Less Time on Admin, More Time on the Tools
More time to Work on site
CASE STUDY:
Many builders will recognise the pressure of doing everything themselves, from quoting and invoicing to managing teams and keeping projects moving. When the paperwork piles up, it steals time from the work they actually enjoy and the work that earns the money. For owners who would rather be on the tools than tied to admin, My Smart Office offers a practical way to lighten the load, streamline operations and get breathing room back into the business.
For Mark Cochrane, owner of MJC Construction in Auckland, Admin was Taking him away from working with his team
As the business grew, Mark found himself quoting, invoicing, handling paperwork, managing the team and still trying to stay on the tools. The workload was becoming too much for one person. Mark realised the business would run better if he could hand certain tasks over to someone with the skills to manage them on his behalf. That’s when My Smart Office stepped in.
THE CHALLENGE: Too Much to do, Not enough time
Before working with My Smart Office, Mark was handling every part of the business himself. He was:
Working on site with his crew.
Managing clients and securing new work.
Trying to keep up with invoicing and admin.
Running a project management system that no longer suited the way his business operated.
It wasn’t sustainable. Mark was exhausted, his cash flow suffered when invoicing was delayed, and he didn’t have the headspace to step back and make better decisions for the business. His project management software wasn’t providing the visibility he needed as his business evolved, but he didn’t have the time or capacity to research alternative systems or set up something new.
The Solution: Outsourcing some Bookkeeping & admin tasks
Amanda’s first step was introducing Builda Price. After a demo and some honest conversations about what he needed, Mark could see how much visibility and control it would give him. My Smart Office set it up, implemented it and now runs many of the day-to-day processes through the software for him.
From there, Amanda and the team took over the bookkeeping and admin tasks that took the most time. They now:
Manage his invoicing so it always goes out on time.
Run project financials using Builda Price.
Drive regular tasks without needing reminders.
Maintain the financial workflow so project costs and company financials are always up to date.
Provide clear systems that make delegation to My Smart Office easy.
For Mark, ‘restructuring’ was about shifting the workload so he could stop doing everything and focus on working with his team, which is the part of the job he loves most.
Having a team who understands the building industry also meant he didn’t need to teach them what to do. My Smart Office simply stepped in and got things running smoothly.
THE Outcome: less stress, better Cash flow & real lifestyle changes
Once systems were in place and My Smart Office took over the admin load, things changed quickly:
Invoices went out on time, improving cash flow.
Builda Price gave Mark clarity, confidence and better control over his projects.
He could work alongside his crew instead of being stuck in the office.
Life at home got easier with less stress, better sleep and more time with his family.
A major turning point came when Mark had a serious fall from a ladder. With concussion and a long recovery ahead, he told Amanda he was grateful they had already put new systems in place. If he’d still been doing everything himself, the business would have come to a standstill. Instead, it kept running without him. That kind of resilience is something many builders don’t think about until it’s too late.
A stronger business & a better life
Working with My Smart Office has given Mark the breathing room he needed to enjoy his work again. The business runs more smoothly, the financials are clearer and he no longer has to handle everything himself.
Outsourcing the admin has allowed him to get back to what he loves: being on site with his team, delivering great work and building MJC Construction so it supports his lifestyle, not the other way round.
What Mark says
"As a construction business owner, I can say first hand , signing with Amanda and her awesome team at My Smart Office has been pivotal in helping us restructure our building company - I thought our systems and payment claims were great until Amanda got involved. Her service, expertise and experience is unmatched in the construction industry. We now have 100% transparency on our companies position and more time to work on the business instead of in it. Don't delay, get in touch with the team @My Smart Office today, you wont regret it."
