When brothers Tim and Kai Fyrst set out to create their own construction business in 2005 after years of working for multiple contractors, they wanted to create a company for which they would want to work.
Twenty years later and after countless projects and a shelf full of awards, the Fyrst brothers believe they have accomplished that with First Finishers in Yelm. The remodeling contractor company is celebrating its 20-year anniversary in 2025, a milestone that is the culmination of a roller coaster journey for the Fyrst duo.
“It’s crazy to think about it because I feel very young, and we started really young. It’s a little surreal in a sense to think that we’ve been doing this for 20 years,” Tim Fyrst, the younger of the brothers, said. “That’s older than my kids.”
“It’s a cool achievement to see what we’ve built,” Kai added. “We’ve built a good team. We’ve found people that like working together and created a work environment that’s conducive to positivity.”
The Fyrst brothers, both Yelm High School graduates, began their careers in the trade as teenagers in the late 1990s working for builders, learning framing as well as interior and exterior work on homes. By working for different contractors, they realized, however, that the industry had its negative points. Communication was poor and they were promised little money, so they decided to try opening their own business.
“I think we learned a lot from working for other contractors and what we liked about working for them and what we didn’t like,” Kai said. “We figured we could do a better job ourselves.”
Kai admitted that he and Tim didn’t fully understand what they were getting themselves into just a few years removed from graduating high school. He said that opening the business was not difficult; the real chore was finding work.
“We had to hustle and go everywhere and anywhere, and talk to anybody that would listen,” Kai said. “We’d have to work far away from here most of the time.”
The brothers took any kind of job in the early years of their business, no matter how small, in order to gain a reputation of their own. They often slept in sleeping bags on the job site or stayed in a hotel while working on projects all over the state, including installing windows in high-rise buildings in downtown Seattle.
“We weren’t making great money either. We were making ends meet, but we weren’t killing it or anything like that,” Tim Fyrst said. “We were willing to take anything on because if it meant that we were busy, then we’ll do it.”
Just a couple of years into their business venture, the Great Recession ravaged the United States and small businesses, particularly construction companies. First Finishers was forced to slash prices during the recession and was frugal with its funds, but the company actually grew through the recession.
“We did more work than we did the prior year,” Tim said. “It was challenging. We just had to work harder and work more. We never even considered the option of quitting. It didn’t cross our minds. We were willing to take price cuts and get paid less to do the same jobs because it’s better to make some money than no money. That was our philosophy at the time.”
The Fyrsts believe they could take on whatever challenges that came their way because they adapted to different environments and offered a variety of services, including large-scale remodeling, new construction and additions, siding, fencing, decks, interior finishes and more. While most of their work is residential, they have worked on some commercial projects, most notably the interior of the Victoria’s Secret in Olympia’s Capital Mall in the early 2010s.
Now, First Finishers employs more than 40 people and offers benefits, retirement and vacation time. But the Fyrsts are proudest of the culture they’ve established with their business and the reputation they have built within the region. In fact, eight employees just celebrated 10 years with the company.
“It’s nice to be able to help our own team and their families. It goes back to the very beginning of, what company would I want to work for? What company would I stay at?’ It’s a team because it takes all of us to do our own part in order for this to work,” Tim said. “We’re proud of our team. They’ve been with us through thick and thin.”
Tim and Kai have also grown as brothers through their two decades as business partners. They’ve always been compatible; their parents always ensured that they participated in activities together. Wherever Kai went, Tim was there, too, and vice versa. Now, the brothers are able to work together in any capacity.
“I think the ability of us working together has been the key ingredient for growing this company the way we have,” Kai said. “If we were at each other’s throats, then it wouldn’t work at all. We’ve always had a good working relationship. The fact that we each manage our own project makes a world of difference because I’m not overseeing his stuff and he’s not overseeing my stuff. We both feel like we have the complete freedom to do what we want in our projects.”
First Finishers plans to host a barbecue for employees and their families to celebrate its 20-year anniversary. Over the next 20 years, the Fyrst brothers hope to continue to build their reputation, not only in the business world but as servants of the community. First Finishers donates monthly to All Kids Win and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and yearly to the Rainier Education Foundation, Thurston County Baseball Club, Nisqually Basin Youth Baseball, Thanksgiving Gift of Gobble and more.
The company also started a scholarship program in the spring of 2024 in partnership with Youth Athletics Recreation Development (YARD) called Fyrst Priority. Last year, the program supported the recipients with elementary and middle school tutoring, strength training and an entire summer package at YARD.
“It’s a priority because we’ve been in the community, and the community has been really good to us. By doing these things, they can inspire others to do what we do,” Tim Fyrst said. “Perhaps it can inspire some to say, ‘Oh, it is possible to do what these guys did. They started with one crappy popcorn kettle trailer that was beat up.’ It’s not easy, but if you are passionate about it, then I think that makes it a lot easier.”
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To learn more about First Finishers, visit its website at https://www.firstfinishers.com/.
