Inc. magazine revealed its 37th annual Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment – its independent small businesses.
We’d like to thank our clients who place their trust in us to build their dreams.
We’re proud to have doubled our ranking this year with our amazing team that never stops innovating, and continuously improve all aspects of our business. Stay tuned as you’ll hear more and more from our company as we continue to grow and deliver better quality projects each year.
Harris Khan
President
Maxx Builders has also been honored at #25 in the construction industry nationwide, #44 in top companies in all of Texas, and #6 in top Houston companies.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles can be found at https://www.inc.com/profile/maxx-builders-and-designers
“If your company is on the Inc. 5000, it’s unparalleled recognition of your years of hard work and sacrifice,” says Inc. editor-in-chief James Ledbetter. “The lines of business may come and go, or come and stay. What doesn’t change is the way entrepreneurs create and accelerate the forces that shape our lives.”
The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held October 17 to 19, 2018, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort, in San Antonio, Texas. As always, speakers include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.
More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000
Methodology
The 2018 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2014 and 2018. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2014. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent – not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies – as of December 31, 2017. The minimum revenue required for 2014 is $100,000; the minimum for 2017 is $2 million.
About Inc. Media
Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. Inc. took home the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012. The total monthly audience reach for the brand has been growing significantly, from 2,000,000 in 2010 to more than 18,000,000 today.
The Inc. 5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates the remarkable achievements of these companies. The event also offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions.
How Maxx Builders Approaches Commercial Construction in Texas
Every commercial construction project in Texas turns on three early decisions: delivery method, cost predictability, and schedule realism. Maxx Builders engages on all three before contract signing on most design-build engagements — and this is where the largest cost variance in a project is locked in or avoided.
On delivery method: design-build aligns design and construction teams under one contract, eliminating the design-bid-build friction where architects and contractors negotiate scope late in the project. For most Texas commercial projects under $20M, design-build delivers faster schedules and fewer change orders. Construction management at-risk (CMAR) becomes preferable on larger or more complex projects where owner control over design choices is paramount.
On cost predictability: a credible preconstruction estimate at programming or schematic design — before construction documents are finalized — gives the owner real visibility into what the building will actually cost. The cost benchmarks throughout this guide draw on RSMeans 2025, Gordian Q1 2025 cost report, and validation against actual delivered-project costs across our Texas portfolio. (RSMeans, Gordian, 2025)
On schedule realism: most schedule failures originate in the first 30 days — incomplete permit packages, late finalization of finish selections, long-lead material decisions deferred. We pull schedule risk forward by sequencing critical-path items during preconstruction.
Maxx Builders has delivered across hospitality, healthcare, retail, industrial, and tenant improvement throughout Texas. If you’re evaluating a project in the planning or schematic phase, request a preconstruction consultation — that’s the window where decisions actually move budget.
Texas Commercial Construction Decision Framework (2026)
Every commercial construction project decision sits in one of three buckets: cost, schedule, or quality. Trading any one for another carries lifecycle implications. Maxx Builders applies a structured decision framework on every Texas commercial project — from a 4,500 sq ft music academy interior build-out (Vivaldi Music Academy, Houston) to a 243,031 sq ft industrial warehouse new construction (Award Warehouse, Houston). The framework below explains what owners should ask at each phase.
Programming & Concept: Locking 60-80% of Total Cost
Decisions made during programming — building footprint, structural grid, mass, orientation, target program SF — fix 60–80% of total project cost. Once locked, they cannot be cost-engineered without redesign. This is where Maxx Builders prefers to engage: validating cost against feasibility before architectural drawings begin in earnest. For 2026 Texas commercial construction, programming-phase cost benchmarks run $250–$650+ per SF across building types (RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2025; Gordian Q1 2025 Construction Cost Report).
Schematic & Design Development: System Selection
System-level decisions follow programming: structural system (steel vs. tilt-up vs. CMU), envelope (curtain wall vs. punched openings), MEP type (rooftop vs. central plant), and primary finish package. Each carries a 10–25% cost swing depending on selection. Texas-specific decision factors include subcontractor labor availability by metro (tilt-up dominates Houston industrial because crews are abundant), soil conditions (foundation type can swing 20–30% of foundation cost), and climate-driven HVAC loading (cooling load dominates; high-performance glazing pays back faster than in cooler climates).
Cost Variance Across Texas Metros
Texas commercial construction cost varies by metro more than national averages suggest. Houston subcontractor pricing has historically run 5–10% above national index due to energy-sector competition for trade labor; that gap narrowed in 2024 and is now at parity in some trades. Dallas–Fort Worth runs near national index. Austin and San Antonio show 3–8% pricing variance depending on submarket and project size. Smaller metros (McAllen, Lubbock, Waco) often surprise with higher per-SF costs because trade contractor pools are thinner — mobilization premiums apply.
Permit timelines vary even more. City of Houston Department of Public Works review can run 8–16 weeks for commercial; unincorporated Harris County is often faster; surrounding cities (Sugar Land, Katy, Pearland) have shorter timelines. City of Dallas, City of Austin, and City of San Antonio each maintain different scopes of review. Building expected permit timeline into the project schedule — and engaging the city early during schematic — is the single most controllable schedule risk.
Long-Lead Material Coordination in 2026
Supply chain stability has improved since the 2021–2023 crisis but several material categories still require schedule-protecting orders 16–32 weeks before installation:
- Generator switchgear (typical 18–30 week lead time, sometimes longer for above-300A specs)
- Custom mechanical air handlers, chillers for healthcare and Class-A office (typical 14–24 weeks)
- Specialty glazing — high-performance insulated glass, blast-resistant glass, low-iron glass (12–20 weeks)
- Brand-specific hospitality FF&E (typical 16–32 weeks, longer for international brands)
- Specialty kitchen equipment for restaurants and healthcare cafeterias (12–18 weeks)
Maxx Builders’ preconstruction team flags these items during schematic — well before the bid stage — and helps owners commit orders early to protect the schedule. (BLS Producer Price Index for Construction; Dodge Construction Outlook 2026)
Insurance, Bonding, and Risk Allocation
Risk allocation gets less attention than cost or schedule but it’s where most owner-contractor disputes originate. Commercial general liability (CGL), professional liability, builder’s risk, and workers’ comp insurance — combined with payment and performance bonds — establish the risk floor. Texas commercial projects above $1.5M typically require performance and payment bonds; public projects always require them. Texas Anti-Indemnity Statute (Section 151.103 of the Insurance Code) restricts certain indemnity provisions in construction contracts — owner counsel should review.
AIA contract forms (A101, A201, A102, etc.) are the industry standard. Negotiating tip: insurance limits, liquidated damages, and consequential damages provisions in A201 are often where the most consequential negotiation happens — not the base price.
Working With Maxx Builders
Maxx Builders has delivered commercial construction across Texas since 2009 — hospitality (Home2Suites by Hilton, Comfort Suites, Holiday Inn Express), healthcare (Altus Healthcare, Heartland Dental), retail (Y-Shops shopping centers, Shoe Palace, Minnonite Retail), industrial (Award Warehouse, Ace Steel Supply), and tenant improvement (Vivaldi Music Academy, Anytime Fitness). We engage during programming or schematic on most design-build projects to apply this framework. Request a preconstruction consultation or learn about our preconstruction services.
