Shows
Profit & Grit with TylerGoing Deep, Not Wide, in Home Service Marketing - Dave CarrollMost home service owners think marketing is about getting more leads. Dave Carroll will tell you it’s really about focus, discipline, and doing fewer things better than everyone else.Dave is the founder of Dope Marketing, a software and print platform built for home service businesses that want better jobs, not just more volume. His path wasn’t linear. Dave grew up around drugs and crime, went to prison in his early twenties, and came out with no safety net, no resume, and no margin for error.After prison, Dave started a window cleaning comp...
2025-12-2356 min
Profit & Grit with TylerHow SwiftPro hit 3.4 Million in Nine Months - Tyler GriffinMost home service owners think growth is about getting more leads. Tyler Griffin will tell you growth is really about what breaks next.Tyler is the founder of SwiftPro, a residential HVAC and plumbing company in Northern Virginia that scaled fast in its first year. He didn’t start with a perfectly built operation, a polished brand, or deep industry roots. He started from scratch after a tough private equity experience, with personal capital on the line, no reputation, and no margin for error.Within weeks of launching, SwiftPro was shut down by Google and ef...
2025-12-1653 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe Real Reason Your Hiring Pipeline Is Empty - Kelly Rowlett PresgraveMost home service owners think they have a “people problem.” Kelly Rowlett Presgrave will tell you most of them have a speed, math, and standards problem.Kelly is the founder of Work With Your Handz, a recruiting company that hires everyone from apprentices to the C-suite for home and commercial service companies. She didn’t come out of HR. She spent nearly 30 years married to a second-generation owner who grew a plumbing company from 10 techs to 170 employees, added HVAC and electrical, and eventually exited. From that front-row seat she saw what growth really takes, how much v...
2025-12-0949 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe Pay System Top Home Service Companies Use to Double Revenue - Ryan ShankMost home service owners think their revenue problem comes from not enough leads. Ryan Shank has spent years proving it usually comes from the way technicians are paid, motivated, and measured.As founder of ShareWillow, he’s helped hundreds of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies redesign their pay systems so techs think like owners, reduce callbacks, lift average tickets, and stop leaving money on the table.Ryan built and sold a tech company while getting sober, lived through brutal litigation, and rebuilt himself in a way that made him obsessed with incentives, behavior, and what re...
2025-12-0246 min
Profit & Grit with Tyler8 Steps To Book More, Charge More, Lose Less - Brigham DickinsonMost contractors think they lose jobs on price. Brigham Dickinson has spent decades proving they lose them on connection, tone, and the first sixty seconds of the call. As founder of Power Selling Pros, he’s trained thousands of CSRs and technicians to book more, charge more, and lose less by doing the simple things owners overlook.He built his company from the ground up, weathered personal and financial storms, and learned that people don’t want information first, they want to be understood. Brigham turned that insight into a framework that helps service businesses raise conversion, lift...
2025-11-2546 min
Profit & Grit with TylerHow To Survive a Cash Crunch Without Losing Your Team - Steve CarrollMost contractors think growth just means more trucks, more techs, and more jobs. Steve Carroll knows the real risk is building a big revenue number on a weak foundation. As co-founder and CEO of Kelso Industries, he’s helped turn a near-bankrupt first acquisition into a billion-dollar MEP+ platform by protecting payroll, understanding cash, and building around the right partners instead of quick exits.He started in a small Oregon town, worked with his hands, then climbed the corporate ladder at Walmart, where he helped scale a division from 15 million to 250 million in three years. That season ta...
2025-11-1848 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe Race to the Face No One Talks About - James HatfieldMost contractors think they have a marketing problem. James Hatfield knows it’s usually a speed and trust problem. As president of LiveSwitch, he helps service companies win more jobs by getting face to face faster, qualifying on video, and turning “free estimates” into efficient, high-confidence closes.He grew up blue collar, built a painting and power-washing company, then went to business school to make the numbers plain English. That path, ladders to tech, led him to build tools that help owners sell quicker, train better, and keep more margin.In this episode, James breaks down r...
