The Successful Contractor Podcast

David Wilson is a technician for Baker Brothers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In each of the last three years, David has sold over $6+MM in residential HVAC equipment! David closes over 90% of his demand calls and 70% of flipped leads. Those are stunning numbers for a technician who still works with his tools, sweating it out in attics. In this interview, you will get David’s entire sales process—from the moment he’s dispatched to a call to how he leaves a home. Plus, David shares his insights on training, how he stays motivated, and what new techs should be doing to perform at a high level. In particular, David reveals some eye-opening strategies on how he obliterates objections on price, preferred equipment, home warranty, and other bids. If you’re an HVAC sales professional, you MUST watch this. If you’re in home services, this is MUST-watch. Rarely do you get the opportunity to learn from someone who’s consistently performed at such an exceptional level. Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Shubee. Keeping your client’s floors clean can be a hassle. But it doesn’t have to be when you use ShuBee’s high-quality shoe covers and surface protection products on every job. Our products are specifically designed to showcase your professionalism at a minimal cost per job. Made from strong, durable materials that won't rip or tear, our products ensure maximum protection. We know that your time is valuable, and that's why we make it our mission to provide you with the tools you need to get the job done quickly and efficiently. So why wait? Try ShuBee today and experience the difference for yourself! Visit www dot shubee dot com to check out some of our great products and use code SC10 to get 10% off all ShuBee products. Trane & American Standard. The Trane and American Standard Diagnostics Mobile Apps are a technician support tool with many features to help technicians better install and service systems in communicating and 24-volt applications. When installing Trane and American Standard Link equipment, our latest communicating technology, technicians can connect to the equipment via Bluetooth through the Trane or American Standard Diagnostics Mobile App while on the jobsite. Once connected, technicians have access to a dashboard of features, including real-time sensor readings, fault conditions, the ability to view or change system settings, automatic charging, and more without standing at the thermostat. Through the Diagnostics Mobile App technicians can easily configure or diagnose a Trane or American Standard Link system from the palm of their hand. For 24 volt applications the Diagnostics Mobile App guides the technician through the installation for select 24 volt equipment; providing wiring diagrams, dip switch configurations, and downloadable PDF installation reports. Technicians can access customer’s Diagnostics data, see active system alerts, remotely connect to select smart thermostats, access a refrigerant calculator, and search Trane/American Standard Residential product literature. This is one tool all your technicians should have. Trane and American Standard Diagnostics Mobile Apps are available for download in the Google Play™ store or App Store®. Reece. Reece is a leading supplier for Pros in the Plumbing, HVAC, Waterworks,...

Episode Show Notes / Description Patrick Riley found himself frustrated. His company Riley Heating & Cooling in the little, 200-person town of Lucas, IA, had been in business since 2007. No matter what he did, Patrick couldn’t push the company past the $700K revenue mark. That’s not all that bothered him… Patrick longed to provide his team with the proper benefits he knew they deserved. Patrick joined CertainPath roughly 18 months ago looking for answers, and he’s found them. In a short period of time, Patrick has worked hard on his business. Riley Heating & Cooling finally shattered the $700K glass ceiling, finishing 2022 at $1MM in sales and 2023 at $1.3MM in sales. Even better, the company went from barely making a profit to an impressive 17%. What has Patrick done with that additional money? Invest it in the company with a second location and new vehicles… and he’s also accomplished his big goal of providing health insurance, a 401K, and profit sharing with his people. Patrick also takes the team on outings and cooks them a homestyle breakfast that puts Cracker Barrel to shame every Wednesday morning. Business is good, and life is good for Patrick and Riley Heating & Cooling. How did Patrick turn his business around so quickly? A lot of training, working with his coach, and putting in the hours to implement. For the full story, you’ll have to watch/listen. Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Zoeller. Zoeller Pump Company’s Aquanot® Fit 508 battery backup system offers an economical option for homeowners in need of dependable protection from basement flooding. The Aquanot® Fit 508 DC backup pump works alongside a Zoeller submersible pump to provide up to 6 hours of continuous, high-performance pumping when the primary pump either can’t keep up, or power is interrupted. What really sets the Aquanot® Fit apart from any other system is its free connectivity with the Z Control® Cloud, allowing users to receive alerts and remotely connect to the system to test, silence, and configure. For more info on the Aquanot Fit AND to hear about Zoeller’s Dry Basement Guarantee, visit zoellerpumps.com. Redesign. Feeling overwhelmed by the ever-changing world of digital marketing? Redesign.co is here to simplify it for you. We focus on what matters: getting your business seen online. With our expertise in effective digital marketing solutions like Google Paid Ads and local SEO, we help your services get the attention they deserve. No jargon, no over-the-top promises, just solid strategies to boost your online presence. Let's team up and give your business the online boost it needs! Reach out to partner with Redesign.co and stand out to potential customers when and where they are looking. HD Supply. At HD Supply, our job is helping you do yours. We are uniquely positioned to help drive your business through unrivaled access to professional-grade Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC products and innovative business solutions such as our Stockwise Inventory Management program fully customizable to meet your needs and improve productivity. Our national network of distribution centers and more than 2200 store locations provide national reach with a local focus, providing unmatched convenience and product availability. We Power Pros to Do...

