If you’ve ever searched for a basement remodeler near me, you’ve probably come across dozens of companies promising to transform your space. But not every basement finishing company is built the same—and very few have a story like this.
In our first podcast episode, “Starting From the Bottom,” Matrix Basements CEO Nick Richmond shares how the company went from a $3,500 startup during the 2009 recession to becoming the largest basement finishing company in the country. It’s a story about risk, timing, and figuring things out as you go—something homeowners can actually relate to when choosing the right basement remodeler.
Where It Started
Back in 2009, starting a business didn’t exactly make sense. The economy was struggling, people were losing jobs, and the housing market was upside down. But that environment revealed something important. Homeowners weren’t moving. If they needed more space, they had to create it within the homes they already had.
At the time, most contractors were focused on windows, roofing, and siding. Very few were operating as a true basement finishing company. As Nick put it,
“No one in this industry was putting an emphasis on basement finishing.”
That gap became the opportunity.
Matrix didn’t start with a big team or a polished process. It started with an idea, a product, and a willingness to figure things out in real time. The first projects were sold before the company had fully built out how to deliver them. There was no playbook... just a lot of trial and error.
In fact, the early days were messy. Pricing wasn’t perfect, processes weren’t fully built, and the team was learning everything on the fly. Nick even admitted,
“We probably lost money on the first 50 basements… learning through trial and error.”
But that learning curve is what shaped the company into the kind of basement remodeler homeowners look for today.
Basement remodeling is more complex than most people realize. It’s not just finishing walls. It’s managing moisture, planning layouts, handling electrical and plumbing, and creating a space that actually feels like part of the home. That complexity is exactly why many contractors avoid it. Matrix leaned into it and built a process specifically around basement finishing.
Over time, what started as a scrappy operation turned into a system. The company built dedicated design teams, refined installation processes, and developed better materials tailored for basements. What used to be managed on whiteboards and paper eventually became a structured, scalable operation.
Today, Matrix completes over a thousand basement projects every year.
That kind of consistency is what separates a general contractor from a specialized basement finishing company.
But one thing that hasn’t changed is how much the business depends on trust. In the beginning, customers were taking a chance on a company that didn’t have a long track record.
“We had customers that trusted us… knowing that we were brand new to this,”
Nick said. Those early relationships set the tone for how the company still operates today.
For many homeowners in the Chicagoland area, Michigan, and surrounding Midwest markets, basement remodeling is the most practical way to add livable space without moving. Whether it’s a home office, entertainment area, gym, or guest suite, basement finishing provides flexibility that other renovations can’t match.
As Nick explained,
“We don’t just finish basements… we give people additional living space they need.”
That idea still drives everything the company does.
As Matrix expanded across Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, and nearby regions, the goal stayed the same—focus on basements, do it better than anyone else, and keep improving the process.
Seventeen years later, the numbers are impressive—hundreds of employees, thousands of completed projects, and hundreds of millions of dollars in basement finishing completed. But the mindset is still the same as it was at the beginning.
“We’re always starting at zero every single day,” Nick said.
Basements Finished by the Experts
If you’re thinking about finishing your basement, choosing the right basement finishing company comes down to experience, specialization, and process. Not every contractor focuses on basements—but the ones who do tend to deliver better results.
Because at the end of the day, a basement isn’t just extra space. Done right, it becomes one of the most valuable and most used parts of your home.
And for Matrix Basements, that’s been the mission from the start.
Subscribe to Matrix Basements's Blog
Comments