We were lucky to catch up with Joe Liebowitz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joe, appreciate you joining us today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

When I founded Liebo Builders, it was out of a deep frustration with the industry standards and a burning desire to offer something fundamentally better—simply put, reliable and quality construction. From the spare bedroom of my apartment, where my first employee and I worked on IKEA desks, I invested every penny I had into realizing this vision. Initially, we took on any project we could get, from bathroom remodels to kitchen updates, no matter the location.

Surprisingly, building a reputation was straightforward. We were the ones who showed up on time and finished projects as promised—a novel concept at the time. By the second year, the demand had outstripped our capacity, and I found myself grappling with the classic growth pains of any ambitious entrepreneur. Behind the scenes, it felt like a Michelin-starred restaurant during a kitchen brawl—outward success masked inner chaos, and ironically, more projects led to less profit.

Determined not to scale down but to scale smart, I embarked on a multi-year quest to refine every aspect of our operations. This journey included hiring business coaches, construction consultants, and even meditation teachers to maintain balance. My goal was to transform Liebo Builders into a beacon of change in the construction industry, setting new standards for what clients should expect.

Today, six years later, we operate on a backbone of meticulous standard operating procedures (SOPs) for every project phase, managed through an advanced project management software. This system provides clients with a portal to monitor every detail of their project—from daily logs to full schedules. Our management team is a well-oiled machine, with dedicated project managers both in the office and on-site ensuring projects meet our stringent quality and budget standards.

Our approach to continuous improvement involves regular team meetings to develop procedures that prevent past mistakes from reoccurring. Despite our growth, I stay intimately involved in every project, conducting strategic site visits to ensure each project lives up to our brand values. Clients have direct access to my cell phone, and while they often grow fond of their project managers, they appreciate knowing I am just a call or text away.

Our journey of growth continues, and with each project, we strive to redefine industry standards, ensuring that Liebo Builders remains synonymous with excellence and reliability in construction.

Joe, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

From a young age, I was always working with my hands. Even as a teenager, I took on various jobs in construction, from painting to doing odd jobs. By the time I was 18, I was fully immersed in the trade, and I spent many years honing my skills across different construction disciplines before eventually managing a luxury custom home building business. This journey led me to found Liebo Builders.

My upbringing wasn’t easy. Coming from a broken home and facing numerous challenges in my early life, I developed resilience and a creative outlook that I consider my competitive edge today. These experiences shaped my values and my vision for Liebo Builders. I founded the company as a direct challenge to the status quo in the construction industry, which is too often marred by unreliability and unethical practices.

At Liebo Builders, our team is the cornerstone of our success. We don’t just hire skilled professionals; we seek individuals who embody our core values of growth, excellence, and integrity. We strive to create a culture where there’s no ceiling on what our team members can achieve, both for themselves and for our clients.

Today, Liebo Builders is not just about constructing buildings; it’s about mentoring other construction firms and setting new standards in the industry. I’m most proud of being able to give back and mentor others, demonstrating that the American Dream is very much alive. Our work proves that with hard work, a solid set of values, and a clear vision, anything is possible.

I want potential clients and partners to see Liebo Builders as more than a construction company. We are a beacon of reliability and ethical practice in an industry that desperately needs it. We solve problems not just by creating high-quality homes and spaces but by delivering a construction experience defined by integrity and transparency.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Finding the right person to help run Liebo Builders wasn’t easy. I went through a lot of trials—hiring people, letting them go—because it’s tough to find someone who really gets your vision and has the right experience. Then, I met Mike at the gym. We both hit the gym super early in the morning, and it’s kind of the spot where a lot of business owners go to get a jump on the day.

Mike stood out because he had owned a construction company before and knew what it takes to grow a business. We started chatting at the gym, just casual talks at first, but I was really interested in his experience with scaling a company. So, I brought him on as a consultant to see how well we’d work together—it was kind of like testing the waters before making a big decision.

It didn’t take long to see that Mike was a perfect match for us. He wasn’t just experienced; he also shared our core values and had a knack for seeing things from angles I hadn’t considered. After a while, it was clear we should make it official, so Mike came on board as our COO.

Having him join has been awesome. He’s brought so much to the table, helping us grow and make smart moves. It’s been great having him as part of the team, really a game changer for our business.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My journey with social media only started a few years ago. Initially, the whole idea was pretty daunting—I’m a private person by nature, so the thought of putting myself out there on social media felt uncomfortable. I used to think it was all about branding Liebo Builders as a top-notch construction company, and that my personal presence wasn’t as important.

After years of working with various marketing firms and gathering different insights, it finally clicked: I am the brand. I needed to step up and be the face of my company. That realization was a real lightbulb moment for me.

Getting behind the camera for the first time was awkward and uncomfortable, but I pushed through. As I started seeing the positive impact it had—more engagement, more trust, and better connections with potential clients—I grew into it. Each positive interaction on social media fueled my motivation to keep going and expand our presence.

One of the most striking moments for me was walking into someone’s home or business for the first time and being greeted like an old friend. People felt like they knew me because they had seen me on social media; they understood my values and how I run my business. This trust and familiarity were game-changers.

This drove me to focus on not just showcasing our projects but also educating our audience. I aimed to inform them about the pitfalls of construction, explain our processes, and provide genuinely valuable content. My goal has always been to offer insights that enrich people’s lives and help them on their own journeys.

Today, the brand we’ve built owes a lot to the power of social media. It’s a testament to how effectively it can amplify everything we do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://LieboBuilders.com
• Instagram: @LieboBuilders
• Facebook: @liebobuilders
• Linkedin: @JoeLiebowitz

Image Credits

Liebo Builders owns and has rights to all the photos