Bayley Hazen Builders

Introduction

Molly is the Co-Owner of Bayley Hazen Builders, a growing residential construction company based in Vermont. Bayley Hazen Builders takes pride in creating exceptional custom homes. As experienced carpenters, they work closely with their clients to ensure that every detail is thoughtfully considered, resulting in efficient homes that are built to last. Their commitment to quality craftsmanship is made possible by building strong relationships with local architects, designers, engineers, and tradespeople throughout the Northeast Kingdom.

The Challenge

Estimating felt uncertain. Financial data wasn’t fully integrated. It was difficult to confidently assess profitability, plan ahead, or understand how day-to-day decisions would impact the future of the business. Without strong systems in place, budgeting and long-term planning felt harder than they needed to be.

As Molly later reflected, they knew how to build houses, but they didn’t yet have the systems required to support a scalable, sustainable business.

Why HELM

HELM provided tools and systems designed to grow alongside the business. Just as important was the relationship: access to experienced advisors who asked thoughtful questions, challenged assumptions, and brought structure to complex decisions made HELM feel like the right long-term partner.

HELM began working with Bayley Hazen Builders early on when they were looking to level up to help build systems from the ground up, rather than retrofitting them later.

The Impact

The initial focus was on fundamentals: clarifying estimating processes, introducing integrated tools, and creating a structure that connected day-to-day operations with long-term planning.

HELM’s estimating worksheets quickly became a cornerstone tool, helping translate real project costs into clearer financial outcomes. Working closely with Tia from HELM, Molly gained a trusted sounding board, someone who could help navigate tough decisions in real time, apply systems consistently, and bring confidence to moments that previously felt overwhelming.

From the start, the emphasis was on integration. Estimating, billing, change orders, job cost wrap-ups, and invoicing were all designed to flow from the same data, reducing friction and increasing clarity across the business.

The impact of these systems became especially clear during a recent review of Bayley Hazen Builders’ 2026 operating budget.

Today, the business is:

Small, lean, and profitable

Operating with clean, integrated financial data

Paying employees well and offering benefits

Paying the owners confidently

Planning ahead with realistic, data-informed budgets

As Molly shared:

“Because our systems are integrated, we can build strong budgets, pay our team well, and make decisions based on real data.”

Community & Connection

Another meaningful outcome of working with HELM has been the community it fostered, particularly for women in the trades.

Molly has been energized by meeting women in the trades from across Vermont at HELM/VWW meetups. When Molly first considered being a carpenter she didn't know if it would be possible because she had never met a woman in the trades. She has been excited to see how these meetups have fostered a community of learning, encouragement, and support for new women builders.

As she noted:

“The connections HELM has created for women in the trades have been incredibly meaningful.”

If you’re a builder who knows how to do the work, but wants more clarity, confidence, and control on the business side, HELM can help you build the foundation to support sustainable growth.

Contact us to see how integrated systems can support your business.

To learn more about upcoming meet-ups in your area, sign up here.

Case Study: building a lean, profitable construction business with integrated systems