Blog
How Lead Platforms Use Your Business Name Against You — and You Probably Agreed to It A Broken Promise When you first signed up for HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack, or another lead platform, the pitch was simple: "We'll help you get more jobs." And maybe they did — at first. But there's something most contractors don't realize […]
Turning Drywall Repairs into Extra Income: The Smart Plumber's Guide Let's be honest. Every plumber knows this scenario all too well: You've just finished a job that required cutting into drywall. The pipes are fixed, water's flowing again, and your customer is relieved... until they look at that gaping hole in their bathroom wall. "So, […]
Stop Throwing Away Money: How to Turn AC Repair Referrals into Cash If you're an HVAC contractor, you know the drill. A customer calls with a busted AC in July. You show up, diagnose the problem, and realize they need electrical work that's outside your wheelhouse. What happens next? For most of us, it goes […]
Say This, Not That: Customer Communication Strategies That Generate Endless Referrals Let's get straight to the point: what separates the most successful contractors isn't just their technical skills—it's how they communicate with customers. I've watched countless skilled tradespeople struggle to build their businesses despite doing quality work, while others with merely good technical skills thrive […]
Surviving the Slow Season: How Smart Contractors Keep Cash Flowing When Work Dries Up Let's talk about the seasonal roller coaster that keeps contractors up at night. One month you're turning down work because you're booked solid, and the next you're wondering how you'll make payroll. Whether it's weather-dependent slowdowns, holiday lulls, or economic hiccups, […]
Finding Good Help Isn't Impossible: A Contractor's Guide to Hiring in a Tight Labor Market "You just can't find good help these days." If I had a dollar for every time I've heard a contractor say this in the last few years, I'd be retired on a beach somewhere instead of writing this article. The […]
Pricing Your Services: Why Most Contractors Leave 30% of Their Profits on the Table If there's one thing most contractors hate more than paperwork, it's setting prices. "What's your hourly rate?" "How much to install this fixture?" "Can you give me a ballpark for this project?" These questions can make even veteran tradespeople break into […]
5 No-BS Marketing Tactics That Actually Work for Trades in 2025 Let's be honest—most marketing advice for contractors is complete garbage. "Just start a TikTok!" "Build your personal brand!" "Create more content!" Meanwhile, you're on a jobsite 10 hours a day actually doing real work, not dancing with a hammer or filming yourself rambling about […]
How to Never Waste Time on a Paint Estimate Again Every painter knows this frustrating cycle: You drop everything to drive 45 minutes across town, spend an hour measuring and talking through color options, carefully prepare a detailed estimate, follow up multiple times... only to hear "we decided to go with someone else" or worse, […]
Beyond the Circuit: Making Money from Jobs You Can't (or Don't Want to) Take Every electrician knows the feeling. You're on a service call to replace a panel when the homeowner casually drops: "While you're here, can you also hang these new light fixtures, install some outlets in the basement, and maybe take a look […]
