Build the Foundation, Then Scale w. Eric Fortenberry

In this episode of How They Scaled It, I sit down with Eric Fortenberry, Founder and CEO of JobTread, as he shares how he built one of the fastest-growing platforms in construction tech. Starting with a chaotic, paper-based construction business, Eric stepped in to streamline operations, increase profitability, and create a scalable system now used by contractors nationwide. He unpacks the systems, mindset, and customer-first approach that fueled JobTread’s explosive growth.00:00:00 – Why most construction businesses can’t scale00:01:26 – Meet Eric Fortenberry, CEO of JobTread00:02:15 – How a one-year consulting gig turned into a tech company00:03:29 – The broken systems Eric walked into00:04:50 – Why no existing software fit—and why he built his own00:05:45 – How JobTread drove a 43% profit increase in one year00:07:10 – The difference between markup and margin00:08:46 – Fixing incentives with bid requests and work orders00:10:59 – Transitioning from hourly to fixed cost jobs00:13:24 – When Eric knew JobTread could be a platform00:15:42 – Getting buy-in from resistant team members00:18:12 – How JobTread supports implementation00:21:32 – Who JobTread is built for00:24:30 – Why estimating is the key to long-term stickiness00:30:57 – The dashboards and KPIs contractors care about00:34:42 – Managing product feedback from 50,000+ users00:39:47 – How JobTread built a winning team culture00:44:52 – The future of construction tech00:50:50 – Eric’s biggest lesson: Radical transparency wins