Drain Cleaning and mainline sewer replacements are lucrative businesses when you understand how to structure the pricing and have a strong selling system. It provides a critical service to customers, can generate massive profits, and creates exceptional earning potential for technicians—and they don’t need licensing. However, technicians and contractors do need training, which is why CertainPath developed “Fundamentals of Drain Cleaning.” It’s a two-day technical and sales training course offered at CertainPath member’s facility, Deluxe Plumbing & Heating in Bethlehem, PA… In this interview, we talk with Missy Jones who helped build this course with Deluxe’s owner & CertainPath member, Larry Shoemaker, over more than 12 months. Missy shares a wealth of insight over this interview, giving you an inside look into the course—and the type of training you should be doing with your team. And you’ll gain some insights into how you should be communicating with homeowners, so they hire you for their drain cleaning and mainline sewer replacement jobs. Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Shubee. Keeping your client’s floors clean can be a hassle. But it doesn’t have to be when you use ShuBee’s high-quality shoe covers and surface protection products on every job. Our products are specifically designed to showcase your professionalism at a minimal cost per job. Made from strong, durable materials that won't rip or tear, our products ensure maximum protection. We know that your time is valuable, and that's why we make it our mission to provide you with the tools you need to get the job done quickly and efficiently. So why wait? Try ShuBee today and experience the difference for yourself! Visit www dot shubee dot com to check out some of our great products and use code SC10 to get 10% off all ShuBee products. PremierOne. PremierOne's hi-output germicidal UV is the scientifically correct solution to indoor air quality problems used by hospitals and food manufacturing facilities world-wide. We offer a complete solution to all three phases of indoor air pollution. Produced in North America, our products have a 99.9% sucess rate due to live testing. Each unit goes through a rigorous testing procedure during the manufacturing process. CertainPath members earn a generous rebate when PremierOne products are purchased ONLY from authorized CertainPath distribution partners (HD Supply, Ferguson, Winsupply, Baker, R.E. Michel, and Wolseley). This allows you to double-dip the rebates too! For more information, contact Mark Mariucci at (800) 982-1840 or go to www.premieroneproducts.com. Bradford White. Bradford White is “For the Professional” which is why they developed a For the Pro® mobile app with resources and tools at your fingertips! The contractor app is loaded with a variety of information and features to support the professional service and installation of Bradford White products. With the For the Pro® app, users can scan a Bradford White product barcode and quickly check warranty status while also having access to all related documents including I/O manuals and troubleshooting guides. Contractors can also chat with the Technical Services team within the app or access training videos while on site. The For The Pro® app is available for both iOS and...

Episode Show Notes / Description Luke Strange exudes positivity and passion. It’s no surprise that his two-year-old business, Cool Hand Electric, in Red Oak, TX, has already profitably grown to $1.2MM with two trucks and another soon added. Along with his wife and business partner, Kristen, this young couple has been working hard to put good people and good processes in place. They know that’s what it takes to scale. Luke has an interesting background. He went to work as an electrician for Milestone Home Services during the housing crash. Luke experienced the company’s meteoric rise, despite those economic conditions. He took a short break from the home services industry, but ultimately, Luke was drawn to the opportunity our industry provides. After pitching Kristen the idea, she bought into Luke’s vision and they started Cool Hand Electric. The two have worked diligently together ever since, including joining CertainPath early to help them plot out their pathway to success. In this interview, Luke shares the couple’s journey as a couple and as business owners. He shares insights that have allowed them to enjoy immediate success, including… · Getting their financials and KPIs in place as quickly as possible. · Marketing strategies for a small business in a giant market filled with big advertising budget competitors. · The value of an organizational chart, even for a small business. · How they sell their new club membership program effectively. · Why CertainPath software has been a better choice for them than HouseCall Pro and ServiceTitan. · Getting their inventory management in place so soon and how they did it. · Ensuring your hungry team takes time for their families, rather than working too much and burning out. · Training at least two to three times a week and what that training looks like. · Utilizing all that’s available to him from CertainPath including training, coaching, Expos, TAG, and more. Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Redesign. Feeling overwhelmed by the ever-changing world of digital marketing? Redesign.co is here to simplify it for you. We focus on what matters: getting your business seen online. With our expertise in effective digital marketing solutions like Google Paid Ads and local SEO, we help your services get the attention they deserve. No jargon, no over-the-top promises, just solid strategies to boost your online presence. Let's team up and give your business the online boost it needs! Reach out to partner with Redesign.co and stand out to potential customers when and where they are looking. Synchrony – Ever wonder how to calculate your true cost of financing and how to fit the price of financing into your business and pricing for products and services? In Synchrony’s new and improved Toolbox website you can easily calculate your Cost of Credit, view educational videos and learn more about Synchrony’s digital tools. Simply to go synchronybusiness.com/toolbox to explore and learn more. Reece. Reece is a leading supplier for Pros in the Plumbing, HVAC, Waterworks, and Bath and Kitchen industries. For over 100 years, Reece has been committed to helping Pros like you build your business by providing access to top-quality products backed by the resources, service, and support of product...

There’s an exciting group of young contractors making their names in our industry, and Thomas Munn is certainly one of them. He started his plumbing company, Full Spectrum Plumbing, in 2018. The Rock Hill, SC, contractor didn’t take an unplanned leap into entrepreneurship; instead, Thomas planned for years, seeking out information everywhere. Eventually Thomas found the pathway he’d been searching for when he joined CertainPath. Full Spectrum Plumbing started with zero dollars in 2018. Last year, it finished 2023 at $2.1MM in sales with four trucks. Thomas believes they can grow to seven trucks and $2.6MM in sales by the end of 2024. Most impressive, Full Spectrum Plumbing has always been 18-23% net profitable. Thomas’ success speaks for itself, but it’s his willingness to evolve that’s even more compelling. In this interview, Thomas outlines all he’s changed to Full Spectrum Plumbing since joining CertainPath in late 2022, including… · Learning early on the value of 5-Star Google reviews and how they impact SEO when initially looking for calls as a start-up. · Quickly changing his financials to match the CertainPath model and holding his bookkeepers accountable to following it. · Adopting the StraightForward Pricing guide, even though his techs still use a CRM, to differentiate from competitors. · Training his technicians to slow down, create options, and build value. · Taking a comprehensive and creative approach to his marketing by utilizing a variety of mediums from digital to guerilla to highly strategic and creative print campaigns. · Understanding the value of hiring carefully and growing your own plumbers. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Zoeller. Zoeller Pump Company’s Aquanot® Fit 508 battery backup system offers an economical option for homeowners in need of dependable protection from basement flooding. The Aquanot® Fit 508 DC sump pump works alongside Zoeller submersible or pedestal pumps to provide up to 6 hours of continuous high-performance pumping when the primary pump either can’t keep up, or power is interrupted. What really sets the Aquanot® Fit apart from any other system is its free connectivity with the Z Control® Cloud, allowing users to receive alerts and remotely connect to the system to test, silence, and configure. For more info on the Aquanot Fit and other water and wastewater solutions, visit zoellerpumps.com. PulseM & Customer Lobby. As a valued CertainPath member, you're well aware that the recipe for success lies in the relationships you cultivate with your customers. We understand that nurturing these relationships can be a demanding task, especially when you're immersed in the day-to-day operations of running a business – it can even become draining. But, fear not! pulseM and Customer Lobby are here to save the day. After seamlessly integrating pulseM's industry leading reputation management capabilities with Customer Lobby's robust retention platform, you won’t know how you lived without them before! Whether you're focused on gathering online reviews or orchestrating targeted and timely postcards, emails, and text messages, pulseM and Customer Lobby come together to make the process of creating value at every customer touchpoint effortless. We've played a key role...

