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In this week's episode of the Niche Pursuits podcast, Jeff Price and I discuss how he built Texas Slab Guys into a concrete business with a $2 million annual revenue run rate in just 12 months. His story is especially interesting because he left fintech and startup life to pursue a “boring” blue-collar business in Houston.
Jeff shares how he used AI to save time, qualify leads, answer missed calls, and improve margins without trying to replace physical work. We also talk about hiring mistakes, premium positioning, customer service, and why reliability can remain a major advantage for local service businesses.
Watch the Full Episode
Leaving Fintech to Build a Concrete Company
Jeff's background is far removed from concrete. Before launching Texas Slab Guys, he worked in corporate strategy and finance, founded a fintech company that raised $2 million, completed an MBA at Rice University, and later worked at a Series B startup that had raised more than $30 million.
Although entrepreneurship appealed to him, his first venture didn’t become the financial success he hoped for. Instead of returning to another startup, he decided to pursue business ownership in a completely different industry.
His original plan wasn't to launch a concrete company from scratch. He spent months researching blue-collar businesses that fit a specific set of criteria before attempting to acquire one. He contacted thousands of owners and narrowed his search to only a handful of potential acquisitions before a deal eventually fell apart.
That failed acquisition introduced him to the concrete industry and showed him the opportunity available in Houston. A few factors convinced him to move forward:
- High demand for concrete services
- Large local market
- Opportunity to stand apart through customer experience
- An industry where AI cannot replace the physical work
Houston also has more concrete per capita than any other metropolitan area in the Americas, making it an attractive location for this type of business.
Building Momentum After a Difficult Start
The first several months were far from perfect. Jeff finished 2025 with less than $200,000 in revenue and admits he made nearly every mistake possible during those early months. One of the biggest problems involved hiring dependable subcontractors.
Rather than technical knowledge, reliability became the biggest challenge. He discovered that success depended on finding people who would:
- Show up when scheduled
- Deliver consistent artistry
- Communicate clearly
- Follow through on commitments
Once he assembled a dependable team, growth accelerated. Jeff describes that turning point as the moment the business finally began gaining traction during the first half of 2026.
Winning Customers by Doing the Simple Things Well
Many business owners spend enormous amounts of time searching for complicated marketing strategies. Jeff believes his biggest advantage comes from something much simpler.
He noticed that many competitors failed to answer their phones or missed appointments with potential customers. That created an opportunity to stand apart without dramatically increasing marketing spend. His team focuses on a few consistent habits:
- Answer every phone call possible
- Arrive on time
- Finish projects as promised
- Ask satisfied customers for video testimonials
Those testimonials are then shared across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, creating a steady stream of social proof that reinforces the company's reputation. Instead of competing only on price, Jeff says many residential customers later introduce him to commercial opportunities after seeing the quality of his work firsthand.
Using AI to Remove Friction Instead of Replacing People
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation centered on Jeff's approach to artificial intelligence. He doesn't view AI as something that replaces concrete contractors. Instead, he uses it to remove repetitive administrative work that slows business growth.
His custom quoting system helps qualify leads before someone spends hours driving across Houston to meet with prospects who may never become customers. Rather than immediately scheduling every estimate, the tool gathers information that helps determine:
- Project size
- Customer urgency
- Estimated pricing
- Lead quality
Jeff built much of this system himself using Replit, allowing him to create software through natural language prompts rather than traditional programming. Although the system doesn't eliminate every in-person estimate, it reduces wasted trips and allows him to spend more time with qualified prospects.
Saving Time One Hour at a Time
Jeff was careful not to exaggerate AI's impact. He explained that his quoting tool has not eliminated entire workdays. Instead, it consistently saves small amounts of time that add up over weeks and months. Those time savings include:
- Faster lead qualification
- Fewer unnecessary site visits
- Less administrative work
- More time spent on sales conversations
He described these improvements as compounding gains rather than overnight transformations. That perspective offers a refreshing contrast to many AI discussions that promise dramatic overnight changes.
