What Growth Really Looks Like for a Small Construction Company
(Spoiler: It’s Not Just Revenue)
When people talk about growth in construction, the conversation usually starts—and ends—with numbers.
Revenue needs to be up, and the projects end up bigger. The schedules are fuller. And while all those things matter (we’re a business, after all), they don’t tell the full story.
At AZ Design Build Management, based right here in Ithaca, NY, we’ve experienced steady growth over the last three years. The growth we’re most proud of doesn’t show up neatly on a spreadsheet.
It shows up on the jobsite.
It looks like a team that communicates better than it did a year ago. People who speak up when something doesn’t feel or look right. Crew members who take ownership of their work and projects—not because they have to, but because they care. It looks like fewer fire drills, more planning, and a growing sense of trust between the administration staff and the production staff.
That kind of growth takes time, patience, and a willingness to admit when something isn’t working.
We’ve learned that growing a small construction company isn’t about doing more at all costs
It’s about doing better.
Better systems. Better communication. Better support for the people doing the work. In a small town like Ithaca, where your reputation travels fast and your clients are often your neighbors, that matters even more.
Some of our biggest wins over the last three years haven’t been flashy. They’ve been quiet moments: a tough conversation handled well, a new team member finding their footing, a project that felt calm instead of chaotic. Those moments don’t always feel like “growth” when you’re in them—but they add up. And in 2025, they felt like they added up a lot.
We’re still learning and adjusting. Still figuring out how to grow without losing what makes this work meaningful. But if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s this:
real growth isn’t just about revenue.
It’s about building a company that people are proud to be part of, and grow into becoming leaders—and one we’re proud to stand behind.