About Universal HB Solutions
Who we are, how we work, and the books behind the mindset.
One team for the whole project
Universal HB Solutions has a team behind every job. Beyond construction, our team handles web design, renderings, business plans, pro formas, branding and more, so you don't have to hire five different companies to open one business.
- Construction project managementBudgets, schedules, permits, trades and inspections, from the first walk-through to opening day.
- Commercial buildoutsRestaurants, bars, salons, suites, retail and offices built out in existing buildings.
- Design + 3D renderingsSpace plans, design concepts and photo-real renderings so you see the space before it's built. We draw anything that doesn't need a permit; drawings for permit submission come from a licensed architect we coordinate with.
- Web design + hostingCustom websites with online ordering, booking and reservations, built and hosted for you.
- Business plans + pro formasLender-ready business plans and financial projections. Our clients have secured over $700,000 in funding.
- Branding + signageLogos, signs, menu boards, murals and graphics that make the space feel like your brand.
Built by an owner-operator
Anthony Thomas has been an entrepreneur in Dayton since 2005 and has spent more than twenty years turning business ideas into restaurants, retail interiors and multi-tenant suites. He also owns and operates XO Burger Vibez + Cocktails, so every space is planned around how staff, customers and budgets really behave. He is the author of Mindset Makeover and The Microwave Mentality.
On every project the firm works alongside licensed architects, contractors, trades, building officials and inspectors, and carries the work from planning and permits through inspection and occupancy.
Credentials
- PMI, Fundamentals of Predictive Project Management (2026)
- Columbia University, Construction Project Management (2025)
- Columbia University, Construction Cost Estimating and Cost Control (2025)
- Google, Project Management courses (2024)
- B.S. Applied Entrepreneurship, Grand Canyon University (expected 2027)
Honors
- Black Excellence Entrepreneurial Award, presented by Cargo Express and GA Logistics
- Marquis Who’s Who in America (2022–2023)
- State of Ohio Proclamation (2023)
- State of Ohio Proclamation (2021)
- National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Community
- Author, Mindset Makeover and The Microwave Mentality
- Co-founder, Young Mogul Academy
- Co-founder, Signs of Remembrance
- Member, Dayton Chief’s Advisory Council
How a project runs
The same six stages on every job, whether it is a single storefront or a twenty-suite building.
- Existing conditionsWalk the space, measure, and find what can stay.
- Concept + budgetLayout, finishes, lighting and brand, priced together.
- Plans + permitsDrawings with the architect, plan submittal, permits.
- ConstructionTrades sequenced, purchasing and field decisions handled.
- InspectionsScheduled and passed, corrections resolved on site.
- Opening dayOccupancy, punch list and a working space handed over.
Books by Anthony Thomas
Twenty years of opening businesses taught Anthony that the way you think shapes what you build. He wrote these books for anyone ready to change their mindset and do the work.
Mindset Makeover
Unleashing the Power of Your Thinking for a Fulfilling Life
Anthony’s story of rebuilding his life from scratch, turning a food truck into Taco Street Co., then opening Lux Barber Lounge and XO Burger. A practical guide to shifting your mindset, whatever your circumstances.
Get it on Amazon
The Microwave Mentality
The High Cost of a Fast-Paced Mindset
We want success faster and results instantly, but at what cost? A wake-up call on a culture hooked on speed and shortcuts, and why patience, discipline and process still matter.
Get it on Amazon
Let’s build your next space.
From the first walk-through to opening day, with one team accountable for budget, schedule and the finished space.
Start your project