How to Start a Construction Business with $18: Ray Wells' 70% Close Rate Strategy

Ray Wells shares his powerful journey from foster care and juvenile detention to building a respected construction empire in Georgia. His story reveals how faith, family motivation, and an unwavering commitment to learning transformed his life from working in his family's meat packing plant in Nebraska to becoming a certified crane operator and eventually a successful entrepreneur. Ray's candid discussion covers the challenges of caring for his father with dementia while running a business, the painful lessons learned from employee theft, and his strategic decision to pivot toward teaching through MAN ANT Academy. The conversation explores critical aspects of construction business management including contract development, customer service differentiation, pricing consistency, and the importance of maintaining quality control while scaling. Ray provides invaluable insights on managing cash flow during slow periods, the reality of working harder for yourself than any employer, and why he views every setback as a lesson rather than a loss. His 70% close rate on estimates and ability to generate consistent business through word-of-mouth demonstrate the power of exceptional service in a competitive industry.