The contracting industry is an interesting place these days if you’re in the social media world. The bro culture is here. It’s filled with silver-tongued “gurus” driving exotic cars and taking private jets. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying success, but it gives others the wrong impression. It celebrates the individual when it takes so much more than ONE person to build a big, profitable company. Service to others is the secret to long-term success in home services. In this show, CertainPath’s Director of Training Brandon Marshall sat down to discuss why the very best contracting companies, those who steadily and profitably grow year after year, do so thanks to their cultures rooted in trust. But how do you build that trust? How do you build that culture? Those questions are answered, and Brandon also shares insight like: · The TWO interview questions you must ask every time. · When’s the right time to fire a team member. · Without recognition, you’ll never get your people’s very best. · How to engage with your employees that will immediately build loyalty. · What ONE tweak in how you treat your team can increase production 200%. · How to be vulnerable—and why it’s important—while also holding others accountable. · Why you should change the way you look at mistakes. · Why you should never be the smarted or most talented person in your company. · And so much more. Pricing matters. Operations matters. Sales matters. Marketing matters. But they’re job functions. Behind each of those departments is people. People who need to be led and grown. It’s those people who will allow you to build your business stronger—but only if you provide the right culture, one founded on trust. Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: ShuBee. Avoid costly clean ups on the job site with ShuBee’s high-quality shoe covers, gloves, coveralls, and surface protection products. ShuBee products are specifically designed for home service professionals to keep your work environment clean and showcase your professionalism. Made from strong, durable materials that won't rip or tear, our products ensure maximum protection. We know that your time is valuable, and that's why we make it our mission to provide you with the tools you need to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Keeping your client’s homes and floors clean can be a hassle. Try ShuBee today and avoid the hassle. Use code CP10 to get 10% off all ShuBee products. Visit shubee.com, that's s-h-u-b-e-e.com, to check out our great products. Goodman. There is a good reason that Goodman® is one of the biggest names in cooling, heating, and energy-efficient home comfort. The brand has been around for over four decades, continues to produce one of the best values for high-quality HVAC equipment in the industry, and is easy to sell, install and maintain. Goodman’s continuous efforts have helped contribute to the success of many HVAC contractors, like you. Goodman produces a complete line of residential ducted split systems and packaged units. The company’s product line is supported by numerous technology enhancements, including the award-winning AlumaFin7™ evaporator coil. This evaporator coil provides an efficient option for installations in space-constrained homes. The drain pan and cabinet...

“Coach Aaron” Behunin works with CertainPath contractors on improving their businesses when he’s not traveling the country, training electricians on the advanced communications and sales strategies required to deliver a 5-star residential electrical service call every time. Coach Aaron’s understanding of that process is rooted in his nearly 20 years in residential electrical service, as a Master Electrician and high revenue producing one, as well. He’s been implementing and perfecting the CertainPath system for his entire career. Today, his training is in high-demand, and every class sells out. In this show, Aaron will share advanced sales tips and strategies residential electricians can immediately implement to put homeowners at ease, better educate them, and ultimately generate more revenue. Among the topics Aaron covers is how to… Plus, Aaron shares how the trades saved his life; why training must become a part of your company culture; how to actually make training fun; and why you should stop role-playing and instead do skills practice… (Because it’s easy, and I like it!) Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: PulseM & Customer Lobby. As a valued CertainPath member, you're well aware that the recipe for success lies in the relationships you cultivate with your customers. We understand that nurturing these relationships can be a demanding task, especially when you're immersed in the day-to-day operations of running a business – it can even become draining. But, fear not! pulseM and Customer Lobby are here to save the day. After seamlessly integrating pulseM's industry leading reputation management capabilities with Customer Lobby's robust retention platform, you won’t know how you lived without them before! Whether you're focused on gathering online reviews or orchestrating targeted and timely postcards, emails, and text messages, pulseM and Customer Lobby come together to make the process of creating value at every customer touchpoint effortless. We've played a key role in helping countless CertainPath members, just like you, not only snag business but keep it for the long haul. If you're ready to build relationships that turn your customers into your biggest fans, ensuring they come back time and time again, pulseM and Customer Lobby are the secret weapons you've been waiting for. Discover our platform's capabilities with a free demo here: https://get.pulsem.me/pm-plus-certainpath. Start enhancing your customer relationships today! Redesign. Feeling overwhelmed by the ever-changing world of digital marketing? Redesign.co is here to simplify it for you. We focus on what matters: getting your business seen online. With our expertise in effective digital marketing solutions like Google Paid Ads and local SEO, we help your services get the attention they deserve. No jargon, no over-the-top promises, just solid strategies to boost your online presence. Let's team up and give your business the online boost it needs! Reach out to partner with Redesign.co and stand out to potential customers when and where they are looking. Synchrony. Ever wonder how to calculate your true cost of financing and how to fit the price of financing into your business and pricing for products and services? In Synchrony’s new and improved Toolbox website...

