Hay Runner

What Hay Runner does

Hay Runner Holdings, LLC is a privately held, full-service design-build and property services firm founded in 2018 by Shannon Richards and headquartered in Portland, Maine. The company consolidates the entire homeownership lifecycle under one operating entity: architecture and custom design, millwork and custom cabinetry (via a Rockport-based shop), general contracting and custom home building, real estate services, hourly handyman work, plant services, an island-project specialty called Island Runner, and property management. Operations span three Maine offices in Portland (Southern Maine), Rockport (Midcoast), and Bath (Central-Coast), with the August 2023 acquisition of Phi Builders + Architects extending millwork and fine homebuilding capability.

The operating model is built on a time-and-materials contracting structure across all construction and design streams, with hourly bill rates tiered by role ranging from $55/hr for an assistant carpenter up to $250/hr for the founder. Projects above $10,000 require 15-20% deposits and are billed weekly, materials are marked up 20%, and a 1.5% liability-insurance/bond surcharge applies per invoice; emergency services bill at 1.5x the standard hourly rate. Field operations are dispatched and GPS-tracked through the Housecall Pro SaaS platform, and architecture/drafting services are billed at $110-$180/hr depending on role. The go-to-market motion is sales-led, combining website project-inquiry forms, a phone line (207.605.2055), an online booking flow, and a referral pipeline through a partnership with Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty, where Richards serves as a real estate advisor.

Customer segments are hybrid and skew toward Maine-based SMB and consumer end-markets: homeowners and land owners, businesses, relocators (buyers), sellers, investors, and property managers of short- and long-term rentals. Repeat-customer and referral dynamics, the EducateMaine apprenticeship, and a Time-and-Materials pricing posture collectively underpin a relationship-driven, locally-trust-driven services business. Hay Runner is bootstrapped (no disclosed external funding rounds), led by Shannon Richards as Founder & CEO, and recognized as a 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree (#543) with 742% three-year revenue growth, #7 on WPO Women2Watch, and #5 on Maineboz's Largest Woman-Owned Business list.

Name

Hay Runner

Legal name

Hay Runner Holdings, LLC

Website

https://hayrunner.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hay Runner is a privately held Maine-based design-build firm offering architecture, custom cabinetry, general contracting, real estate, handyman, and plant services to homeowners, businesses, and investors across Southern, Midcoast, and Central-Coast Maine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Construction Services: Time and Materials contracts for general contracting, new construction, renovations, additions, and small jobs. Work billed hourly with 1.5% liability insurance/bond fee per invoice. Materials marked up 20%. Weekly invoicing during projects with deposits of 15-20% required for projects over $10,000.
2. Architecture + Design Services: Architectural design, modeling, drafting, and planning/land use services billed at hourly rates from $110-$180 depending on role. Principal Architect at $180/hr, Architectural Design at $125/hr.
3. Millwork + Custom Cabinetry: Custom cabinet and furniture design, drafting, and wood shop production with project management. Wood shop labor at $95/hr, cabinet design at $110/hr.
4. Real Estate Services: Property buying, selling, and management services for homeowners, relocators, downsizers, upsizers, and investors in Maine market.
5. Handyman + Plant Services: Hourly handyman services at $95/hr, plant specialist at $60/hr, and property caretaking at $100/hr for ongoing maintenance needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hay Runner is a Maine-based design-build and real estate firm that provides integrated architecture and design, general contracting (new construction, renovations, additions, small jobs), custom millwork and cabinetry, real estate brokerage services (via Legacy Properties Sotheby's partnership), hourly handyman support, interior plant services, Island Runner services for island properties, and ongoing property management. Work is delivered on a Time and Materials basis across Southern, Midcoast, and Central-Coast Maine from offices in Portland, Rockport, and Bath.

Product overview

Hay Runner is a full-service design-build company offering an integrated approach to the complete lifecycle of homeownership. The company operates a unified platform combining Architecture + Design, Millwork + Custom Cabinetry, General Contracting + Home Building, Real Estate Services, Handyman Services, Plant Services, Island Runner services, and Property Management. The core offering is built around a time and materials contracting model that covers projects from initial design through construction to ongoing property maintenance. The Phi Builders + Architects acquisition (2023) expanded the company's fine home building and cabinetry capabilities in the midcoast Maine region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• oUTSKIRT Studio: An artists and makers collaborative work space co-founded by Shannon Richards of Hay Runner, located in Lyman, Maine
• Island Runner
• Hay Plants