2025-11-1150 min
Profit & Grit with TylerMost Contractors Price Themselves Broke Without Realizing It - Danielle PutnamMost contractors think they have a sales problem. Danielle Putnam knows it’s usually a pricing problem. As the CEO of The New Flat Rate, Danielle has helped service companies across the U.S., Canada, and Australia add billions in revenue by turning guesswork into systems that sell for you.She grew up in the trades, handing out flyers for her dad’s company at seven years old, and later built a business that changed how contractors price, present, and profit. Her five-option menu system replaces pressure with psychology, helping technicians sell more without ever “selling.”In thi...
2025-11-0445 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe $3 Million Shutdown That Saved My Business - Teddy Slack JrMost contractors think shutting down a division means failure. Teddy Slack Jr. learned it can be the smartest move you ever make. After running a $3 million environmental company that looked successful on paper but was drowning in debt, Teddy made the brutal call to close it. That decision, and the lessons that followed, became the foundation for SimpleTank, a debt-free, fast-growing tank removal company built on discipline, data, and real profit.He shares how chasing top-line revenue nearly cost him everything, why factoring and debt made things worse, and how starting over forced him to focus on...
2025-10-2851 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe Name, the Wrap, the Win - Dan AntonelliMost home service owners think branding is just a logo or wrap, but Dan Antonelli knows it’s the difference between being invisible and unforgettable. Dan started painting signs by hand at fifteen, learning how clarity, color, and layout decide whether someone even notices your business. That passion grew into KickCharge Creative, a 60-person agency that’s built thousands of home service brands across the country.After decades in the industry, Dan has seen what most owners miss—a weak brand quietly taxes every marketing dollar, keeping your booking rate low and your cost per lead hi...
2025-10-2151 min
Profit & Grit with Tyler5 Roadblocks Keeping Home Service Companies Stuck at $3–5M – Patrick LangeMost home service owners chase growth by adding trucks, techs, or new territories. Patrick Lange learned that more isn’t always better, and sometimes growth hides real financial cracks.Patrick started in the pool industry, growing his service company fast before realizing that bigger often meant less profit. Long routes, callbacks, and overhead ate into margins until he sold the business and turned his attention to helping others avoid the same mistakes.Today, as the owner of Business Modification Group, he’s one of the leading brokers for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies, havi...
2025-10-1450 minProfit & Grit with TylerFrom $6M to $40M in HVAC Revenue Without Adding More Markets - Matt PozdaMost home service owners think growth means opening new markets. Matt Pozda proved you can scale to 100 million without adding a single zip code.When he bought Sky HVAC, he thought it was a 50/50 mix of service and new construction. It was 98 percent construction. That painful surprise forced him to rebuild everything from the ground up, separating divisions, learning capacity management, and eventually spinning off construction completely.Today, as CEO of Call Dad HVAC, Matt runs a 40 million dollar business across eight Carolina markets with a goal to reach 100 million in the same footprint. His...
2025-10-0744 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe Pay-for-Performance Model That Attracts A-Players - Mike AndesMost owners think profit comes from endless growth. Mike Andes says profit comes from clarity, knowing your close rates, raising prices with intent, and building systems that work without you.Mike built Augusta Lawn Care into 190+ locations across three countries, all while creating a pay-for-performance model that rewards A-players and keeps crews accountable. After a near-death accident with a PTO shaft, he realized his business couldn’t survive if everything depended on him. That turning point forced him to design systems, create margin, and eventually launch tools like Copilot CRM and P4P Software to help other ho...