Estee Jaacovi has spent more than 16 years in the HVAC world, filling numerous different roles. It’s in sales where she shined, having been a 3x HVAC Sales Crown Champion. Today, Estee is a coach for CertainPath and a trainer to hundreds of multi-million-dollar producers, including some of the highest performers in the industry today. In this show, Estee shares insights on how senior service technicians should conduct service calls. She emphasizes the importance of mental and physical preparation, making a good first impression, and building rapport with homeowners. Techniques like using a value statement, observing body language, and adapting communication styles are discussed to ease homeowner concerns and build trust. The conversation covers walking homeowners through pricing, educating them on system performance, and using visual evidence from the system for informed decisions. Estee talks about how to offer multiple repair and replacement options, use tools like the True Cost Calculator, and involve homeowners in the Comfort Survey and heat load calculations for transparency. She also talks about the psychology of presenting options, handling objections, creating urgency, and the importance of ongoing training for technicians. The goal is to ensure a professional, empathetic service visit that educates and guides homeowners through decision-making regarding their HVAC systems. Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Amana. Amana® brand is a premium brand from Daikin, the world’s #1 indoor comfort solutions company with over 20,000 employees in just North America! Originating eight decades ago, the Amana brand is synonymous with long-lasting, premium-quality products. Chances are, you and generations before you have enjoyed the dependable performance and longevity that the Amana brand continues to deliver. Today, Amana brand systems, like the new S-Series side discharge system with inverter technology, are manufactured with high-quality materials and innovative technologies. The unique design and excellent energy-efficient performance of the S-Series is a fraction of the size of other Amana brand systems. Because of its slim design, it is easy to transport and install. The Amana brand S-series system is available in AC, heat pump, and dual fuel configurations. Every Amana brand indoor comfort product is built to our highest standards. The S-series is no different. Take comfort with its 10-year parts and Lifetime Unit Replacement limited warranties*. For more information on the Amana S-Series, “Follow” the Amana brand on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. PremierOne. PremierOne's hi-output germicidal UV is the scientifically correct solution to indoor air quality problems used by hospitals and food manufacturing facilities world-wide. We offer a complete solution to all three phases of indoor air pollution. Produced in North America, our products have a 99.9% sucess rate due to live testing. Each unit goes through a rigorous testing procedure during the manufacturing process. CertainPath members earn a generous rebate when PremierOne products are purchased ONLY from authorized CertainPath distribution partners (HD Supply, Ferguson, Winsupply, Baker, R.E. Michel, and Wolseley). This allows you to double-dip the rebates too!...

Bill Witty grew up knowing he wanted more out of life. He started as a maintenance man right out of school; rather than play on the weekends, Bill would flip houses. A friend told him about the earning potential as an electrician. He took a pay cut and leapt at an opportunity to be an apprentice at Milestone Home Services. After seven years, Bill earned his masters license and started his entrepreneurial journey by opening W3 Electric in 2019. (The W3 stands for his triple win he learned from Milestone, which is rooted in CertainPath philosophy.) Despite a pandemic and slew of challenges that come with launching a new company, Bill has responded positively. He joined CertainPath not long after opening at the advice of his former boss, Milestone’s Gus Antos. With some guidance and the right mindset, Bill has grown W3 Electric from a one-man company to a seven-truck operation generating $2.2MM in sales. That’s quick growth in only 3.5 years. Even better, Bill has the team and many of the foundational systems and procedures in place to enjoy rapid growth. In this interview, Bill talks about his business journey, including: · How training doesn’t have to be complicated for a small business. · Why having the right mindset is so very important for owners and your employees. · When the right time to start a club membership program with electrical. · How to make your electrical safety inspections a memorable experience. · Why debriefs after every service call is so very important. · When the right time is to pull yourself out of the truck as the owner. · What personality traits to look for when interviewing people. · How Bill has reduced call backs by training and training some more on presenting diagnostics. · What his marketing approach is, given he’s in a market with so many massive contractors with deep pockets. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Synchrony – Ever wonder how to calculate your true cost of financing and how to fit the price of financing into your business and pricing for products and services? In Synchrony’s new and improved Toolbox website you can easily calculate your Cost of Credit, view educational videos and learn more about Synchrony’s digital tools. Simply to go toolbox.syf.com to explore and learn more. Dynamic Air Quality Solutions - Since 1982, Dynamic has been the leader in designing, manufacturing, and distributing IAQ products to the commercial and residential markets through authorized HVAC contractors. CertainPath members receive the exclusive value add Clean Air Defense System private label to drive your brand in the market you serve. Our commitment starts with support. We provide you with World Class Industry Leading technical and communications training, face to face and online. Become a Clean Air Defense System Indoor Air Quality partner and dominate your market! Visit CleanAirDefenseSystem.com for more information. Amana. Amana® brand is a premium brand from Daikin, the world’s #1 indoor comfort solutions company with over 20,000 employees in just North America! Originating eight decades ago, the Amana brand is synonymous with long-lasting, premium-quality products. Chances are, you and generations before you have enjoyed the dependable performance and longevity that the Amana brand...