Why an AI Voice Agent Became One of His Best Investments
Jeff also uses an AI voice agent to answer calls whenever he cannot. For roughly $100 per month, the system answers missed calls, gathers customer information, summarizes conversations, and sends him a text recap immediately afterward. The voice agent collects information including:
- Customer name
- Phone number
- Email address
- ZIP code
- Project description
One story perfectly illustrates its value. While Jeff was meeting another customer, a man named Dwayne called after failing to reach five other concrete companies. The AI agent handled the conversation, collected the necessary details, and created an opportunity that eventually became a $15,000 project.
Even more impressive, Jeff estimated that the project would require only about $3,000 in direct costs, making it an exceptionally profitable job. Without someone answering the phone, that opportunity likely would have gone elsewhere.
Treating AI as a Force Multiplier
Jeff repeatedly emphasized one idea throughout our discussion. AI works best when it multiplies people's productivity rather than replacing them.
He believes many service businesses can benefit from inexpensive automation simply by making themselves easier to contact. Many local businesses still miss incoming phone calls every day. For service companies such as:
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Lawn care providers
- Contractors
- Cleaning companies
An AI receptionist can prevent missed opportunities without requiring expensive software development. Jeff views these systems as productivity multipliers that eliminate repetitive administrative tasks, allowing owners to focus on higher-value activities.
Standing Out Through Premium Service
Competing solely on price rarely creates long-term success. Jeff chose a different strategy. His company installs 5,000 PSI concrete, enabling customers to drive on new driveways much sooner than many competing installations.
That premium positioning creates advantages beyond the material itself. Customers value:
- Shorter project disruption
- Reliable scheduling
- Better communication
- Consistent artistry
Jeff shared that many homeowners willingly pay more because minimizing inconvenience matters more than finding the lowest quote. That premium approach also generates referrals.
One satisfied residential customer later hired his company for commercial work connected to a dental practice, creating another profitable project through reputation rather than advertising.
Measuring Growth by More Than Revenue
The financial growth has been remarkable. Just over one year after launch, Texas Slab Guys reached a revenue run rate exceeding $2 million annually. Jeff also shared several performance metrics:
- Roughly 50% gross margins per project
- Approximately 10% to 20% overhead
- Nearly $80,000 in revenue during June alone
Those numbers reflect a business that has grown rapidly while continuing to refine its operations. Still, one part of the conversation stood out more than any financial statistic. Jeff explained that entrepreneurship changed what success means to him.
Early in his career, financial freedom represented the primary goal. Today, he defines success differently. He wants the flexibility to coach his children's sports teams, spend more afternoons with his family, and control how he invests his time.
That shift highlights something many entrepreneurs eventually discover. Building a business creates financial opportunities, although the greatest reward may be the freedom to spend time on the people who matter most.
Learning Through Hiring Mistakes
Jeff also reflected on one lesson that shaped his first year more than any software tool. Finding dependable people proved far more difficult than learning the technical side of concrete work.
He openly admitted making poor hiring decisions before assembling a reliable team. His approach now centers on long-term relationships built through:
- Paying partners promptly
- Communicating clearly
- Treating subcontractors with respect
- Building consistent operating procedures
Once trust developed inside the business, Jeff found it much easier to focus on growing the company rather than solving daily operational problems.
Final Thoughts
Jeff Price's story offers an interesting reminder that opportunity often exists in industries many entrepreneurs overlook.
Rather than chasing the latest software trend, he built a concrete business, embraced AI where it made sense, and concentrated on solving everyday customer frustrations. His approach combines dependable service, thoughtful automation, and steady operational improvements instead of relying on flashy technology alone.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this conversation is that AI doesn't have to replace traditional businesses. In many cases, it simply gives owners more time to focus on serving customers, building relationships, and creating companies that continue growing long after the first year.
Links & Resources
- Learn more about Texas Slab Guys
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