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When I first set out to build Subtrak, I had a clear but ambitious vision. As a former roofing contractor with 15 years of experience, I knew how much small and medium-sized construction companies could benefit from an app that systemizes their operations. Years in construction leadership taught me that being the point person for every decision while constantly putting out fires makes it extremely difficult to grow a business. My goal was to create a tool that combined standard operating procedures (SOPs) with automated task management, to help construction teams know what to do, when it’s due, and how to do it right.
Over the last two years, I’ve learned some hard but invaluable lessons about what it takes to bring a software platform to life—and why having the right people, technology, and focus is essential. Today, I’m excited to share that Subtrak is finally ready, redesigned from the ground up and available for you to sign up for free on our website. 🥳 As I reflect on this milestone of Subtrak’s journey, I wanted to share some of the lessons learned that brought us to this point.
Lesson One: Don’t Overcomplicate the Vision
Looking back, trying to build both a documentation platform and an automated task management system from the start was overly ambitious. Combining those functionalities meant that we were essentially creating a new type of app. Without an established software platform of its kind to follow, we had to think through every level, every customization, and every function. That made it difficult for me to balance product development with the other demands of running a bootstrapped startup.
With such a sprawling goal, we ended up with a complex app that promised a lot but delivered little. The task management system, in particular, was a hurdle we just couldn’t overcome with our original approach. When we forced ourselves to focus on what was truly essential, we realized that the app’s core value could be distilled down into something much simpler than what we originally thought. By narrowing our focus, we rebuilt the app to do one thing exceptionally well: empower contractors to create, organize, and share processes with their team, easily and efficiently.
Lesson Two: Choosing the Right Technology Matters
Originally, we built Subtrak in React and JavaScript with a CSS front end. This allowed for a high degree of customization, but it also created a tangled codebase that required extensive reworking for even minor changes. Fixing one bug often introduced new ones, and the task tracking feature—which was one of our core promises—never worked reliably.
After two years of struggling with this, I knew we needed a fresh start. For the redesign, we made the switch to Laravel PHP, which allowed us to take a more modular and streamlined approach. This change simplified the codebase, making the app easier to update and maintain. What used to take days now takes hours—or even minutes. This shift in technology was vital, giving us the reliability we needed to deliver a solid product. While it was a step back initially, it ultimately allowed us to make up for lost time and move forward with confidence.
Lesson Three: The Right Team Makes All the Difference
A major lesson I learned along the way is the importance of finding the right people. At the start, I worked with contractors and developers who didn’t fully grasp our vision or didn’t have the right experience. They were talented in their own ways, but the results weren’t aligning with what Subtrak needed. I learned that just as I needed skilled, committed installers in my roofing business, I needed proactive, experienced developers in software—people who could anticipate issues without me needing to point them out. Most importantly, I learned that I cannot do this by myself. I needed a technical thought partner who could take initiative and treat the project as their own.
Less than a month ago, I made the difficult decision to stop work on the original app, scrap the codebase (and two years of work), and start over with a new developer. I met Dima through his work on BuildKeeper, a project management app for contractors. Dima’s technical mastery, experience with construction software, and alignment with Subtrak’s mission made him an ideal fit for our team. He has quickly become the thought partner I needed, often taking the initiative to shoulder technical decisions, which has lifted a huge burden off my plate. This partnership allows us to build and ship a stable, reliable product that delivers what contractors need without unnecessary complexity.
Lesson Four: Focus on Building a Lean, Valuable MVP
The newly redesigned Subtrak is everything I initially envisioned: a simple, lovable, and complete tool that enables contractors to create, organize, and share processes. By focusing on our mission of creating simple process documentation for contractors, we avoided the pitfalls of unnecessary complexity in both software application and marketing messaging. I learned that building a great product is only half the battle—you must also communicate its value clearly and in a way that resonates with your customers’ needs. A simple, focused solution isn’t just easier to build; it’s also easier to explain and adopt, which is critical to gaining traction. This new approach has helped us deliver a stable product we can be proud of—one that not only functions well but also communicates its purpose clearly to contractors, leaving room for exciting improvements in the future.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Subtrak
With Subtrak’s foundation in place, our next step is to get to work with contractors, rolling up our sleeves and taking a hands-on approach to helping them turn the systems and processes that are stuck in their heads into digital playbooks their teams can use and depend on. We’re setting our sights on the future, including the development of AI-powered SOP creation to make documenting processes faster and easier than ever. We’re also building the Internet’s largest database of construction SOPs, giving contractors a wealth of trade-specific and customizable resources to streamline their operations.
Today, Subtrak is ready for contractors to try, and we’re thrilled to offer it for free on our website. This project has been a journey of learning, adapting, and growing, but we’re confident that Subtrak can make a meaningful difference for contractors looking to organize and optimize their businesses. Visit app.subtrak.com/register to sign up for a free account today or schedule a demo to learn how we can help your business thrive. Join us as we continue to evolve and build a tool that makes life easier for hardworking contractors everywhere.
