Commentary: Shawn McCadden

Shawn McCadden founded, operated, and sold a successful design/build remodeling business. A co-founder of the Residential Design/Build Institute and former director of education for a national K&B remodeling franchise, Shawn frequently speaks at industry events and consults with remodeling companies. shawnm@charter.net.

  • Four Resolutions for Every Remodeling Business in 2009

    Slow is the new normal, and ignorance is not bliss. Thoughts on staying competitive in a difficult remodeling climate.

  • Business as Usual Won't Get You Through This Recession

    Remodeling consultant Shawn McCadden outlines the key psychological advantage that helped his company emerge stronger from the last major remodeling recession.

  • Business Planning Pays Off

    Being "too busy to plan" and map out strategies to rework structural shortcomings within your business will see you paying the consequences for a long time to come.

  • Tips for Better Estimating

    Replace the “we’ll see what happens” philosophy with a more aggressive and planned approach to estimating. Don’t let your pride, or haste, get in the way of your profit goals.

  • Preparing a Remodeling Company for Sale

    Since selling my remodeling business in 2004, I’ve been asked by many remodelers for insights into how they might sell their own companies. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Each business is unique and each prospective buyer is looking for unique characteristics.

  • Defining Your Niche to Help Ensure Consistent Profitability

    What’s your niche? When I ask remodelers this question, most name an ideal type of project, such as kitchens, historic renovations, or windows.

  • Monitor the health of your business to foresee and prevent problems.

    Working with a remodeler client recently, I thought his business looked pretty good until we got to the financials. QuickBooks reports revealed that he had lost more than $60,000 the previous year. He was stunned. Worse, he had already sold a significant amount of work for the current year...

  • Commentary: Green Your Own Planet First

    Remodelers can't escape the pressure to build green. It's a no-brainer that using natural and renewable materials and being better stewards of natural resources will reduce our impact on the environment and prove more cost-effective in the long run.

  • Learning how to incorporate "green" into your business

    Remodelers can't escape the pressure to build green. It's a no-brainer that using natural and renewable materials and being better stewards of natural resources will reduce our impact on the environment and prove more cost-effective in the long run.

  • Remodelers need to let go of business control

    Most remodelers are control freaks. As a recovering remodeler, I hope I can say that without getting into trouble. When money gets tight, these remodelers tend to intensify their grip. Their employees feel that squeeze, and it doesn't feel good.