Retooling

Eileen Gould started an interior design firm in 1977. As the business grew, she worked on larger and more complicated remodeling jobs as well as on new homes and commercial spaces. Gradually, she saw that she was lacking in her ability to serve her clients fully. She went back to school in 1995 and obtained her general contractor’s license, which has allowed her not only to grow her business but also to enhance the services she can provide.

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In 1992, I got a job remodeling a neurosurgeon’s home in Encino. He was going from 2,500 to 6,000 square feet. I helped him hire a contractor and oversaw a lot of the work, even ordering the doors and hardware because the subcontractors asked me what colors and kinds of products they should install. I realized after the job was over that I had done most of the work and that the contractor had gotten most of the money.

This was not good for me, and it wasn’t very cost-efficient for the client either. They were paying me as a designer, and the contractor was charging a fee also. I had done a lot of work with contractors and I thought, “Gee, I could do that.”

I found out that you have to have experience in the construction business before you can apply for a general contractor’s license. So I met up with an electrician and we formed a corporation. I worked under his contractor’s license, learning to do room additions, kitchen and bath remodels and tenant improvements.

I found that the men on the jobs did not disrespect me. In fact, they usually bent over backward for me in the field because they did not feel threatened by me. A lot of them knew me because I had hired them as subcontractors before.

We dissolved the corporation in 1995, and I went to night school to get my contractor’s license.

Since I have two children and run a full-time business, I knew I could not attend school full time. So I worked out an arrangement where I did four months of actual class time and then did home study.

I had to learn about construction law and business and how to do electrical, plumbing, masonry, drywall, carpentry, painting, foundations, studs and roofing. It cost about $700.

When I took the four-hour exam in 1996, I was the only woman there.

Since then, I’ve been advertising as a woman contractor. My ads say, “I listen, I hear you, and I meet your needs, all within your budget.” So far, my gross has increased by $150,000, and my business has exploded.

Because I’m visible in my community and my children’s schools, my clients know where to find me. It’s very scary to hand over $50,000 to somebody you don’t know and then wonder if the job will ever get done.

I sub out most of the work and physically do only the electrical or masonry, if need be. But I pick all the parts and supervise all the workers. The client has more control because if they use me for the design and the contracting, they know I’ll give them a better deal. And I always throw in a lot of extra touches to make the environment something that will make them very happy.

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AT A GLANCE

* Company: Lifestyles by Eileen

* Owner: Eileen Gould

* Nature of business: Interior design and construction

* Location: 2612 Grandoaks Drive, Westlake Village

* Year founded: 1977

* Number of employees: 3

* Annual sales: $550,000