In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Caleb Roth, Founder & CEO of Restorative Industries and the soon-to-launch Stain & Seal Experts franchise. Caleb walks you through the real-world journey of scaling a blue-collar service business, integrating products, and systematizing operations so the business no longer needs you. If you’re a trades leader asking, “How do I make my business run without me?” this is your roadmap.
You’ll hear:
- Why Caleb moved from staining fences on weekends to creating his own stain formula.
- How he reverse-engineered his service into a teachable, repeatable system.
- The core values that guide hiring, accountability, and culture.
- What he’s learned about margins, finances, and leadership along the way.
- The emotional challenge many founders face when stepping back and how to overcome it.
Listen in and take notes. This episode is packed with lessons you can apply immediately in your construction or trade business.
Takeaways with Time Stamps
- 2:10 – Caleb’s origin story: starting a side staining business from a fencing background.
- 6:15 – Why he pivoted to making his own stains and how that opened doors.
- 9:30 – The mindset behind vertical integration and controlling quality.
- 13:50 – From six core values down to three. Discovering what truly drives culture.
- 17:45 – How focusing on “values, not behaviors” changed accountability.
- 21:20 – What “Stain & Seal University” is and why it’s more than a conference.
- 22:50 - A surprising lesson many contractors don’t recognize: margin matters.
- 29:00 - The emotional cost when your business no longer needs you and how to navigate it.
- 32:00 – The role of long-term planning when scaling beyond your “do-er” self.
Connect With Caleb:
Website: https://restorativeindustries.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-roth-00450757/
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