Building Projects Is One Thing. Building a Business Is Another.
As Director of About Time Projects, Warwick Iles spends his days helping clients successfully deliver commercial and residential developments.
The business provides client-side project management, superintendent services and development advisory support across projects including schools, warehouses, commercial offices and residential developments.
Like many business owners in professional services, Warwick had built a successful business based on expertise and reputation. But as the business matured, he recognised the value of bringing greater structure, accountability and visibility into how the business was managed.
"I wanted more discipline around reporting and understanding the numbers. That was probably the biggest thing."
The Challenge
Like many professional services business owners, Warwick Iles had built About Time Projects on technical expertise, strong client relationships and a reputation for delivering quality outcomes.
With a team of four and a growing portfolio of commercial and residential projects, the business was performing well. However, Warwick recognised that long-term success required more than industry knowledge and hard work.
While the business was busy, there was an opportunity to bring greater discipline to reporting, forecasting and decision-making.
"I wanted more discipline around reporting and that sort of thing," Warwick explains. "More diligence around understanding the numbers."
Like many small business owners, much of the business information existed in different places and decisions were often being made based on experience and intuition rather than consistent measurement.
Warwick wanted better visibility over business performance, greater confidence in forecasting and pricing, and a clearer framework for planning future growth.
After hearing positive feedback from another business owner who had joined Business Benchmark Group, he decided to explore whether the same structure and accountability could help take About Time Projects to the next level.
A Trusted Referral
Warwick first heard about Business Benchmark Group through a fellow business owner.
After seeing the impact BBG had on a friend's business, he decided to explore whether the same support could help About Time Projects.
"I didn't really look at any other options. A mate had joined, and it had worked really well for him, so I wanted to give it a crack."
The referral gave him confidence that BBG would provide practical business advice rather than generic coaching.
Creating Better Business Discipline
One of the biggest changes Warwick has experienced since joining BBG has been the introduction of regular reporting and accountability.
Working closely with Business Advisor Chris, Warwick has developed stronger habits around financial reporting, forecasting and performance measurement.
"The monthly reporting has had the biggest impact, 100 per cent."
Rather than relying on instinct, the business now has greater visibility over performance and future planning.
"It's made us more measured and more accurate in forecasting and pricing."
For Warwick, that consistency has become one of the most valuable outcomes of the program.
"That discipline has been something that's measurable. I never used to do it as much as I'm doing it now."
A New Perspective Through Flight Plan
One of Warwick's standout experiences was attending his first BBG Flight Plan workshop.
Initially unsure what to expect, he quickly realised it was much more than a goal-setting session.
"I didn't realise it was going to be like a business plan for the year."
The process helped him step outside the day-to-day operations of the business and think more strategically about the future.
"It definitely makes you step outside a bit more in the business and look at it."
The experience gave Warwick greater clarity around where the business is heading and what needs to happen to get there.
Industry Doesn't Matter. Good Business Principles Do.
As a project management consultancy, About Time Projects sits outside the traditional trades and construction businesses often associated with BBG.
Initially, Warwick wondered whether the program would be relevant to his industry.
What he discovered was that strong business fundamentals apply regardless of sector.
"I've found it very collaborative and on point. Even though they don't really know my business, they're very quick to understand it and help pinpoint ways to do things differently or more efficiently."
For professional services firms, consultants, and project-based businesses, the ability to quickly understand the business's commercial drivers has been a key part of the experience.
Looking Ahead
While still early in his BBG journey, Warwick can already see the benefits of improved planning, stronger financial discipline and clearer decision-making.
The business may not have dramatically changed size yet, but it has become more structured, more intentional and better positioned for future growth.
And for Warwick, that's exactly the point.
Sometimes the most valuable transformation isn't adding more people or chasing more revenue.
It's gaining the clarity, confidence and discipline to build the business properly.
Warwick's Advice to Other Business Owners
"Give it a go. The three-month commitment made it easy to get started and see the value. You need to give things time, and once you do, you can start building better habits and better systems."