When Brandon Brockway‑Ring bought the inspection company where he was employed as the lead inspector in 2022, he had zero experience running a business. Understanding the need for professional guidance, he engaged Accountability Services for business advisory services, including quarterly business meetings and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) for budgeting and business expansion.
The previous owner had run the business largely by instinct rather than process, depending on habits and memory rather than SOPs. Brandon knew that to achieve his lofty business goals he would need documented systems and repeatable workflows.
Laying an educational foundation
Return on his investment came quickly, as meetings with Mary Pat, our Director of Client Accounting Services, proved to be fruitful.
“I didn’t know much about business at all when I bought the company,” Brandon explained. “The different things Mary Pat taught me through quarterly meetings really helped me understand more and more of what it takes to run my business. When I sit down with her and we go over the numbers. It makes a big difference.”
Collaborating with Mary Pat, he’s able to answer questions like:
- What does growth look like?
- Should I hire somebody else?
- Do I need to promote someone into a management position?
- How can I structure these moves?
Acquisition and a big boost in revenue
As his business knowledge has grown, so has Key Inspection Services. The company saw impressive revenue growth of 61% from 2023 to 2024, and Brandon was also able to acquire a second company in Tacoma to add under his umbrella: Mountains to Sound Home Inspection.
61% REVENUE GROWTH FROM 2023 TO 2024
Focusing on stabilizing cash flow, improving operations, and increasing his staff up to nine employees has allowed Brandon to pull enough profit out of the business to nearly pay off the loans for both business purchases.
Working ON his business, not IN it
Another key benefit Brandon has realized from working with our advisory team is the freedom and flexibility to work on his business and not it in.
Before coming on board with Accountability Services, he was working nearly full-time in the field. Currently, he estimates 90% of his efforts are focused on leadership and strategic initiatives. Occasionally he’ll jump into a large commercial inspection to drive efficiency, but he figures he’ll be ready to step away from field work completely some time in 2026.
What’s next for Key Inspection Services?
Key Inspection Services is on track to become the Puget Sound’s go-to inspection company. Brandon’s vision is to create a scalable, streamlined operation capable of covering the entire I-5 corridor from Bellingham to Olympia, with hubs along the way in key cities.
As the business grows, he’s also turning his attention to personal investments. He plans to build a portfolio of long- and short-term rental properties, eventually moving into multifamily and commercial real estate.
CHALLENGES
- Lack of systems and processes made growth unpredictable and difficult to manage
- Limited business experience at acquisition led to a steep learning curve
- Hard to focus on strategy while spending too much time working in the field
- Difficulties with hiring and retaining the right employees
SOLUTIONS
- Quarterly FP&A meetings with regular, structured reviews of financials and budget
- Business advisory related to entity structure, expansion and promoting employees into management roles
- Bite-size business education to break concepts into actionable, easy‑to‑apply steps
- Building repeatable systems and processes to enable hiring, training and promotions
RESULTS
- 61% revenue increase from 2023 to 2024, plus additional 17% growth year-to-date
- Purchased additional inspection business in second location and paid off most acquisition debt for both businesses with profit
- Clearer leadership role (90%) and a path to fully remove himself from field work next year
- Understanding of financial fundamentals and confidence in business management & strategy
- Excess capital available for plans to build a real estate portfolio of rental properties
Key Inspection Services performs residential and commercial inspections in Seattle, Tacoma and surrounding areas, including maintenance, sewer, mold & air quality, water testing and asbestos testing.