2025-09-3042 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe $2.2 Million Lesson Every Home Service Owner Should Hear - Chris LeeMost owners think growth is the prize. Chris Lee says growth without discipline is what bankrupts you.Chris went from six locations in his first year to bankruptcy and $2.2 million in debt. Ten years later, he built Solgen, a solar and roofing company, and sold it for $233 million in just five years. In this episode, he shares how ego nearly cost him everything, why designing a five-year roadmap before hiring is critical, and how charging premium prices actually created loyalty instead of pushback.We get into the hard lessons from running on bank balance accounting...
2025-09-2347 min
Profit & Grit with TylerFrom $800 Short to $12M HVAC Entrepreneur – Katy HigginsHere’s a draft in the exact format you want, using Katy Higgins’ transcript:Most people think HVAC growth is all about marketing. Katy Higgins says it’s about grit, culture, and building around what you know best.Katy went from being a single mom selling furnace tune-ups to launching True Pros in her garage, where she was $800 short of workers comp. In less than two years, she’s pacing $10–12 million in revenue. In this episode, she shares how she overcame bias as the first female comfort advisor in Utah, why she built sales and installs b...
2025-09-1643 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe $1M Revenue Leak: How Chiirp Fixed Home Service Follow-Up - Ryan FennMost home service owners think they have a sales problem. Ryan Fenn says it is a follow-up problem.Ryan went from knocking on doors fixing windshield chips to building a seven-figure online course, then turned that same funnel thinking into Chirp, a lead conversion platform for the trades. In this episode, he walks through the two levers that changed everything for him, speed to lead and consistent follow up, plus how real relationships beat feature lists when you are competing with the big all-in-one systems.We get into the moment Chirp found product market fit...
2025-09-0955 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe HVAC Crisis That Built a $5 Million Business - Jack CarrMost trades business buyers expect a rough start. Jack Carr got a full-on fire drill.He bought an HVAC company across the country, packed up his life, and drove 32 hours, only to find out his entire team had quit. No techs, no support, no HVAC experience. Just a dispatcher, a wrench, and the middle of summer in Tennessee.In this episode of Profit & Grit, Jack shares how he went from scrambling to keep the phones answered and units running, to building a $5M business with a clear plan to hit $20M by 2030. He breaks down...
2025-09-0245 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe Costly Marketing Gap That Goes Beyond the Truck Wrap - Sarah GhirardoMost contractors think of branding as a nice truck wrap or a catchy logo. But what if the real gap costing home service owners millions is invisible to customers and hidden in the numbers?In this episode of Profit & Grit, Sarah Ghirardo, marketing leader at ServiceTitan and former head of marketing at Service Champions, shares how she helped grow a $21M HVAC company into a $55M powerhouse. She explains why marketing without math is the biggest mistake owners make, how personal branding can fuel growth, and what it really takes to stand out in today’s competitive tr...
2025-08-2637 minProfit & Grit with Tyler5 Red Flags That Kill Profits in HVAC and Plumbing - John WilsonClick below to book a complimentary intro meeting and learn how to get control of cash flow in your business while scaling with confidence.How do you take a family plumbing shop from $1M to over $30M in less than a decade?In this episode of Profit & Grit, John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Plumbing & Heating and host of Owned and Operated, shares his raw journey of scaling through acquisitions, fighting through financial chaos, and building a leadership team capable of running a $30M+ operation.You’ll hear how John turned low moments including la...
2025-08-1940 min
Think Business with TylerThank You for 200+ Conversations - Tyler MartinAfter 200+ episodes, I’m hitting pause on Think Business with Tyler. In this solo episode, I share why I made the decision, what I’ve learned from these conversations, and where I’m headed next. If you’ve enjoyed the stories and insights here, I’d love for you to join me on my new show, Profit & Grit, where I dive deep into the real challenges and wins of home service entrepreneurs.
Listen in for a heartfelt thank you and a look at what’s next.
My links:
www.profitandgrit.com
w...
