Why Builders Go Broke: $3.5M Turnover, Almost No Profit | Matt Ryan

Mathew Ryan from Ryan Developments joins Jimmy to explain how turning over approximately $3.5 million forced him to confront the difference between running a busy building company and running a profitable one.

Mathew shares his journey from completing his carpentry apprenticeship in Whittlesea to building Ryan Developments into a specialist custom-home and knockdown-rebuild company operating across Melbourne.

Jimmy and Matt discuss:

• Why high turnover does not guarantee profit
• The true hourly cost of employing a tradie
• Margin versus markup in construction
• Why underquoting is sending builders broke
• Losing a major project to a builder who quoted $200,000 less
• The risks of pricing your own labour below industry rates
• Difficult clients, unpaid claims and VCAT disputes
• Losing tens of thousands of dollars on completed work
• Why builders need to investigate their clients
• Finding a profitable niche in construction
• Why scaling a business is not always the right decision
• Creating a strong culture and looking after your employees
• Work ethic, apprentices and expectations on site

Mathew also explains why challenging sites, steep blocks, custom homes and knockdown rebuilds became the right niche for Ryan Developments—and why knowing your numbers is just as important as being a skilled tradesman.

This is an honest conversation about construction pricing, builder profitability, cash flow, leadership, employees and the realities of running a building business in Australia.

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Connect with Mathew:

🌐 Website: https://www.ryandevelopments.com.au/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryandevelopments/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ryandevelopments/

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

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