Construction
For Cato Built, the value of AFI Balance has gone far beyond bookkeeping and payroll support. It has been the combination of high-quality service, strong communication, and a genuinely personal relationship.
CLIENT
Cato Built
Director
Andrew Cato
Industry
Construction
Location
Townsville, QLD
Client Overview
Cato Built is a family-run construction company delivering high-end new homes, large-scale renovations, and an increasing number of commercial projects in Townsville.
When Andrew Cato and the team first partnered with AFI Balance in 2019, the business was under real pressure. Turnover was sitting at around $1.5 million, systems were stretched, and the financial and admin workload had become unsustainable. The pressure had reached a point where shutting the business down was being seriously considered.
Since then, Cato Built has grown into a well-established medium-sized firm employing around 18 staff, engaging more than 30 regular contractors, and projecting around $9.5 million in turnover this financial year.
Throughout that growth, AFI Balance has provided the structure, systems, and support needed to help the business scale with confidence.
The Challenge
By the time Cato Built came to AFI Balance, the business had reached a turning point. The challenges included:
“I was actually almost… I was really just gonna shut the business down.”
Andrew Cato
Managing Director, Cato Built
The Approach
AFI Balance stepped in to relieve the day-to-day pressure and create a stronger financial foundation for growth. Our support included:
Taking over payroll, bookkeeping, and general accounts administration
Putting systems in place to improve structure, visibility, and consistency
Providing dependable support that reduced overwhelm and gave the business greater control
Freeing up leadership time so Andrew could focus on the bigger picture and growth
Growing alongside the business with support that evolved as Cato Built became larger and more complex
What mattered most was not just technical accuracy, but making the process feel easy, personal, and dependable.
“With you taking over all the payroll, the books, all the general bookkeeping and some admin, getting systems in place, it just freed up
my time to… look at the big picture and growing from there.”
Andrew Cato
Managing Director, Cato Built
The Outcomes
Since partnering with AFI Balance, Cato Built has experienced significant and sustained growth.
That support has helped the business to:
Grow from around $1.5 million turnover to an expected $9.5 million this financial year
Build stronger systems and processes to support expansion
Free up leadership time to focus on strategy, relationships, and business development
Improve work-life balance by reducing the burden of financial admin
Maintain strong compliance and financial oversight as the business became more complex
Scale with confidence while preserving the personal, family-run nature of the business
Just as importantly, Andrew and the team never felt like they were carrying that growth alone.
“Things just went leaps and bounds from then on.”
And the growth journey is still continuing, with a clear vision for what comes next:
“The aim by 2030 is to really get into that $15 million plus.”
Andrew Cato
Managing Director, Cato Built
Why AFI Balance
For Cato Built, the value of AFI Balance has gone far beyond bookkeeping and payroll support. It has been the combination of high-quality service, strong communication, and a genuinely personal relationship.
The business needed a partner who could deliver accuracy and consistency, while also understanding the realities of running and scaling a family business.
That is what made the relationship stick.
As Andrew shared:
“It’s just been easy from day one… always professional, excellent communication, never chasing up on anything really.”
Andrew Cato
Managing Director, Cato Built
They also highlighted the human side of the partnership:
"You get a high-quality service with a personal touch, and I think that counts for a lot."
Andrew Cato
Managing Director, Cato Built
Andrew Cato
Managing Director, Cato Built
Key Challenges Solved
Ready for a similar result? Let's talk about what AFI Balance can do for your business.
Watch & Listen
Watch Andrew share his experience working with AFI Balance and the journey from near-closure to a $9.5M construction business.