A year ago, Joe Martel found himself in a rut. His company, Advanced Air Conditioning and Heating in Cedar Park, TX, was doing well, but Joe knew it could be doing better. Personally, he was feeling unfulfilled, as well. He called his CertainPath coach to leave the organization. That one, simple conversation changed the trajectory of the business and rekindled Joe’s personal ambition. During this interview, Joe will share the details of that conversation. And he will explain the incredible changes he made to Advanced Air Conditioning and Heating over the next eight months. It spurred tremendous growth. Sales jumped from $1.6MM to (at the time of this interview) a projected $2.4MM+, and profits jumped from 8% to 13%. Over the course of this interview, Joe talks about… · How a rebrand, including truck wraps, has stimulated calls. · What his new mindset is when approaching the business. · How his focus on gross margin has helped stimulate his top and bottom line growth · Why training is so important to his company. · How often he meets with his CertainPath coach and why. · How he’s attracting top talent from outside the industry. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Dynamic Air Quality Solutions - Since 1982, Dynamic has been the leader in designing, manufacturing, and distributing IAQ products to the commercial and residential markets through authorized HVAC contractors. CertainPath members receive the exclusive value add Clean Air Defense System private label to drive your brand in the market you serve. Our commitment starts with support. We provide you with World Class Industry Leading technical and communications training, face to face and online. Become a Clean Air Defense System Indoor Air Quality partner and dominate your market! Visit CleanAirDefenseSystem.com for more information. Synchrony – Ever wonder how to calculate your true cost of financing and how to fit the price of financing into your business and pricing for products and services? In Synchrony’s new and improved Toolbox website you can easily calculate your Cost of Credit, view educational videos and learn more about Synchrony’s digital tools. Simply to go toolbox.syf.com to explore and learn more. Minuteman Press-Des Peres. Minuteman Press-Des Peres is your preferred print, marketing, and direct mail service provider, helping CertainPath members grow their business since 2001. Through their knowledge and experience with the programs, you will receive a fast turnaround and satisfaction guarantee on price guides, inspection forms, club materials and much more. In addition to specializing in your proprietary tools, Minuteman Press-Des Peres also provides custom design services, templates, and a wide range of promotional items to help you market your residential business. Like you, they are committed to your success! Minuteman Press-Des Peres is the ONLY Minuteman location affiliated with the CertainPath Partner network, providing member rebates & discounts. Contact Denise today for more information at 877-203-4769, ext 301.

Gus Antos is the owner of Milestone, a residential home services company that specializes in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. He also owns or partners in several other residential service companies. In total, all the operations exceed $150MM in revenue. (He started with CertainPath in 2004 with revenues less than $500K and deep in financial distress.) Today, he’s a member-leader within the organization. Milestone is having another incredible year in 2023; however, it’s not been one without immense challenges. Plumbing and electrical continue to grow at 25%; yet, HVAC has only grown 5%. In this interview, Gus shares how his leadership team and he have navigated a turbulent year to again grow and do so at great profitability. Gus also shared his insights on many critical topics facing our industry today, including… · What to do when demand calls cut way back. · The one marketing sin contractors make. · How Milestone has forced itself to deliver even better service. · What changes Milestone has made with its managers to generate more revenue with less calls. · Why contractors should be reviewing their compensation plans. · The importance of quickly shifting your objectives in turbulent times. · The 3 things all contractors should consider when looking to acquire a competitor in today’s environment. · Why Milestone is considering expanding service hours and days. · The ONE hire you should make as a $2-3MM owner/operator trying to find more time in your day. · The 3 questions you must ask yourself if you want to grow from $20MM to $40MM quickly. · Why being a part of a group like CertainPath is more important than ever. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Yellowstone Local. Are you a home service company struggling to find experienced employees to hire? Then you need to schedule a meeting with Yellowstone Local, the undisputed leader in helping home service companies build high performing teams. Yellowstone Local doesn't just fill open positions; they shift your entire recruiting paradigm. Changing your brand into a magnet for amazing people and helping you hire people that embody your vision, your drive, and your commitment to excellence. With an intentionally extensive approach, you’ll have a partner that builds and executes the entire process for you, saving you time and money while getting the best results. So in an industry where your product is your people, don’t settle for less where it matters most. Visit Yellowstonelocal.com today and experience a different way to hire. For more information, contact Warren Lentz at (512) 962-2638 or warren@yellowstonelocal.com. GOODMAN. Have you heard? Goodman has turned HVAC on its side. At first glance, the new Goodman SD Inverter Heating and Cooling System for ducted homes looks very different than your traditional system. But at 53% lighter and 40% smaller than a traditional cube style unit, it’s easy to transport and is designed to optimize space, comfort, and performance. The Goodman GTST connected thermostat provides the ultimate inverter experience when installed as part of a Goodman SD inverter system. The Goodman’s GTST thermostat has a compact, non-intrusive design featuring voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Goodman remains focused on providing...

Jimmie Dale is the president of Baker Brothers, a residential home services company that specializes in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. Baker Brothers is one of the largest home services companies in the DFW area and the country with sales approximately $93MM. (He started with CertainPath in 2008 with revenues around $3MM.) Today, he’s a member-leader within the organization. In 2022, Baker Brothers had a resoundingly successful year. Both its top and bottom lines grew an impressive 35%. When the calendar turned to January of 2023, the phones went silent, like many other companies across the country. In this interview, Jimmie talks about how he navigated Baker Brothers through this tough beginning to have another record year. Jimmie also shared his insights on many critical topics facing our industry today, including… · What he said to his entire company in January to rally and motivate his team. · Why he increased prices even with a slower start. · What adjustments he made to his marketing strategy to get the phones ringing. · How he is changing his TV advertising strategy in 2024 because of the economy. · What critical branding strategies companies often mess up. · The two critical actions business owners must do when facing challenging times. · What operational adjustments in he made in 2023 to have another stellar year. · How Baker Brothers is using AI in its business—and how it will evolve over time. · What contractors must do to grow from $3MM to $10MM to $20MM to $100MM and more. · The one action all small contractors must take if they want to get out of the grind of doing everything themselves. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: CleanEffects. CleanEffects is Trane’s premier solution to deliver cleaner air to the entire house by removing up to 99.98% of airborne particles that pass through the reusable filter including 99.9% of Influenza A (H1N1) virus. Restricted air flow through a clogged filter forces your system to work harder, reducing its lifespan. Trane CleanEffects uses a powerful, patented ifD corona field to charge incoming air, causing particles to adhere to the CleanEffects collection cells as air passes through. Since your furnace or air handler isn’t struggling to work against a clogged filter, clean air flows freely. The Trane CleanEffects collection element is ground-breaking. Each layer is only 0.08 inches apart, with alternating charges, which makes for a stronger, more effective collection field. What is more, the Trane CleanEffects element has eight times the collection surface (over fifty sq.ft.) of a standard electronic air cleaner, so it is vastly more efficient at providing clean air throughout your home. For more information, visit the CertainPath Member HUB or contact Trane’s Devoe Ward at StrategicAccounts@tranetechnologies.com or (469) 346-1776. And for more information on Trane, visit www.trane.com. pulseM & Customer Lobby. Successful CertainPath members like you know the value of thinking like a customer. We’ve got the tools to help you do just that. Enter pulseM Plus, combining the power of pulseM and Customer Lobby to enhance your customer journey by creating value at every touchpoint—we’ve helped hundreds of CertainPath members like you win and retain more business. pulseM Plus...

