Ellis Builds
Ellis Builds is a boutique, founder-owned custom home builder and renovator founded in 2002, serving affluent homeowners across Boulder County, Colorado with custom builds, renovations, and net-zero sustainable construction delivered through a collaborative design-build process.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersLouisville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ellis Builds does
Ellis Builds is a privately held, founder-owned custom home construction and renovation firm founded in 2002 by David Ellis and headquartered in Louisville, Colorado. The company serves high-net-worth homeowners across Boulder County, delivering custom builds, major renovations, and home additions that range from modern estates to traditional designs, including net-zero energy homes with geothermal heating/cooling, photovoltaic solar arrays, and high-performance building envelopes. Core technical capabilities center on sustainable construction practices: reclaimed materials, low-VOC finishes, deconstruction over demolition, advanced insulation, double-glazed windows, and air-tight detailing, often delivered through a collaborative design-build process with external architecture partners such as Mosaic Architects, Sopher Sparn Architects, Arcadea Architecture, and Marpa Landscape Architecture.
The firm operates a project-based revenue model priced under Time and Materials plus markup contracts, beginning with a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PSA) that defines scope, specifications, budget and schedule prior to construction. Each project receives a dedicated project manager and on-site superintendent, with senior staff directly engaged on every build. Revenue is generated exclusively through direct consultations with individual homeowners — no retail, channel, or e-commerce distribution — supplemented by word-of-mouth referrals, an SEO-driven website portfolio, and an active Instagram presence. The customer base is concentrated in affluent Boulder County communities (Boulder, Louisville, Longmont, Niwot, and mountain enclaves), targeting both sustainability-focused buyers and design-conscious luxury clientele, with multi-million-dollar project values across the portfolio.
Ellis Builds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ellis Builds
- Legal name
- Ellis Builds
- Website
- https://ellisbuilds.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ellis Builds is a boutique, founder-owned custom home builder and renovator founded in 2002, serving affluent homeowners across Boulder County, Colorado with custom builds, renovations, and net-zero sustainable construction delivered through a collaborative design-build process.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ellis Builds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Home Building Services
- NAICS
- New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236115), Residential Remodelers (236118)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)
Keywords
Where Ellis Builds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Louisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ellis Builds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Home Construction: Project-based revenue from building distinctive, personalized custom homes across Boulder County. Includes new custom builds, renovations, and home additions. Projects range from multi-million dollar luxury estates to specialized renovations.
- Renovations and Additions: Revenue from transforming outdated houses into bespoke living spaces, including full interior renovations, additions, and remodeling projects with emphasis on energy efficiency and modern upgrades
- Pre-Construction Services: Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PSA) phase providing detailed planning, design collaboration, budget development, and project scoping before construction begins
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing - no standardized tiers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Ellis Builds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ellis Builds is a boutique custom home builder serving Boulder County that delivers design collaboration, custom home construction, and renovation/addition services for affluent homeowners. Projects are managed via a Pre-Construction Services Agreement phase and executed with a dedicated on-site superintendent and project manager, with particular specialization in sustainable, high-performance, and net-zero energy residential construction.
Product overview
Ellis Builds is a custom home building company offering a unified service portfolio centered on three core offerings: Design + Architecture Services, Custom Builds, and Renovations + Additions. The company operates a collaborative process (Listen, Collaborate, Construct) supported by Pre-Construction Services that includes the Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PSA). Sustainability features including energy-efficient systems, solar integration, geothermal heating/cooling, and smart home technology are integrated across their building services rather than sold as separate products. Their portfolio includes projects such as B-Hazy Ranch (net-zero modern farmhouse), Mountain Modern (6,000 sq. ft. net-zero home with geothermal systems), Devils Thumb Modern (renovation), and Traditional Pool House, spanning new builds and renovations across Boulder County.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Design + Architecture Services Collaborative design and architecture service where Ellis Builds works with the client's design team or assembles the ideal team of architects, designers, engineers, and consultants to optimize design through experience and relationships, ensuring the client's vision and lifestyle needs are met from concept to completion.
- Custom Builds Specialized custom home creation across Boulder County delivering distinctive, personalized homes with a strong commitment to design, quality, and sustainability; whether modern masterpieces or timeless traditional designs, with emphasis on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and meticulous project management.
