If you’ve worked in construction or development for any length of time, you know that delays happen. Materials go on backorder. Weather shifts your schedule. Invoices get tied up in approvals.
But when payment delays become the norm instead of the exception, relationships start to fray. Trust erodes. And reputations suffer.
I know this because I’ve lived it—from both sides of the table. And if there’s one thing we’re focused on improving at The BestLife Group, it’s this: financial transparency.
Owning Our Growing Pains
Over the past couple of years, we’ve grown quickly—from a few custom homes to major commercial and multi-residential projects. With that came complexity. More vendors. More invoices. More moving pieces.
We made the mistake of letting our accounting systems get too complicated. We were over-documenting, under-communicating, and slow to adjust. And as a result, we lost trust from some of the very people who helped build our company—our trades and vendors.
It’s hard to admit, but it’s important to say out loud: We didn’t get it right.
That’s why we’re making the shift to something better.
What Transparent Accounting Looks Like (in Practice)
Transparency in construction isn’t about showing your books to the world. It’s about clarity, consistency, and communication.
Here’s what we’re doing now:
- Clear payment timelines, shared at the start of each project
- Simplified invoice review, so bills don’t get stuck in limbo
- Open dialogue with vendors about progress payments and holdbacks
- Internal alignment between field and finance teams—so everyone knows what’s owed, when, and why
It’s not flashy. But it builds something more valuable than any blueprint: mutual respect.
Why It Matters More Than Ever
Construction is a relationship business. If vendors don’t trust you, they won’t answer the phone. If trades won’t show up for your next project, you won’t finish on time. If funders hear chatter about poor financial management, you’ll lose bids before you even start.
For builders, transparency isn’t a PR tactic. It’s a survival strategy.
And when you start building a reputation for fairness and follow-through, everything changes: better pricing, better talent, and better outcomes—for everyone.
A Commitment Moving Forward
At The BestLife Group, we’re not trying to pretend we’ve always done this right. What we are doing is setting a new standard. One built on trust, clarity, and the kind of professionalism our vendors and partners deserve.
Because at the end of the day, if we want to build great homes—we need to be great partners.
About the Author
Ben Jardine, P.Eng., is the founder of The BestLife Group, a purpose-driven real estate development firm based in Muskoka, Ontario. With a background in engineering and a passion for community-building, Ben believes that trust and transparency are the real foundations of any successful project.