When Jason first launched Artisan Concrete Designs in 2015, it was just him, a borrowed truck, and a passion for transforming dull slabs into beautiful, textured surfaces. He was the face of every job—hauling tools, pouring mixes, hand-finishing edges, and talking clients through color options and stamp patterns. For years, every driveway, patio, and pool deck had his literal fingerprints on it.
But eight years later, Jason’s role looks very different. Today, Artisan Concrete Designs employs two full-time crews, has a dedicated operations manager, and runs upwards of five jobs a week across the region. While Jason is still deeply involved in the business, his hands are no longer in the concrete—they’re on the controls of a growing enterprise.
Here’s how that transformation happened—and what other small trades-based business owners can learn from the journey.
Phase 1: Doing It All
In the early days, Jason wore every hat: estimator, installer, bookkeeper, marketer, and customer service rep. He showed up at every job with a trailer full of gear and a day packed with physical labor. This phase was essential. It helped build a reputation for quality, develop client trust, and fine-tune his craft.
“I never saw a job as too small. Each one was a portfolio piece, and every customer was a referral opportunity,” Jason says.
But as demand grew, so did the burnout. Scheduling became chaotic, and returning calls after 10-hour days in the sun wasn’t sustainable.
Phase 2: Building a Team
The first major step was hiring help—not just laborers, but people Jason could train in the same high standards he held himself to. He brought on one employee, then another. Slowly, he shifted from being the only installer to leading a small team.
It wasn’t without challenges. Delegating quality control and trusting others to carry the brand was difficult. But Jason remained hands-on in a new way: job site walkthroughs, regular training, and personal follow-ups with customers.
At the same time, he began carving out office hours to manage quotes, invoices, and growing social media inquiries.
Phase 3: Stepping Back to Scale Up
With a capable field crew in place, Jason turned his focus toward systems and growth. He hired a part-time admin to help manage scheduling and a bookkeeper to streamline the financials. Investing in estimating software cut proposal turnaround time in half.
Marketing became more strategic, too—focused on online reviews, Google ads, and SEO-optimized content. The brand moved from “Jason the concrete guy” to “Artisan Concrete Designs,” a company with process, polish, and consistency.
By 2024, Jason no longer needed to be on-site every day. He focused on business development, networking with builders and designers, exploring commercial bids, and ensuring the company culture stayed strong.
Phase 4: Leading, Not Laying
Today, Jason’s role is visionary. He checks in with crews weekly, reviews complex designs, and meets high-value clients, but his primary focus is guiding the business forward. His schedule includes strategy sessions, training programs, and planning new service offerings like polished concrete or epoxy flooring.
The company’s success didn’t come from Jason letting go of the quality—it came from embedding that quality into the culture and systems of the business.
“Stepping off the job site felt strange at first,” Jason reflects. “But now I get to work on the business instead of in it. That’s how we grow.”
Takeaways for Trades Business Owners
- Start with quality: Build your name first by delivering excellence consistently.
- Train your team well: Hire for attitude, teach for skill, and lead by example.
- Delegate and systemize: Trust the team and invest in tools that save time and money.
- Think like an owner: Shift your mindset from technician to leader if you want to scale.
- Never lose your core values: Growth should amplify your standards, not dilute them.
What began as a one-man show is now a respected decorative concrete brand known for artistry and reliability. And while Jason may not be wielding a trowel daily, his vision and leadership are etched into every project the team completes.
If you’re in the trades and dreaming of growth, take a page from Artisan Concrete Designs: master your craft, build your team, and don’t be afraid to trade your boots for the blueprint.
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