Brown’s Plumbing & Heating in Steinbach, Manitoba, is a family business. Chad Brown’s grandfather started it in 1974, and his dad owned and operated it for much of its history. A caricature of his image adores the sides of their vans. Chad and his wife purchased the company five years ago with the goal of continuing the legacy, and he’s done a strong job thus far. Since joining CertainPath, sales have roughly doubled, as the company is approaching $3MM in revenue. In a small service area of only 30,000 or so, Brown’s Plumbing & Heating has over 3,2000 Google reviews with an average rating of 4.8. Chad’s clearly been busy implementing a multitude of systems and procedures. The most important changes he's made have been to how the company recruits, onboards, and trains. Chad is a people person, a strong communicator. He learned early that to have a successful service company, he must be surrounded by service-oriented people. He’s done a great job of doing that. As a result, Brown’s Plumbing & Heating has been thriving—and its future is even brighter. In this interview, Chad talks in-depth about the family business, including how they… · Strategically plan monthly with his leadership team to keep the business looking and moving forward. · Avoid wasting techs’ time by the call center always verifying homeowners will be present the next day. · Keep their callboards full during typical slow seasons thanks to their club membership program and regular outbounding. · Utilize an inside salesperson to do much of the outbounding calls on unsold opportunities. · Implement regular training, including relying on outside resources to help strengthen their technicians’ skills. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Rinnai. Rinnai is the number one selling brand of tankless water heaters in North America and the first major tankless manufacturer to produce products right here in the USA, at their new state of the art facility in Griffin, Georgia. Long known for quality and innovation, Rinna makes the most energy efficient and long-lasting water heaters available, with an average life expectancy of 20 years and annual energy savings of up to 40% when compared to standard tanks. For more information about Rinnai and their latest tankless water heaters that feature Smart-Circ Intelligent Recirculation, go to rinnai.us and learn more. Dynamic Air Quality Solutions - Since 1982, Dynamic has been the leader in designing, manufacturing, and distributing IAQ products to the commercial and residential markets through authorized HVAC contractors. CertainPath members receive the exclusive value add Clean Air Defense System private label to drive your brand in the market you serve. Our commitment starts with support. We provide you with World Class Industry Leading technical and communications training, face to face and online. Become a Clean Air Defense System Indoor Air Quality partner and dominate your market! Visit CleanAirDefenseSystem.com for more information. Minuteman Press-Des Peres. Minuteman Press-Des Peres is your preferred print, marketing, and direct mail service provider, helping CertainPath members grow their business since 2001. Through their knowledge and experience with the programs, you will receive a fast turnaround and satisfaction...

Adam Vaillancourt Roofing & Construction is one of the largest roofing contractors in the Northeast (if not the US) with revenues surpassing $22M annually. The operation has steadily grown 15% annually the last three years. The journey hasn’t always been easy. Adam started the business when he was only 29 years old with a rusty pickup truck and $3,000. Adam’s commitment to excellent service allowed the company to grow faster than he ever wanted. By 2015, Adam Vaillancourt Roofing & Construction was $5.3MM, but Adam was miserable. The company was profitable, but it was disjointed. Adam felt the pressure of the world on his shoulders. Looking for help, he found CertainPath. It proved to be one of several launching pads for this savvy contractor. In this interview, Adam Vaillancourt and his General Manager Scott Knuckles sit down to discuss their journeys in the trades. But then, they reveal countless insights into how they’ve profitably grown the business from $5.3MM to more than $22MM. They explain how they… · Built their superstar team of managers and leaders in the company. · Created a multi-faceted marketing approach that’s kept the company loaded with leads, while many other contractors have struggled. · Utilize one marketing strategy that increased leads 269%! · Carefully determine which salespeople receive what leads. · Crafted a highly successful repair division that receives outstanding reviews. · Only hire people that match their core values. · Identify people with the right traits and skills who will turn into incredible roofing salespeople. · Onboard and train weekly with all their employees with a simple goal of everyone working to get better. · Drastically reduced attrition in the business. · Cultivated a company culture that accepts and expects people to make mistakes—and then learn from them. · Regularly earn a 90+% Net Promoter Score, and they share how you can do the same! · Relentlessly focus on every touchpoint the company has with its customers—and how to make that touchpoint an even better experience. · Built compensation plans that heavily reward performance for every position in the company, including their sub crews. · Added one critical position to the company that eliminates at least $120,000 in materials waste and helps create an outstanding customer service experience. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Yellowstone Local. Are you a home service company struggling to find experienced employees to hire? Then you need to schedule a meeting with Yellowstone Local, the undisputed leader in helping home service companies build high performing teams. Yellowstone Local doesn't just fill open positions; they shift your entire recruiting paradigm. Changing your brand into a magnet for amazing people and helping you hire people that embody your vision, your drive, and your commitment to excellence. With an intentionally extensive approach, you’ll have a partner that builds and executes the entire process for you, saving you time and money while getting the best results. So in an industry where your product is your people, don’t settle for less where it matters most. Visit Yellowstonelocal.com today and experience a different way to hire. For more information, contact Warren Lentz at (512) 962-2638...

