The new reality for builders
Independent builders today face industry headwinds in 2025 that are forcing them to adapt and overcome like never before. Material costs remain high, labor shortages continue and profit margins hover around 5% for U.S. builders. With construction costs now making up over 64% of a home’s sale price, every dollar saved counts.
That’s why more builders are turning to group purchasing organizations (GPOs) like CBUSA. By uniting, builders gain strengthened negotiating power, and it’s entirely changing the way they do business.
“Being part of a local CBUSA meeting gives us negotiating power we simply wouldn’t have on our own,” said Dennis Shriver, owner of Hearthside Homes in Kansas City. “It levels the playing field for small and mid-sized builders.”
Local meetings: Small time, big impact
At the heart of CBUSA are the 30-minute monthly meetings designed to build cost-savings programs specific to each market. In these focused sessions, members:
- Review current/prior committed buys and set the next buy
- Share local pricing trends, service levels and product availability
- Build or refine a custom group buying plan
- Meet with national brand partners and local suppliers
- Swap best practices, leads and references with fellow builders
“It’s a short meeting but the impact lasts all year,” said Tim Coughran, owner of Alderview Construction. “You walk out knowing you’re not just buying smarter, you’re building smarter.”
For many, those half-hour meetings unlock tens of thousands of dollars in savings. CBUSA members reported saving an average of $9,500 per home and collectively earned over $13 million in rebates last year alone.
Proof in the numbers
For Shriver’s Hearthside Homes, the decision to join CBUSA came down to gaining leverage they couldn’t achieve on their own. Local suppliers had long dictated pricing but Shriver knew something had to change. “Financially, we’ve recognized tens of thousands in rebates,” Shriver said. “So far, that strategy has worked well for us.”
CBUSA gives builders the connection they can leverage to maximize savings that continue year over year. Take Brightwater Homes, which has a footprint in Atlanta and Charleston. By leveraging CBUSA contracts, they found $5,000 in upfront savings per house and another $5,000 in rebates on the back end.
“CBUSA is going to help you elevate your business,” said Steven Sanders-Myers, purchasing manager for Brightwater Homes. “Being able to get insider information on how other builders are running their business is on par with Builder 20 groups.”
The supplier advantage built on relationships
Numbers tell one part of the story. Supplier relationships tell the other. The power of CBUSA is purpose-built with 28+ national brand partnerships including names like Sherwin-Williams, Kohler and Weyerhaeuser. Those relationships bring not only better pricing but also greater consistency and reliability.
Joe Christensen, president of Cardinal Crest Homes, put it this way: “It’s not just about what we’re saving today. It’s about walking into a supplier meeting knowing they recognize our volume, our consistency and our value as a partner. That changes the entire conversation.”
For vendors, it comes down to predictable volume. For builders, it means more confidence that materials will be available when and where they’re needed which is a priceless advantage in today’s supply chain climate.
Collaboration as a competitive edge
Ultimately, CBUSA isn’t only about the dollars. It’s about creating a community where builders push each other to think bigger, buy smarter and operate more efficiently.
“You get the financial benefit, yes,” Shriver said. “But you also gain a network of builders who push each other to build better. That’s something you can’t put a price tag on.”
Collaboration is the difference between surviving week to week and thriving year over year. CBUSA empowers builders to overcome tight margins and constant obstacles to achieve sustainable growth.
It only takes one meeting to spark savings that fuel your business growth all year. Ready to unlock that potential and build stronger partnerships?
Join a local CBUSA meeting today and experience the difference firsthand. Visit CBUSA.us to get started.