He Thought Business Ownership Wasn’t for Him — Now He’s Scaling One Fast. Here’s How

Biz Buyers,

Houston grew up watching business ownership up close — the stress, the long hours, the all-in bets. He wanted no part of it.

But after years of working for others, he began rethinking his future. In June 2023, he joined the Contrarian Community, built his acquisition strategy, put in the work, and took thoughtful action.

Today, he’s the proud owner of a remodeling business, scaling its growth and rewriting the rules in an industry built on broken trust.

Here’s how he did it — and what you can use from his playbook.
‍

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

He Thought Owning a Business Wasn’t for Him — Now He’s Scaling One Fast

Houston’s first exposure to business ownership came when he was just 11 years old. He watched his parents mortgage everything to buy a trucking company through a handshake deal, a classic “good ol’ boy” acquisition in small-town Oklahoma. “By our terms at the time, they were very successful, worked extremely hard, but were constantly stressed,” Houston recalls. “So I was sure I would never own my own business.”

That belief stuck with him for years — until working for others made him rethink his decision.

“After working for the man for several years, I knew it wasn’t for me and decided to chase the life I wanted,” he says. That search led him to the Contrarian Community in 2023, where he gained the resources, confidence, and peer support to turn interest into progress.

“I took the original course, and it gave me the confidence to actually put thought into action,” he says. “The community was huge as well since I was able to bounce thoughts, questions, and concerns during due diligence and closing.”

Scaling His Business

In 2024, Houston acquired Ten Key Remodels, a design-build firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom, whole-home, and attic conversions. At the time of purchase, the company was generating $2.2 million in topline revenue. Less than a year later, it’s on track to hit $4.3 to $4.4 million as a result of his growth initiatives.

This growth has also meant expansion. The team has grown from 7 employees to 14, and the company has poured capital into its cabinet shop just to keep up with demand. But scaling hasn’t come without its very real challenges. “That growth has come from so many lessons and has been very expensive, but I’m ecstatic and proud of where we’re at today,” Houston says.

Changing the Reputation of an Industry

Remodeling and construction businesses often struggle with customer trust. Houston knows this reality well — and he’s determined to flip the industry’s reputation on its head. “No one trusts construction companies — we’re like used car salesmen,” he says. “We are flipping that on its head and protecting the peace of mind of our clients during the design-build process.” For Ten Key Remodels, that means focusing on:

• Clear expectations on timing and budget
• Hiring great people
• Living through core values

With so many moving parts in a remodel — timelines, subcontractors, materials, and budget adjustments — transparency is key. Earning trust, not just completing projects, is at the core of the company’s mission.

Opportunities & Challenges in 2025

Houston sees a massive opportunity in the space. “I feel that we are in the right place at the right time,” he says. “There is a lot of opportunity out there, and for the most part, it’s only growing. Find your lane and put the pedal to the metal.”

Even so, economic uncertainty is now on his radar. “Not a political statement. I’m just not sure what’s going to happen this next year and the following,” he says. “So contingency planning is becoming important.”

Internally, operational efficiency has been the challenge he wants to tackle next. “Once I can get that cadence dialed in,” he told us, “we will be dangerous.”

How This Couple is Scaling Their Wellness Biz Through Acquisition

The right room changes everything. Surround yourself with great builders and sharp operators, and suddenly… Confusion turns into clarity, failures turn into lessons, opportunities appear where you never saw them before, and scaling stops feeling like a shot in the dark.

That’s exactly what happened to Contrarian Community member Zach Bundy.

He and his wife had built up a wellness clinic, but when it came to scaling to the next level, they felt stuck. Buying a business? That seemed out of reach. They assumed the only way forward was building everything from scratch… Then they joined the community, and they discovered another way.

If you’re looking for a different path to scaling, this one’s for you.

Read their story HERE

The information contained here is educational, may not be typical, and does not guarantee returns. Background, education, effort, and application will affect your experience and the profitability of any business. Individual results may vary.