2025-08-0404 min
Profit & Grit with TylerStuck at $1M-$10M? The Free Marketing Hack Home Service Businesses Miss - Michael VenidisAfter a near-death experience being shot and left for dead in a park, Mike Venitas found his superpower in genuine gratitude and turned it into a thriving career helping home service businesses grow and scale.• Marketing strategies differ dramatically based on company size and stage• Businesses under $1 million should focus on building networks and finding "who" rather than figuring out "how"• Companies in the $3-5 million range shouldn't jump immediately to paid advertising• Larger businesses must thoroughly vet marketing agencies by examining reporting systems and industry specialization• Your Google Business Profile does more heavy lift...
2025-07-2945 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe Home Services Masterclass: Profit, Apprenticeships, and Exit Strategy - Lou HobaicaLou Hobica built a multi-trade home service company from the ground up, achieving 30% net profit margins before selling it for a life-changing amount. His journey showcases how focusing on profitability metrics and customer experience can transform a traditional trades business into a profit powerhouse.• Transformed his father's small refrigeration business from 5% to 30% net profit• Created a streamlined 8-week apprenticeship program to build the right team culture• Focused on selling themselves first—"You'll like a Hobica"—not just their services• Discovered $1 of labor carries $3 of overhead while parts/equipment only carries $0.50• Used flat-rate pricing and strategic...
2025-07-2257 min
Profit & Grit with TylerWhy Your Tech Training Strategy Determines Your Bottom Line - Joey HendersonJoey Henderson shares his 35-year journey from Navy submarine technician to HVAC business owner and now traveling trainer, revealing how he built and sold two successful businesses while discovering what truly drives profitability in the industry.• Started in HVAC reluctantly after Navy service but quickly found his passion• Built and sold two HVAC businesses, with his second company achieving in three years what his first couldn't accomplish in ten• Transformed his business model from being built around himself to building a strong brand that could operate without him• Identifies technician training as the biggest challeng...
2025-07-0842 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe HVAC Sales Mindset That Built a $30M Family Business - Andy HobaicaAndy Hobica brings a refreshing perspective to HVAC sales by transforming the traditional approach of pushing products to genuinely helping customers solve problems, generating over $7 million in personal sales annually.• Starting his career at age 10 working in installation for his family's 72-year-old HVAC business, progressing through every position• Finding his stride when transitioning from service to sales at age 29, escaping his father's direct management• Rising at 3:10 AM daily with a disciplined morning routine that creates energy and focus• Using the "coffee trick" to build immediate rapport and trust with customers before appointments• Creating connection...
2025-07-0158 min
Profit & Grit with TylerHe Sold His HVAC Business After One Bad Customer Call - Joshua GriffinJoshua Griffin shares his journey from humble beginnings in a trailer park to building and selling a successful HVAC business while growing a YouTube channel with 150,000 subscribers. He openly discusses the challenges he faced as an entrepreneur, his innovative marketing strategies, and the ultimate decision to walk away at the peak of his company's success.• Growing up in a trailer park where his entrepreneurial inspiration came from seeing the trailer park owner struggling less than everyone else• Starting Griffin Air with just $1,200 and a utility trailer pulled by a Jeep Wrangler• Using YouTube and free market...
2025-06-2450 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe HVAC Hustle of a Tradesmom - Rachel EvansRachel Evans turned her firing as an HVAC sales technician into the catalyst for launching California Mechanical, a thriving San Diego-based HVAC company built entirely on word-of-mouth referrals.• Took her contractor's license exam while nine months pregnant• Gave herself a three-month runway to build momentum before potentially returning to employment• Landed two installation jobs just before starting a new job, enabling her to commit fully to entrepreneurship• Initially specialized in mini-splits due to physical limitations during early motherhood• Now offers comprehensive residential and commercial HVAC services• Operates on 100% word-of-mouth referrals without purchasing leads or run...
