From €1 million loss to success: How brothers built a Croatian construction business 

Saša and Dean Perko run today DOMinvest (Photo: Dejan Tatomir)

They lost nearly a million euros and faced numerous business setbacks, but they’ve since become true masters of their craft and are now highly sought after.

Brothers Saša and Dean Perko have an inspiring story. Saša is 33 years old, while Dean is two years younger. Both are now successful in their field, though their journey to success was both challenging and rewarding.

They worked through every phase of their business to perfect each aspect. Today, they are co-owners and directors of the DOMinvest group of companies.

Saša holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, while Dean has a Master’s in Economics. Their venture began as a “brilliant idea”—entering the construction industry without experience or capital.

Dean and Saša Perko (Photo: Dejan Tatomir)

They took out a cash loan, showing both bravery and a touch of madness, as they say. Yet, they had a clear vision and knew the steps required to reach their goal.

They invested a great deal of time, effort, and energy, and now they’re reaping the rewards. This is where their adventure began…

“Since we started without experience, we couldn’t let that show. On our first day, early in the morning in the car park outside our building, we poured ceramic adhesive and water over our brand-new tools to make them look well-used.

We had to ensure the tile cutter, adhesive mixer, and trowels appeared as though they’d seen countless jobs. It worked—the bathroom turned out great, though it took twice as long as expected,” admit the brothers, who from day one have been meticulous in their work.

(Photo: Dejan Tatomir)

At the time, their priority was to create the impression of being seasoned professionals.

“The beginning was tough. To get the business off the ground, we decided that I would spend the first year on construction sites, working as a labourer.

I carried tools, tiles, and cleaned up after the skilled workers, all to gain firsthand insight into construction processes for later optimisation.

However, a unique dynamic developed where the craftsmen discouraged me from helping, saying that ‘bosses don’t do that.’ Yet, I’m proud of my decision to start from the ground up after earning my degree,” Dean Perko recalls, describing his early days on the job.

Dean Perko (Photo: Dejan Tatomir)

Many wonder whether family businesses have downsides or if it’s beneficial to keep everything within the family. The brothers have their take on this.

“There are pros and cons, but I’d say the positives far outweigh the negatives, at least in our case. The great thing is that Dean and I complement each other brilliantly.

Despite our differing personalities and motivations, we share the same vision and goals. We have absolute trust in one another.

Mistakes happen and poor decisions are made, but thanks to our complete trust, we avoid arguments and misunderstandings, engaging instead in constructive discussions. I believe it’s better to ‘keep it in the family’ because of that trust,” Saša says honestly.

Saša Perko (Photo: Dejan Tatomir)

Their group consists of several companies, and they’ve divided responsibilities so that each manages their own segment, avoiding conflicts over final decisions.

They rely on discussion to reach solutions, adhering to the principle that two heads are better than one. Saša oversees the project office, while Dean manages construction work.

They run the other companies together, supported by a top-notch team. They believe people are their greatest asset, and that only a satisfied employee can give their best and contribute to the company’s success.

They make decisions quickly, delegating unresolved matters to the person responsible for that area of the business.

“Today, we offer comprehensive services in construction—we design and build all types of buildings for other investors, refurbish and restore existing structures, and we’re particularly proud of our work on the restoration and revitalisation of culturally significant buildings.

(Photo: Dejan Tatomir)

Additionally, we develop residential buildings which we sell on the market, completing the full cycle of design, construction, and sales,” says Dean proudly. He and his brother love what they do, despite the challenges in the industry.

“I’d say entrepreneurship is challenging in any era. Up until 2015, we were dealing with a crisis; from 2019, the biggest issue became labour shortages, and since 2022, we’ve faced extremely high inflation. However, we see every crisis as an opportunity.

During such times, the weakest fall away, while those who are agile and quick seize the opportunities. We like to think we’re among the latter, adapting swiftly even to the most complex market situations. It’s challenging but also interesting and exciting,” explains Saša.

(Photo: Dejan Tatomir)

Despite their success, they’ve also experienced significant losses and are open about them.

“Along the way, we suffered considerable losses, often due to our poor decisions. This was our first entrepreneurial experience, and during rapid growth, we faced major decisions we weren’t always prepared for.

Three companies we worked with went under—two in construction, one in design. We’ve also made many unsuccessful investments in both assets and people. Each new stage of the company’s growth cost us many failed attempts.

We live by the ‘learn by doing’ philosophy, which has cost us just under a million euros,” the brothers candidly admit, now diligently and skillfully building their business.

From a young age, their parents instilled in them the value of hard and smart work for success.

“We’ve never shied away from putting in years of effort to achieve a goal. We took on joint projects as teenagers. They were simple at first but became more serious as we grew. These experiences taught us responsibility and money management, skills we see lacking in today’s younger generations,” Dean shares.

Since its inception, their group of companies has grown by an average of 100% annually, with projects becoming increasingly demanding.

They’re currently working on a hotel complex in Istria, a museum in Slavonia, as well as nurseries and schools in the Zagreb region.

(Photo: Dejan Tatomir)

Before the real estate crisis, they also operated in the German market, and they’re soon launching a new brand, DI Ceramics, a showroom specialising in ceramic tiles and related products.

Lastly, when asked about their strengths and weaknesses, Saša highlights Dean’s empathy and ability to understand people’s needs. He gets along well with the team and knows how to bring out the best in them.

On the other hand, Saša’s strength lies in his consistency and strategic thinking, though he admits he often prioritises numbers over people, which can be both a strength and a weakness. Dean focuses more on people, making them an excellent team.