Products and services

• Architecture + Design Full-service architectural design and custom design offering for residential and commercial projects, including planning, land use services, architectural modeling, and drafting for homes and buildings.
• Millwork + Custom Cabinetry Custom millwork and cabinetry production from the Rockport, Maine cabinet shop, offering custom cabinet and furniture design, drafting, high-end casework, window and door production, and wood shop production with project management.
• General Contracting + Home Building General contracting and custom home building services delivered on a Time and Materials basis, including new construction, renovations, additions, and small jobs for homeowners, businesses, and property managers, with project managers assigned for larger projects.
• Real Estate Services Real estate brokerage and advisory services for buyers, sellers, and investors in Maine, including relocation support, downsizing/upsizing assistance, and investment property feasibility analysis through a partnership with Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty.
• Handyman Services Hourly handyman services for repairs, improvements, and general property maintenance needs of homeowners, businesses, and property managers, including emergency services at premium rates.
• Plant Services (Hay Plants) Interior plant arrangements, ongoing houseplant care, and plant shop and consultation services for Maine homes and businesses (branded as Hay Plants within Hay Runner).
• Island Runner Specialized construction and contracting services for island-based properties, addressing the unique logistics, transportation, and construction challenges of projects on Maine islands.
• Property Management Property management and caretaking services for long- and short-term rental owners, bundling improvements, repairs, and ongoing maintenance with Hay Runner's design-build and handyman teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• 742% three-year revenue growth (2021-2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Phi Builders + ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2023Hay Runner acquired Rockport-based Phi Builders + Architects in August 2023, unifying design-build firms with footholds in Portland and midcoast Maine. Phi was led by Bettina Doulton. This acquisition expanded Hay Runner's fine home building and cabinetry capabilities.
• EducateMainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EducateMaine to develop 3-year (6,000 hour) apprentice program for aspiring cabinet makers. Combines paid on-the-job training with curriculum covering woodworking, cabinetry, millwork, and installation. Apprentices earn OSHA 10 Safety Certificate and state certification upon completion.
• Midcoast Habitat for HumanityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHay Runner sponsored Women Build 2026, Midcoast Habitat for Humanity's signature event at Compass Point neighborhood in Rockport. Shannon Richards participated as a volunteer. Hay Runner has supported Habitat for Humanity for many years.
• Legacy Properties Sotheby's International RealtycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShannon Richards serves as real estate advisor with Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty. Partnership enables integrated real estate transaction services for Hay Runner clients buying or selling properties.
• Women Presidents Organization (WPO)coreOthersShannon Richards is member of Women Presidents Organization, a global network connecting women business leaders. Hay Runner ranked #7 on WPO Women2Watch 2025 list and #7 on 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned Companies list.
• Build Homes Build Community CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShannon Richards serves as spokesperson for Build Homes Build Community, a nonpartisan coalition of Maine business leaders (including Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, MEREDA, Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce) advocating for housing policies to address Maine's housing crisis.
• MEREDA (Maine Real Estate & Development Association)coreOthersShannon Richards serves as President of MEREDA, Maine's leading real estate and development association. Hosted MEREDA Forecast Conference 2026 with 900+ attendees. Richards hosts MEREDA Matters podcast featuring industry leaders.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Wright-Ryan Construction: Maine-based general contractor and construction manager offering custom residential and commercial building services. Comparable as a regional design-build competitor in the same Maine geography targeting similar homeowner and developer segments.
• Sheridan Construction: Maine-based construction firm providing custom home building, renovations, and commercial construction. Direct regional peer operating in the same markets (Southern/Central Maine) with comparable design-build services for residential clients.
• Cold Mountain Builders: Maine-based design-build firm focused on energy-efficient custom homes and renovations. Comparable peer with similar integrated design and construction model in the Maine residential market.
• Bialecki Construction: Maine-based design-build firm specializing in custom homes and renovations. Comparable as a regional design-build peer serving similar residential clients in coastal Maine markets.
• Landry/French Construction: Maine-based construction management and general contracting firm with significant custom residential and commercial project experience. Comparable Maine peer offering similar full-lifecycle construction services.
• Kevin Murphy Construction: Midcoast Maine design-build contractor specializing in custom homes, additions, and renovations. Comparable peer operating in the Rockport/Camden region with similar integrated architecture-construction offerings.
• Pleasant Bay Builders: Cape Cod and coastal New England design-build firm specializing in custom homes and renovations. Comparable as a regional design-build peer with similar high-end residential focus in a coastal geography.
• Hutcheson & Sons: Maine-based custom home builder and renovation contractor. Comparable as a regional design-build peer targeting similar high-end residential clientele in Maine.
• Eldridge Construction: Maine-based general contractor offering residential and commercial construction services. Comparable as a regional peer in the Maine construction market with overlapping service offerings.

Others

• Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty: Maine-based luxury real estate firm partnered with Hay Runner for buyer/seller referrals. Listed as a peer because the relationship is bidirectional—Hay Runner's real estate services and Legacy Properties' transactions directly compete and complement each other for Maine relocation and luxury property clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hayrunner_maine
• Facebookfacebook.com/hayrunnermaine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hay-runner

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hay Runner