From a young age, Johnno Green loved construction. One day, when a guest speaker from his high school came looking for an apprentice plasterer, he knew he had found his break.
Johnno tackled home building before the global financial crisis hit the housing market (and his employers), cutting teeth before he was forced to pivot into the commercial sector.The silver lining for Johnno was to take on his contract work and eventually rally his own crew to straddle both industries when the economy picks up again. , this is how Japan Coast Guard project born.
From his early days building small homes and forts, Johnno turned his childhood passion into a growing construction business with a team of carpenters, plasterers, painters and even his own apprentices.
Of course, being a boss comes with challenges. But with the right digital stack and support from trusted advisors, Johnno is building a bright future for himself and his team.
Know your cash flow anytime, anywhere
Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, Johnno always understood the value that accountants and bookkeepers bring to small businesses. As such, in the early days of JCG Projects, he prioritized investment in advisory.
It was through a business networking group that he found Olivia Story. gecko bookkeepingJohnno says he helped transform JCG from a one-man band into a proper company.
From the beginning, Olivia set up Johnno with Xero and worked on everything from quotes and invoices to schedules and customer management. In particular, the platform has helped JCG Projects maintain cash flow. Johnno explains: But thanks to Xero, I know what’s happening now and in the next few months and what’s going away, so I can plan for the future. ”
What makes this easy? Xero Mobile AppThis means you can keep track of your books from anywhere, including the field. “It’s my routine to check Xero in the morning and afternoon. Every day I can see which bills I need to track,” he said, adding, “It makes my life simpler.” Added.
Lighten the load with digital tools
Certainly, running a construction company is complicated. From managing client and vendor relationships to planning and executing major building projects, Johnno’s to-do list seems endless. So it’s no surprise that, with Olivia’s guidance, he’s introduced an arsenal of different apps. Xero App Store Helps lighten the load.
Johnno’s favorites include: Tradify – Job management tools that help construction stakeholders reduce administrative time by streamlining inquiries, quotes, invoices, and more. And as for payment stripe This was Olivia’s recommendation to help the JCG diversify the types of payments accepted (credit cards, Apple Pay, etc.).
there is also Dext, which Johnno uses to capture data on the go. “This is really good for us because we can take a photo of our receipts and upload them quickly in Xero for verification. We used to manually scan everything. I had to reprint it (some very important ones).Overall, Dext has saved me a lot of time and money over the years,” he says.
Additionally, all of these apps (and any listed in the Xero App Store) integrate seamlessly with Xero. For Johnno, this means his account is always up-to-date, no manual data entry required.
Build a team (and culture) to be proud of
With the right finances in place, Johnno was able to focus on growing JCG, expanding its crew and capitalizing on the construction boom. “We have the opposite problem when everyone is having trouble finding workers,” he says.
When you hear Johnno’s values as an employer and entrepreneur, it’s easy to understand why people join his team. Even in those early days when business was sluggish, he had the foresight to invest in quality people. He brought in his first apprenticeship (when he could cover the job himself) to give his fellow brother his first career break. He laughs, “I took a financial hit for a few months, but he’s one of our leading carpenters now, so it’s paid off.”
Today, Johnno says this is the most rewarding part of being a business owner. “Creating jobs and knowing that my team and their families are being looked after is a great feeling. It’s a big part of what I do,” he explains. . In fact, his team and his JCG culture are some of his proudest achievements. “We work hard, but we also have a lot of fun. I try to get the boys outside as much as possible. During breaks after big projects, we often go fishing or camping. ‘ he adds.
What is the future of his business? Johnno is optimistic. “His next decade won’t double or triple what he’s had in the past,” he says. Given that his first decade of JCG Projects has passed, I think he’s nailed his head with this prediction.
For more information on why Xero is a great choice for merchants, visit xero.com/trade.