Business View Oceania | Volume 4, Issue 2

33 34 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 APB focuses on the provision of appropriate systems, templates, and training to cover all areas of business development for residential custom home builders, allowing them to better their understanding of their market, improve business models, and generate long-term success. APB’s ultimate goal is to improve the construction industry for both builders and consumers. The association believes that true growth cannot happen unless both sides are involved. Members of APB enjoy benefits that include construction coaching services in business operations, marketing, sales, financials, and self-improvement, with a heavy focus placed on the development and application of a systemic business approach. Other benefits include access to the Professional Builders University and members-only social media groups, recognition through the APB logo, and ongoing member support. APB also provides a mentoring service that includes dedicated one-on-one coaching, detailed financial reports and analysis, access to sales scripts, marketing templates, business development checklists, and monthly group coaching meetings in addition to standard membership benefits. Finally, APB makes virtual business planning workshops available to four companies at a time, which cover business blockage identification, strategic direction and planning, sales and marketing fundamentals, financial assessment, succession planning and business analysis. Co-founder Russ Stephens highlights APB as a nationwide coaching service. “After many years in the industry, we realized that builders needed a holistic approach to business development that focussed on more than just lead generation. We launched the Association of Professional Builders in response, with a mandate to improve the construction industry for both builders and consumers. Our approach acknowledged that consumers deserved far better service than they were currently getting from our industry, but also recognized that builders deserved to be earning a lot more than they were. We have a plethora of astounding success stories as a result from clients based all over Australia.” Australia’s construction sector has faced a number of challenges over the years, not the least of which is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Builders are looking for support now more than ever, Mr. Stephens says. “Builders are facing so many new challenges thanks to COVID. They come to us for help because we have the experience, the solutions, and the network to not only guide them through those challenges but leave them in a better position overall.” APB has almost doubled its membership each year since the introduction of COVID-19, bringing them to a total of 525+ company members to date. Staff have taken a dynamic and proactive approach to member care in order to support such a large-scale uptake. Mr. Stephens continues, “The most common problems we see in construction businesses are in margins and financial management. Since there is no requirement set by licensing authorities for builders to understand their financials in order to operate, we see a lot of problems surrounding rising costs of materials and labour, as well as fixed costs negatively impacting builders’ profitability. But because many of these businesses are cash flow positive, they have no idea.” APB deals only within the niche market of residential home builders, particularly custom home builders and large remodelling companies. This allows the association to design highly specific training programs and provide processes and procedures that are tailored to suit the residential home construction industry. Mr. Stephens elaborates, “Typically the coaching industry is very generic, especially in business coaching. What we do is incredibly detailed and designed to fit our builders down to the last line.” ASSOC I AT ION OF PROFESS IONAL BUI LDERS (APB) AUSTRAL I A