2025-06-1734 min
Profit & Grit with TylerAddiction, Redemption, and Building an HVAC Life That Matters – Gil CaveyGil Cavey shares his powerful journey from addiction to successful HVAC business leadership, revealing how rock bottom reshaped his management philosophy toward empathy, accountability, and second chances. He demonstrates how investing in people creates returns that transcend typical business metrics while building a company where technicians want to grow their careers.• Second-generation HVAC professional with 25 years of experience who rebuilt his life after addiction• Creating processes and structure as the key differentiator between companies that scale beyond $10 million and those that stagnate• The "McDonald's effect" – developing repeatable processes everyone can follow consistently• Implementing training meetings t...
2025-06-1052 min
Profit & Grit with TylerScaling Smarter in Home Services - Sam PrestonSam Preston transformed from failing at three different agencies to building Service Scalers, a $5M+ marketing agency for home service businesses by focusing on what he does best and hiring people who excel at everything else.• Sam's early agencies failed because he tried to be everything to everyone - "I'll be your influencer, marketing, email marketing, website, social media"• Success came when he niched down to specific services (PPC, websites, content) then further to home service businesses only• For businesses under $1M in revenue, DIY marketing makes more sense than hiring an agency• Customer acquisit...
2025-06-0354 min
Profit & Grit with TylerThe Hidden Trifecta Driving Growth in Top Home Service Companies - Brennen SmithBrennan Smith reveals how top-performing home service businesses unlock hidden revenue through simple yet powerful changes to their lead management process. Companies earning $2-20 million look beyond traditional lead generation to maximize their existing sales pipeline.• Responding to leads within 60 seconds during business hours drastically improves conversion• 43% of contact form submissions never receive any response—representing massive lost revenue• Top companies implement systematic follow-up across multiple channels (call, text, email)• The shift from lead-centric to relationship-centric business models creates sustainable growth• AI tools for call handling and customer communication are creating competitive advantages• Tracki...
2025-05-2742 min
Profit & Grit with TylerWhy Your Home Service Business Needs a Weekly Dashboard - Daniel FeltDaniel Felt shares how he scaled Kura Home to nine locations nationwide by building a weekly financial dashboard that guides real-time decisions instead of relying on delayed monthly reports. He reveals the exact metrics that drive his 19% profit margin and why focusing on bottom-line results beats chasing revenue.• Weekly financial dashboards outperform monthly P&Ls for making timely business decisions• The critical 42.5% payroll-to-revenue ratio that serves as his primary profitability indicator• Why he abandoned handyman services despite rapid growth when the numbers showed poor margins• How he leverages micro-influencers (5-20K followers) through service trades i...
2025-05-2049 min
Profit & Grit with TylerWhy HVAC Techs Leave and How to Make Them Stay - Danielle WernertDanielle Warnert of Upskilled Consulting shares proven strategies to stop the revolving door of technician turnover and build training programs that create loyal, skilled employees who actually stick around.• Including field experience from week one prevents tech disappointment and improves retention• Building robust career paths and technician scorecards shows clear progression opportunities • Creating training dashboards to track certifications, headcount, and employee tenure spotlights retention issues• Asking technicians what they want to learn rather than assuming their training needs• Gamifying training engages hands-on learners better than traditional classroom settings• Technician turnover costs $50,000-$70,000 per employee...
2025-05-1340 min
Profit & Grit with TylerTurning Seasonal Gaps into Gold with Matthew EfirdMatthew Efird transformed seasonal business challenges into thriving enterprises by creating complementary companies that operate year-round and positioning his services as premium offerings. He shares his journey from Mosquito Joe franchisee to founding Lighting Pros, now a successful franchise system focused on quality over price competition.• Started with Mosquito Joe franchise providing outdoor pest control primarily to residential customers• Created Lighting Pros to solve the seasonal employment problem and keep quality team members year-round• Positioned both businesses as premium services with a "charge more and be worth it" philosophy• Average lighting job now exceeds $10,000 by focus...
2025-05-0657 min