Jenyns.

The podcast continues to deliver practical advice and expert interviews to help builders succeed.

Community Contributions

In 2024, APB strengthened its partnership with The 141 Project, which helps provide homes for families in need.

This year, we contributed over $90,000, funding the construction of 24 homes in underprivileged communities like Guatemala. Every membership renewal contributes to this initiative, demonstrating how APB members are making a positive impact far beyond their businesses. Also, proceeds from our annual Black Friday Bootcamp contribute 100% of the revenue directly to The 141 Project.

External Recognition

2024 was another standout year for APB, with several prestigious accolades and media features highlighting our growth, innovation, and impact in the building industry.

Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur Award

APB Co-founder, Sky Kolade won the Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur Award in the Professional Services category. Sky’s vision and leadership continue to inspire and drive positive change in the residential construction industry.

Best Workplaces in Australia 2024

APB was named one of the Best Workplaces in Australia 2024! This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to building an exceptional team culture.

We were once again certified as a Great Place to Work. This recognition is a testament to our culture and the environment we've cultivated, where each team member can thrive and contribute to our mission. 100% of our team members agreed that APB is a great place to work!

SmartCompany Smart50 & AFR Fast 100

For the fourth consecutive year, APB earned a place on the SmartCompany Smart50 list, reinforcing our focus on innovation and sustained growth.

APB also secured a spot on the AFR Fast 100, celebrating our position among Australia’s fastest-growing companies.

Media Highlights

APB’s expertise was featured in numerous top-tier publications and podcasts this year, here's a small collection:

• Building Connection: APB rolls out AI training to keep builders ahead of the curve.
• Build Australia: Alarming stats highlight lack of financial know-how amongst Australian builders.
• AFR: Builders need to get the wording right on fixed-price contracts.
• Construction Champions Podcast: Watch here.
• Builder Nuggets Podcast: Listen to Episode 161: 2024 State of the Industry.

Each of these features is a testament to the hard work of our team and the support of the APB community. Together, we’re shaping the future of the residential construction industry.

Footprint and Impact

APB continued to expand our reach and help professional builders succeed globally in 2024.

Our Community

• 8.5k building companies coached since our inception 11 years ago.
• 19.6k followers on Instagram, creating a digital space for engagement and inspiration.
• 2.85k subscribers on YouTube, with professionally produced content to educate and empower builders.
• 34k followers on Facebook, forming one of the largest online communities for builders.

What Builders Are Saying

• 70 five-star Google reviews, showcasing the transformative impact of APB’s services.
• 251 Facebook recommendations, highlighting trust and success stories from our community.

Sharing Success

This year, we added four professionally shot case studies to our library, offering real-world insights into how builders are transforming their businesses. One standout is the story of Felipe Freig, whose journey demonstrates the power of following a proven process. Watch Felipe’s case study here.

APB’s impact is driven by our dedication to helping builders achieve sustainable success.

Training for Builders

2024 saw APB raise the bar in training, delivering exceptional value to builders looking to scale and systemise their businesses.

Free Online Training Sessions

We ran 20 free online training sessions for builders this year, covering critical topics such as:

• Using AI in a building company.
• Pricing projects for profitability.
• Closing high-margin building contracts.
• Managing client expectations.
• Systemising a building company.

These sessions provided actionable insights to help builders overcome challenges and implement best practices.

Premium Member Training

For our members, we delivered 12 step-by-step pieces of video training (we call them Action Plans), each with downloadable resources, checklists, and templates to simplify implementation. These trainings covered:

• Marketing at Exhibitions & Events
• Mindset Mastery
• Builders’ Qualifying Process
• Using AI in a Building Company
• Managing Client Expectations
• Marketing Blueprint for Builders
• Cashflow Mastery
• Builders’ Discovery Process
• Creating a Lead Magnet
• Quarterly Strategic Planning
• Pricing 4 Profit

Each training included a group coaching call with an Executive Business Coach and a mastermind session for our Business Coaching clients, offering an in-depth exploration of these topics.

Here is a teaser for how our new Action Plans look!

Staying Ahead with AI

We introduced weekly updates in our private members' Facebook Group from Varant Boumoushakian, APB’s Head of Operations, sharing practical AI applications tailoured for builders. These insights kept our members ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving industry.

Additionally, Russ Stephens, APB Co-founder, hosted over 20 live video trainings on Facebook, reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers.

Training at APB is designed to empower builders with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive, and 2024 was no exception. We’re excited to continue delivering world-class resources and coaching in 2025.

The Path Ahead

As we enter 2025, APB is poised to build on our success and continue empowering professional builders worldwide. With over 8.5k building companies coached, we are focused on expanding our reach, introducing new training, and leveraging technologies like AI to streamline operations and improve profitability for our members.

Our commitment to community remains stronger than ever. Events like the APB Summit and the Annual Retreat in Mexico will provide builders with opportunities to connect, share ideas, and shape the future of the industry. Together, with our members and partners, we’re excited to make 2025 another big year.