In this episode of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Joe Cerrone, owner of Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, to explore what it really takes to scale a second-generation trades business. Tune in as they share lessons in leadership, hiring, delegation, software systems, and how to grow a company that can thrive without your constant presence.
Learn more about Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning and their work across the Capital Region on their website https://cerroneplumbinghvac.com/.
Check out our new Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! www.patreon.com/c/BlueCollarStartUp
0:00 Host Introduction: Mike Nelson and Derek Foster
0:29 What’s New with Daigle Cleaning Systems
1:25 Business Growth and Constant Change
2:13 Remembering a Mentor and Working Until the End
3:00 Sponsor Acknowledgments
3:39 Guest Introduction: Joe Cerrone
4:15 From CrossFit to Career Growth
5:00 Taking Over a 40-Year Family Business
5:24 Early Days: One Van, Three People
6:01 From Installer to Owner: Learning Every Role
7:01 Building the Second Van and the Fear of Scaling
8:22 The Cost of Growth and 24-Hour Service
9:58 Hiring and Delegation Challenges
11:02 Learning When to Add Office Staff
12:18 Moving from Storage Units to Office Ownership
13:17 Balancing Liabilities vs. Revenue Growth
15:08 Learning to Delegate and Manage a Team
17:05 Training from Scratch and Building Loyalty
20:15 Investing in the Right Software Systems
23:33 Transitioning to New Management Tools
25:40 Staying Organized and Prioritizing Tasks
28:34 Working On the Business, Not In It
30:36 Recruiting and Growing the Next Generation
33:36 Keys to Scaling: Patience and Organization
36:07 Looking Ahead: Expansion into Saratoga Region
38:09 Patreon Launch Announcement
39:23 Episode Wrap-Up and Sponsor Thanks
40:05 Closing Remarks
