Running multiple companies is tough enough – then December hits. Brad Burns runs five companies. He has five kids. He sits on multiple charity boards in St. Louis. And ten years ago, he was drowning in paperwork, 60 pounds heavier, and learning expensive lessons about business management the hard way. Brad remembers his first general liability audit like it was yesterday. His company had done about $500,000 in revenue that year. “They were like ‘you owe us $100,000 in additional premium,'” he says, shaking his head at the memory. Nobody had told him to collect certificates of insurance from subcontractors or add his company as an additional insured. That nightmare review dragged on for months.
Today, things look very different. Brad starts each day at 5 AM in the gym, where he says he takes out his stress “beating the s* out of a squash ball.” His companies share a digital hub where every document, from warranties to bank reconciliations, gets processed and stored in real time. When a subcontractor’s insurance is about to expire, an automatic alert goes out 30 days in advance.
Getting Past the Paper Chase
“I used to spend hours and hours going through stacks of folders trying to find papers to scan and submit to somebody,” Brad says of his early days managing paperwork. Now, his team handles new subcontractor onboarding through a project management system that captures everything they’ll need for year-end compliance right from the start. This shift toward organization didn’t happen overnight. A few years back, as one of his companies moved into heavy general contracting work, they needed audited financials for state licensing. Their books weren’t ready. “We spent probably six or eight months going through that process to clean everything up over the last 36 months,” Brad recalls. It cost him “a ton of money” at $250 an hour, but it forced them to implement proper accounting codes and systems.
Staying Fit for Success
Brad doesn’t mince words about what it takes to run multiple companies: you have to be in shape. “If I were in the shape I was in probably seven years ago, I don’t think I could handle the volume of things that I’m involved in at this point in my life,” he says. His commitment to physical health isn’t just about having energy. Those early morning workouts help clear his mind. “Getting out all that angst and exercising helps clear your mind a little bit. It doesn’t bog you down as much,” Brad explains.
One of Brad’s companies has tripled in size this year, growing from $2.6 million to $7.5 million. That kind of growth demands constant reassessment of resources and roles. “We understand our strong points and where we need to delegate certain responsibilities,” he says. His team regularly reviews whether they need additional internal staff or outside help to handle increasing workloads. This growth mindset extends to year-end planning. Brad just received a letter of intent to buy one of his companies, adding another layer of strategic decisions. Should they close the deal this year or next? How will it affect their tax position? These are the kinds of questions that require clear thinking and good systems.
Improving Organization and Efficiency
For Brad, the end of the year isn’t just about closing books – it’s about making sure his team starts the new year right. “As a business owner, you don’t want any of your people going into the holidays dreading and just having had a frustrating last week or two before Christmas,” he says. His advice to other business owners? Get organized early, stay physically active, and remember that your team drives success. “At the end of the day, it’s really the people that work for an organization that push it down the road,” Brad reflects, “not necessarily just the guy sitting there making decisions.”
Through hard-learned lessons and gradual improvements, Brad has built a management approach that keeps both his businesses and himself healthy. It’s not always perfect, but it’s worlds away from those early days of missing paperwork and surprise audits. To learn more about Brad Burns and his approach, check out his LinkedIn profile.
