We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charles Boucher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charles below.

Charles, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I believe I couldn’t have started my business any sooner than I did and I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to start it any later.

I started my first business in October of 2023. Although it only lasted just over a year, that business was the springboard that got me to where I am today.

Prior to going out on my own, I was managing a luxury vacation rental company in the Mission Beach / La Jolla area. I had been with that company for nearly six years. During that time, I learned so much. I didn’t necessarily have the credentials or experience for the role I was given, but I had a boss who believed in me and gave me the opportunity to prove my worth. Through hard work and dedication, I rose to a level I once thought was my end goal.

Starting my business wasn’t something I had planned — it happened by accident. There was never a day during my time at that company when I believed I was capable of running my own business. But when the time came, every thing seemed to fall right into place. The struggle, the hard work, the blind dedication — all of it primed me for entrepreneurship. And the exposure I had to business management gave me a leg up compared to others just starting out.

Looking back, I didn’t know it was the right time — in fact, I worried it was the wrong time. But I took a chance on myself. For the first time in my life, I believed I might be capable of something more. I accidentally took the leap, and it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a general contractor based in San Diego, focused on residential remodels — kitchens, bathrooms, interiors, and everything in between. What I love most is transforming a space. Not just fixing what’s broken, but reimagining what’s possible.

I grew up in Pacific Beach, raised by my grandparents. My grandfather was a general contractor and my grandmother ran a small house cleaning business when I was young. From a very early age, I was surrounded by job sites, tools, and the mindset that hard work speaks louder than words. Some of my earliest memories are of hammering nails into scrap wood at a family friends house on the holidays. That kind of environment influenced how I see and operate in the world today.

I’ve spent a lot of time in homes — not just building them, but understanding how they work. The structure, the systems, the small details that make a space feel good to live in. For me, construction isn’t just technical — it’s intuitive. I can look at something and almost instinctively see how it comes apart, how it goes back together, and how to make it better.

But what I’ve really come to value is the client experience. The communication. The trust. I take that seriously. I’ve learned that the best work happens when people feel heard, respected, and taken care of. And while perfection might not always be possible in construction, care and effort always are.

I’m a bit of a perfectionist in the sense that I don’t want to put my name on something unless I believe in it. I’d rather slow down and get it right than rush to check a box. That mindset shows up in everything I do — from the way I run jobs to the way I resolve problems when they come up.

I’m proud of the spaces I help create, but more than that, I’m proud of the values that were instilled in me early on — hard work, honesty, and showing up for people. At the end of the day, I’m not just building homes — I’m building trust, one project at a time.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Growing up, I saw a lot of lying. Honesty was something people talked about, but it wasn’t really what I saw in practice. I picked up early on that if I made a mistake — or a decision I wasn’t proud of — I could soften the truth, adjust the details, or leave parts out to make things easier. And for a while, it worked. It became a habit. I got good at it.

But over time, I realized it was costing me more than it was helping me.

Lying started to feel like wearing a full suit of armor while swimming. Every time I wasn’t honest, it was like strapping on another heavy piece — weighing me down, keeping me from being able to be the man that I wanted to be. I felt like I had to appear perfect all the time, and that pressure became exhausting.

Eventually, something had to give. I couldn’t keep living that way.

Little by little, I started owning my actions and learning how to just tell the truth — even when it felt uncomfortable or exposed me. Then something interesting happened: as I got more honest, I started making better choices. I wasn’t trying to cover anything up anymore, so I didn’t need to act out of fear or shame. I became less concerned with how I looked to other people and more focused on being someone I could respect.

These days, I welcome the tough conversations — with friends, family, clients, whoever. There are still moments when I feel tempted to hold back or sugarcoat something, but I’ve learned that telling the truth is usually the fastest way forward. And more than that, being honest opens the door for support. When I’m real about what’s going on, it gives other people a chance to actually show up and respond. That takes the pressure off of me in a way that lying never could.

Living this way has changed how I see myself — and it’s changed how others see me too. I’ve found that people trust me more, and more importantly, I trust myself more. The community around me — the people I now get to work with and learn from — has grown around that commitment to honesty and personal responsibility.

It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.

You get what you give.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

This is an area where I’ve honestly been pretty lucky. Growing and maintaining a solid client base has come naturally — not because I had a master plan, but because I leaned into relationships from the start.

When I first started out and had more time on my hands, I’d walk into local businesses that might benefit from the type of work I do — real estate offices, property managers, retail shops. I’d bring a Starbucks gift card, introduce myself, ask them some questions about what they do, then I’d just say, “Hey, here is a coffee on me. I just wanted to stop by to say hello and introduce myself.” No sales pitch. Just a simple gesture to open a door.

From there, I realized something important: people love to talk — way more than they like being talked at. So I started leading with curiosity. I’d ask questions, try to get to know them, and look for points of connection. I’ve found that the more you listen, the more people feel seen. And when people feel seen, they’re more likely to trust you — not just with their homes, but sometimes even with their hearts.

There have been times when clients opened up to me in ways I didn’t expect — things they said they hadn’t told close friends or even their therapists. Sometimes I’m fixing the house, and sometimes I’m holding space to help someone with a different type of problem.

What’s worked for me is putting the client first — always. What do they want? How do they want it? How can I make this process smoother, easier, more satisfying for them? If that means changing my approach mid-job or adjusting communication styles, I do it. That flexibility makes a huge difference.

When I worked in the vacation rental world, I learned a term called radical hospitality — the idea that you go out of your way to give someone the best experience possible. It’s about anticipating their needs, paying attention to details, and making them feel cared for. I’ve brought that mindset into everything I do now.

And that’s been the key. Over time, all of this has led to organic referrals. Every client I work with has either experienced my work directly or was referred by someone who has. I don’t rely on ads or aggressive marketing — just honest work, genuine connection, and a lot of care.

It’s been a blessing to grow the business this way, and I’m grateful for every person who’s helped build that trust along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coastalccbuild.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastal_concepts_construction/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-boucher-66b82b16a