New York (CNN/Money) - When John Meza and his brother Chris started the Denver-based Meza Construction Company in year 2000, they had to scramble to make the launch work.

Their vision was to build the company from a small base, specializing in paving, preparation of construction sites, and irrigation installation.

The main hurdle to overcome was a lack of capital. The brothers started the business with just $15,000.

Both John, now 36, who has a degree in construction management from Colorado State University and experience as a construction-team supervisor, and Chris, 32, whose background is in real-estate finance and public relations, went into deep financial holes during the first years of operation.

The going was so tough because construction companies pay out big bucks in initial capital expenditures before receivables start rolling in. Even after that, they must invest during the early stages of any new project and then wait to collect their bills. Many of the Meza's contracts involve road building, and their city and municipal clients usually wait 30, 60, as much as 90 days to pay invoices, according to Chris.

"At first, we operated out of my brother's spare bedroom, then, after he moved, out of his new basement," says Chris. "We lease-purchased and rented equipment instead of buying, and didn't draw salaries for the first two years."

As expenses -- in the form of equipment rentals, wages, phone bills, and insurance -- poured in during the first months, the brothers couldn't draw a salary.

John's wife works in public relations, and that helped him muddle through. But bachelor Chris had to make it on his own, doing renovation projects on the side.

They also started taking on high interest debt. "It came to a point where we were using our credit cards," says Chris.

The brothers needed to find reasonable financing. But no bank or other institutional lender would touch them. Fortunately, a family member came to their rescue with a $50,000 loan.

With that, the brothers had the money to continue, but with it came the additional and intense pressure of protecting a relative's investment. "It's really scary," says Chris, "knowing you're responsible for somebody else's money, not just your own."

They needed a godfather in the business, a bigger company to help them out with advice and throw them work until they landed on their feet.

"I received a lead from a friend and we met with an older, well-established company, Interstate Highway Construction, which was bidding on a contract to build the second longest runway in the world, at Denver International Airport," says Chris. "We got along with their management really well and a mentor/protégé relationship developed."

Interstate hired Meza for part of the runway project, which the company worked on for almost two years. The cash flow from that job stabilized the company and enabled the brothers to expand.

Meza now employs as many as 25 people, depending on its contracts, and the brothers expect it to grow steadily. "Our projections are to be a $4 million company in 2004, $6 million in 2005, and $9 million by 2006," says Chris. "We're thrilled with what we have achieved so far."

Most of the jobs they bid on come in at between $150,000 to $1.25 million.

One benefit of their hard-won success is that they now can afford to pay themselves. "And if we have any extra money, we invest it in the business," says Chris.

They also can now afford to buy most of their new heavy equipment, which works out to be cheaper in the long run. They're bidding on jobs outside the Denver area and expanding into different types of construction. Meza has recently teamed with a company called Big R, which manufactures steel bridges that Meza then installs.

This success has not made the brothers cocky. The salaries each draw are modest, about $45,000 a year, and they maintain low-keyed lifestyles. Chris lives in the Commons Park area of Denver, a former train yard in an industrial neighborhood. Like Meza Construction, it's up-and-coming.