Bell-Corley Construction

Bell-Corley Construction Co. of Little Rock started as a niche construction firm and expanded its services to include full-blown general contracting.

Founded in April 2001 by brothers-in-law Matt Bell and Boyd Corley, the company initially specialized in interior finishout services for property management firms.

The firm quickly established a reputation for reliable on-time, on-budget work and providing top-notch customer service. “Our reputation is everything to us,” Bell said.

At the request of clients, Bell-Corley started overseeing entire construction projects two years ago. The move sent revenue skyward, reaching $12 million in 2004.

It’s a remarkable achievement built with some personal sacrifice.

The partners have maintained a corporate aversion to debt from the get-go, relying on cashflow to bankroll growth. That philosophy meant neither Bell nor Corely took a paycheck for the first 18 months they were in business

Today, the firm’s only debt is associated with its 12 company-owned vehicles.

Focusing on small- to mid-sized commercial projects, Bell-Corley does business in Arkansas and surrounding states as part of a 10-state region that extends east to Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Since its inception, the company has grown from four full-time employees to 19. Bell credits the staff with exceeding customer expectations and allowing the firm to vie with older, more established companies on the battlefield of competitive pricing and quality workmanship.

Bell and Corley bought and sold real estate together before forming the construction firm. Corley’s background is in construction, and Bell’s is in mortgage lending.

Bell recalls the initial query from Corley about the startup construction venture.

“That’s crazy,” was Bell’s response. “I don’t know anything about that.”

The learning experience has proven to be a profitable one.