Four Seasons KangaRoof in metro Detroit has a remarkable story. More than 10 years ago, founder Bill Burkhardt Sr. started the business with a desire to provide great service. He soon found himself struggling and $250K in debt. Bill Sr. joined CertainPath looking for guidance. Today, he runs the business with his sons Matt and Bill Jr, along with Brian Neaton, and their incredible team. Sales have jumped from $2.5MM and losing money to more than $14MM at a great profit. (And a small percentage of that revenue is insurance work, by the way!) In this interview, Bill Sr., Matt, and Bill Jr share all that’s had to happen to transform and build a highly successful roofing company, including how they… · Utilize the CertainPath residential sales model to work in their commercial business. · Structured Bill Sr’s exit strategy with Matt, Bill Jr, and Brian acquisition process. · Virtually eliminated slowdowns thanks to maintenance agreements, outbound calling, and a comprehensive marketing strategy. · Cultivated an incredible call center to maximize every opportunity. · Approach repair versus replacement opportunities with their core values at heart. · Recruit based on core values fit, rather than technical ability. · Invest years of training into new employees to ensure they do an incredible job. · Utilize a comprehensive performance management system to develop their people. · Built an operational process for re-roofs that drastically reduces callbacks, reduces accounts receivables, and maximizes customer satisfaction. · Improved their Gross Margin 7-10% over the last three years with a new strategic management approach. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information.

Wisler Plumbing & Air serves Rocky Mount, VA, a small community south of Roanoke. Despite its size, Wisler has become an extraordinarily large home services company, thanks to its dedication to exceptional service. In particular, Wisler has built an impressive residential water treatment division; it’s on target to generate $1.7MM in sales. Ashley Keith manages that division. Prior to becoming a manager, she was a technician and then salesperson, selling nearly $700K in residential water treatment equipment herself. In this interview, Ashley explains how the department has become so successful. She shares how Wisler… · Communicates the results of water quality tests so they’re easier to understand. · Educates homeowners on the impact water quality has on all facets of their home and life. · Makes water quality testing mandatory for all its plumbers. · Built a plumbing inspection with several water quality categories that must be completed on every service call. · Has begun training its HVAC technicians to test the water quality on every call. · Informs homeowners on the impact water pressure has on their plumbing systems. · Offers a lifetime warranty on all water treatment systems. · Builds a club membership plan into the sale of new systems to emphasize the importance of maintenance with customers. · Builds water treatment options, which always include a reverse osmosis system. · Explains the incredible benefits of a reverse osmosis system. · Communicates the entire installation process of a water treatment system, so homeowners fully understand what will happen. · Manages their quality control process to ensure customers are happy. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information.

Episode Show Notes / Description Metro Electric can be found just north of Detroit, serving Romeo, MI, and beyond. This contracting company has been growing rapidly. They generate more than $5MM in generators and $1MM in residential service; plus, they have a massive commercial division. It takes plenty of good electricians to provide the exceptional service Metro Electric has become known for. It’s why they developed an in-house apprenticeship program that trains young people in a trade that will serve them for life. It’s just one of the many things Metro Electric does so very well. In this interview with Metro Electric Vice President Kristina Perkins, she details the company’s apprenticeship program. She also shares how they… · Recruit young people and new construction electricians to Metro Electric. · Carefully interview people to find the very best candidates. · Utilize regular training to ensure their team delivers on every opportunity. · Launched a residential club membership program to curb shoulder seasons. · Created a strong company culture through consistent communication and fun! · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Synchrony – Ever wonder how to calculate your true cost of financing and how to fit the price of financing into your business and pricing for products and services? In Synchrony’s new and improved Toolbox website you can easily calculate your Cost of Credit, view educational videos and learn more about Synchrony’s digital tools. Simply to go toolbox.syf.com to explore and learn more. Angi. Angi is one of the largest home services marketplaces that connects qualified service professionals to project-ready homeowners. With over 25 years of experience and a network of more than 250,000 pros, we have helped more than 150 million people with their home needs. For service professionals, we are the source for everything from new customers and revenue streams, to reviews, payments and perks. With homeowners today investing more than ever, countless projects need a pro to take them on. We make the connection. HD Supply. At HD Supply, our job is helping you do yours. We are uniquely positioned to help drive your business through unrivaled access to professional-grade Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC products and innovative business solutions such as our Stockwise Inventory Management program fully customizable to meet your needs and improve productivity. Our national network of distribution centers and more than 2200 store locations provide national reach with a local focus, providing unmatched convenience and product availability. We Power Pros to Do More.

Vredevoogd Plumbing, Heating, & A/C started its membership with CertainPath as a new construction HVAC-only company roughly 11 years ago. Its owners Mike & Tom aspired to hit $1MM in sales. Fast forward to today. Mike and Tom made a lucrative exit from the business, and they turned their family business over to a new leader, Brian Vandestreek, in late 2020. Brian had NO experience in the trades. Yet by the end of 2023, Brian expects Vredevoogd’s sales to double, which would hit $40MM. The company now has four locations with solid leadership in each, ensuring Vredevoogd is poised to take over all of central and western Michigan. In this interview, Brian shares how his leadership team and he have doubled the business in roughly 3 years, including how they: · Revamped their use of data and developed a new set of KPIs they monitor daily. · Understand what changes need to be made within 3 days of a new month. · Carefully and successfully launched plumbing as a new service division. · Refined their call center to maximize every opportunity within their service area. · Expanded their service area by retooling and refocusing their marketing strategy. · Empower their people to make changes and make mistakes, which has allowed the company to flourish. · Retooled their club membership to make it more desirable and a part of their long-term growth plan. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: Goodman. There is a good reason why Goodman® is one of the biggest names in heating, cooling and energy-efficient home comfort. The brand has been around for decades and you’ll probably find one of Goodman’s nationwide distributors in a neighborhood near you. And since Goodman products are designed, engineered and assembled in the USA, you can feel good knowing that one of the best values for high-quality HVAC equipment is available where and when you need it. It’s no wonder homeowners and local contractors say, “Thank goodness for Goodman.® Look for and be sure to “Follow” Goodman on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. HD Supply. At HD Supply, our job is helping you do yours. We are uniquely positioned to help drive your business through unrivaled access to professional-grade Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC products and innovative business solutions such as our Stockwise Inventory Management program fully customizable to meet your needs and improve productivity. Our national network of distribution centers and more than 2200 store locations provide national reach with a local focus, providing unmatched convenience and product availability. We Power Pros to Do More. Synchrony – Ever wonder how to calculate your true cost of financing and how to fit the price of financing into your business and pricing for products and services? In Synchrony’s new and improved Toolbox website you can easily calculate your Cost of Credit, view educational videos and learn more about Synchrony’s digital tools. Simply to go toolbox.syf.com to explore and learn more. Moen. As the #1 faucet brand in North America, Moen offers a diverse selection of thoughtfully designed kitchen, bath, and smart water security products, each delivering the best possible combination of meaningful innovation, useful features, and lasting value. Moen strives to be the...