- Renovations + Additions Home renovation and addition services that transform outdated houses into bespoke living spaces with exceptional craftsmanship and decades of fine home-building expertise, making structures energy-efficient, healthier, and beautifully suited to client lifestyles.
- Pre-Construction Services Pre-construction planning phase governed by a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PSA) that defines scope, specifications, budget, schedule, and overall project feasibility before any work starts, ensuring collaborative alignment, budget accuracy, and risk mitigation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Projects delivered on schedule and within budget with consistent communication
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ellis Builds
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ellis Builds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Ellis Builds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Sopher Sparn ArchitectscoreArchitecture firm collaboration on custom home projects including Mountain Modern project (6,000 sq ft net-zero home). Joint design and construction process with weekly owner-architect-contractor meetings.
- Arcadea ArchitecturecoreArchitecture firm partner for Chautauqua Transitional renovation project including basement finishing, fitness studio, and outdoor amenities.
- Marpa Landscape ArchitecturecoreLandscape architecture partner for Chautauqua project handling pool, spa, and comprehensive landscape improvements.
- Mosaic ArchitectscoreLead architect for B Hazy Ranch net-zero modern farmhouse project. Two-year pre-construction planning collaboration.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Ellis Builds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Magleby Construction: Luxury custom home builder serving Colorado's mountain and Front Range markets with design-build services, high-end finishes and architect collaboration. Comparable in premium-segment positioning, custom single-family focus and collaborative design process, though operating at larger scale and broader geography than Ellis Builds.
- Lifestyle Custom Homes: Boulder-area custom home builder offering design-build services and personalized residential construction for affluent buyers. Closely comparable to Ellis Builds in target customer, geography and custom single-family focus.
- Cornerstone Custom Builders: Custom residential builder focused on high-end homes in Colorado. Overlaps with Ellis Builds on custom single-family construction, design collaboration and affluent homeowner target segment within the broader Colorado market.
- Hammerwell Construction: Boulder-based custom home builder with a portfolio of architect-driven, design-focused residences across Boulder County. Comparable to Ellis Builds in target customer (affluent homeowners), product (custom single-family builds and renovations) and emphasis on craftsmanship and design collaboration.
- TreeHouse Master Builders: Boulder-area custom home builder specializing in sustainable, high-performance and net-zero residential construction. Closely comparable to Ellis Builds in geographic market (Boulder County), service mix (custom builds + renovations) and sustainability-led value proposition.
Regional players
- Shaw Builders: Colorado-based custom home builder serving mountain and Front Range communities. Comparable business model (custom single-family construction for affluent buyers) and regional adjacency, though operating across a wider geography than Ellis Builds' Boulder County focus.
- Boan Built Custom Homes: Custom home builder serving the Colorado Front Range market with design-build services targeting luxury and semi-luxury buyers. Comparable to Ellis Builds in custom residential construction, though typically serving a broader and somewhat less premium segment than Ellis Builds' multi-million dollar niche.
Emerging players
- BHM Custom Builders: Colorado-based custom home builder focused on architect-driven residential projects in the Boulder/Denver market. Comparable product offering (custom builds with design collaboration), though positioned slightly below Ellis Builds' ultra-luxury tier and scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ellis Builds social profiles
Digital presenceEllis Builds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ellis Builds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Ellis Builds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ellis Builds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ellis Builds
What does Ellis Builds do?
Ellis Builds is a boutique custom home builder serving Boulder County that delivers design collaboration, custom home construction, and renovation/addition services for affluent homeowners. Projects are managed via a Pre-Construction Services Agreement phase and executed with a dedicated on-site superintendent and project manager, with particular specialization in sustainable, high-performance, and net-zero energy residential construction.
Is Ellis Builds a public or private company?
Ellis Builds is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ellis Builds founded?
Ellis Builds was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ellis Builds based?
Ellis Builds is headquartered in Louisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ellis Builds make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Home Construction is the primary driver. The others are renovations and Additions and pre-Construction Services.
Who are Ellis Builds's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Magleby Construction, Lifestyle Custom Homes, Cornerstone Custom Builders, Hammerwell Construction and TreeHouse Master Builders. Regional players are Shaw Builders and Boan Built Custom Homes. BHM Custom Builders is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ellis Builds have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ellis Builds.
What industry is Ellis Builds in?
Ellis Builds's product category is Custom Home Building Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAE, Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders, with a secondary code of IMAFABAH, Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House). Its NAICS code is 236115 and its SIC code is 1520.