From $400K to $2.5M: How H&L Design Build Scaled Fast with Houzz Pro

When Luke Thomas launched H&L Design Build, his goal wasn’t just to renovate houses - it was to build a professional, experience-driven brand. “Our goal is always that what we build is going to outlast us. And that’s just non-negotiable,” he says.

But scaling a hands-on, high-touch business while keeping quality and culture intact is no small feat. Luke knew that if he wanted to grow sustainably, he’d need systems that allowed him to get out of the weeds, empower his team, and focus on building the business - not just working in it.

“If you’re only working in the business, the business is going to run you over… your quality is going to suffer, your client experience is going to suffer… At some point you stop working on the business and everything unravels.”

Luke turned to Houzz Pro to build a central hub for his growing team – consolidating estimates, change orders, selections, communication, and scheduling into one streamlined platform – allowing him to scale while keeping the client experience and project execution tight.

With 12 people in the field and a 3-person design team, Luke relies on Houzz Pro to keep everyone aligned and informed without constant hand-holding. “Usually my first line to [the team] is, ‘What does it say in Houzz?’” he says. “We’re leveraging the system so that even the small problems get solved in the field.”

From mobile estimate reviews to selections approval and change orders, Luke’s team has built their daily operations around Houzz Pro. One example? On a job where unexpected framing issues required major structural updates, Luke pulled up the project schedule in Houzz Pro, built the change order with the client on-site, and had it approved and paid - within 15 minutes.

“We slid the schedule so they could anticipate a new end date, built the change order together, and got it signed and paid right there on-site. The guys didn’t lose momentum, and the client didn’t feel like they were shuffling paperwork around.”

Luke also uses Houzz Pro to maintain clarity while on the move. Whether he’s parked at a coffee shop or visiting multiple job sites a day, he can access schedules, budgets, daily logs, and approvals - all from his phone.

“I don’t bring my laptop anymore. I can look at daily logs, check budgets, peek into projects - and I don’t have to interrupt the flow or break trust. It’s a really nice thing.”

Online payments have also helped shift H&L’s image and operations away from the old-school construction stereotype.

“I prefer secure, electronic payments. It helps our bookkeeper. It helps our brand. We’re trying to build a professional environment - and that starts with how we do business.”

Since adopting Houzz Pro, H&L Design Build has experienced explosive growth. In their first year on the platform, revenue doubled from $400K to $800K. Now, just a year later, they’re on track to more than triple that, projecting $2.5M in 2025.

With systems in place, Luke now spends less time putting out fires and more time investing in what matters most: his team, his clients, and the company’s reputation.

“My most important investment into the business is the people – not the process. There’s a system moving the work forward so I can focus on culture, relationships, and momentum.”

His advice to other pros?
“You don’t need a huge team to scale. You need the right systems, and you need to trust the team. Houzz Pro helps us do both.”