Mike Robbins is a 5x author, thought leader, and sought-after motivational speaker who teaches people, leaders, and teams to infuse their lives and businesses with authenticity and appreciation. As a leadership expert, he partners with some of the largest companies in the world. And he will be a keynote speaker at your Temecula Expo in October! In this interview, Mike talked about “3 Steps to Creating a Team Culture of High Performance, Trust, & Belonging.” In addition to those core concepts, Mike shared incredible insight throughout this conversation, including how to: · Manage, lead, and learn from younger generations, making them better employees and team members. · Create trust among your people so they can perform at a higher level and make fewer mistakes. · Have hard conversations with struggling team members that are productive and don’t erode confidence. · Strengthen your team during the natural, stressful times when running a contracting company. · Identify leaders from within and outside your company to foster exponential growth. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ Thank you to our sponsors: CleanEffects. CleanEffects is Trane’s premier solution to deliver cleaner air to the entire house by removing up to 99.98% of airborne particles that pass through the reusable filter including 99.9% of Influenza A (H1N1) virus. Restricted air flow through a clogged filter forces your system to work harder, reducing its lifespan. Trane CleanEffects uses a powerful, patented ifD corona field to charge incoming air, causing particles to adhere to the CleanEffects collection cells as air passes through. Since your furnace or air handler isn’t struggling to work against a clogged filter, clean air flows freely. The Trane CleanEffects collection element is ground-breaking. Each layer is only 0.08 inches apart, with alternating charges, which makes for a stronger, more effective collection field. What is more, the Trane CleanEffects element has eight times the collection surface (over fifty sq.ft.) of a standard electronic air cleaner, so it is vastly more efficient at providing clean air throughout your home. For more information, visit the CertainPath Member HUB or contact Trane’s Devoe Ward at StrategicAccounts@tranetechnologies.com or (469) 346-1776. And for more information on Trane, visit www.trane.com. Minuteman Press-Des Peres. Minuteman Press-Des Peres is your preferred print, marketing, and direct mail service provider, helping CertainPath members grow their business since 2001. Through their knowledge and experience with the programs, you will receive a fast turnaround and satisfaction guarantee on price guides, inspection forms, club materials and much more. In addition to specializing in your proprietary tools, Minuteman Press-Des Peres also provides custom design services, templates, and a wide range of promotional items to help you market your residential business. Like you, they are committed to your success! Minuteman Press-Des Peres is the ONLY Minuteman location affiliated with the CertainPath Partner network, providing member rebates & discounts. Contact Denise today for more information at 877-203-4769, ext 301. Redesign.co. Are you finding it hard to make your mark in the competitive digital world? Look no further than...

Too often contractors focus on putting more trucks on the road, rather than generating a strong net profit. The Fox family has a much different outlook on business. Their company, Fox Plumbing Services, is based in Sarasota, FL, and focuses on residential service and remodeling. It’s never had more than three trucks. That’s what founder Amos Fox wanted when he started in 1994. His son, Anthony, and daughter, Debbie, wish to continue that vision. They enjoy knowing their customers and having tight control over the company. They clearly know what they’re doing: Fox Plumbing has enjoyed a NET profit between 30-40% in each of the last THREE years. With sales around $1.5MM, that’s providing the family more money than many 100+ truck operations without that added stress. Throughout this hour-long conversation, Amos and Debbie share their family’s story, along with how they operate Fox Plumbing Services today, including the immense impact CertainPath has made on them. They talk about how they… · Altered their pricing to eliminate the increasing complaints from customers. · Utilizes CertainPath’s software to free up the office to focus on important tasks. · Found the right service fee for their business. · Created a club membership program that supplements their call board when they need. · Adopted new warranties, and how those warranties dramatically increased the productivity of their drain cleaning and sewer business. · Intentionally keeps a tight service area to ensure that 75% of their plumbers’ hours are productive. · And so much more! Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,100+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. Thank you to our sponsors: Home Depot Pro Trades. At The Home Depot Pro Trades, our job is helping you do yours. Powered by HD Supply, we are uniquely positioned to help drive your business through unrivaled access to professional-grade Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC products and innovative business solutions such as our Stockwise Inventory Management program fully customizable to meet your needs and improve productivity. Our national network of distribution centers and more than 2200 store locations provide national reach with a local focus, providing unmatched convenience and product availability. We Power Pros to Do More. Moen. As the #1 faucet brand in North America, Moen offers a diverse selection of thoughtfully designed kitchen, bath, and smart water security products, each delivering the best possible combination of meaningful innovation, useful features, and lasting value. Moen strives to be the most durable, reliable, and easy to install brand of faucets. Moen leans on Pros to help continue to drive consumer innovation needs and influence Moen’s engagement with consumers in a meaningful way. For More information, visit https://plumber.moen.com/ Dynamic Air Quality Solutions - Since 1982, Dynamic has been the leader in designing, manufacturing, and distributing IAQ products to the commercial and residential markets through authorized HVAC contractors. CertainPath members receive the exclusive value add Clean Air Defense System private label to drive your brand in the market you serve. Our commitment starts with support. We provide you with World Class Industry Leading technical and communications training, face to face and online. Become a Clean Air Defense System Indoor Air Quality partner and dominate your market! Visit WorldClassIAQ.com for more information. Goodman. There is a good reason why Goodman® is one of the biggest names in heating, cooling...