Cabinet Maker Profit System Podcast

Are you running your construction business… or is your business running you? In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Dave Cooper about leadership, systems, innovation, AI, and how contractors can break out of the daily grind and step into true leadership mode. Dave shares lessons from: • Military service • Construction ownership • Scaling a building company • Offsite and modular construction • Hosting one of the construction industry's leading innovation podcasts This episode is packed with practical insights for: ✔ Cabinet shop owners ✔ Remodelers ✔ General contractors ✔ Millwork companies ✔ Construction business owners trying to scale Topics Covered: • How to move from operator to leader • Why systems matter more than hustle • Getting team buy-in and accountability • The future of AI in construction • Estimating technology and automation • Leadership lessons from the military • Why innovation matters in construction today • The future of modular and industrialized building More about Dave Cooper: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davecooperlive/?trk Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/davecooperlive? Company Website: https://www.davecooper.live/? Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/davecooperlive Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davecooper.live/? Subscribe for more episodes focused on helping contractors build profitable, systemized businesses. COMMENT below: What's the biggest bottleneck keeping you stuck in the daily grind? Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/ DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE: @Cabinetmakerprofitsystemcom @profittoolbelt4527

If your business feels like it depends on you for everything… this episode is for you. In this conversation, Dominic Rubino sits down with Brady Lewis to break down how shop owners can grow their business without burning out. Most owners start as skilled tradespeople… But growth forces you into systems, leadership, and structure. This episode shows you how to make that shift. 🔑 What You'll Learn: - Why stress comes from lack of systems (not workload) - How to start building SOPs (even if you hate them) - The mindset shift from "doing the work" to "running the business" - Why being "needed" is actually holding you back - How systems create time freedom and scalability 🎯 Why This Matters: If your team relies on you for every decision… Your business will never scale. Systems give you: ✔ More time ✔ Less stress ✔ More profit ✔ A business that can run without you 👉 Subscribe for more content on growing your construction business 👍 Like the video if this helped 💬 Comment your biggest bottleneck More about Brady Lewis: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradylewis Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allmoxy Company Website: https://www.allmoxy.com Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/ DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE: @Cabinetmakerprofitsystemcom @profittoolbelt4527

If your business feels like it depends on you for everything… this episode is for you. In this conversation, Dominic Rubino sits down with Brady Lewis to break down how shop owners can grow their business without burning out. Most owners start as skilled tradespeople… But growth forces you into systems, leadership, and structure. This episode shows you how to make that shift. 🔑 What You'll Learn: - Why stress comes from lack of systems (not workload) - How to start building SOPs (even if you hate them) - The mindset shift from "doing the work" to "running the business" - Why being "needed" is actually holding you back - How systems create time freedom and scalability 🎯 Why This Matters: If your team relies on you for every decision… Your business will never scale. Systems give you: ✔ More time ✔ Less stress ✔ More profit ✔ A business that can run without you 👉 Subscribe for more content on growing your construction business 👍 Like the video if this helped 💬 Comment your biggest bottleneck More about Brady Lewis: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradylewis Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allmoxy Company Website: https://www.allmoxy.com Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/ DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE: @Cabinetmakerprofitsystemcom @profittoolbelt4527

Trade shows can either grow your business… or waste your money. Most contractors show up without a plan and leave disappointed. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with trade show expert Jeff Dahler (30+ years experience) to break down how to actually WIN at trade shows. If you're a cabinet shop owner, remodeler, or contractor, this is for you. 🔧 What You'll Learn: - How to know if a trade show is worth the cost - The difference between "being there" vs "having a presence" - How to stand out in 3–5 seconds - Why most booths fail (and how to fix it) - Simple ways to attract the RIGHT leads - How to turn conversations into real opportunities 🎯 Why This Matters Many contractors rely on just 1–2 trade shows a year to generate leads. If you don't do them right… you lose months of opportunity. This episode gives you a simple, practical game plan. 👍 Like this video 💬 Comment your biggest trade show challenge 🔔 Subscribe for more real-world strategies for shop owners More about Jeff Dahler: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-dahler-7a29725 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jmd-group Company Website: https://jmdgroup.com Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/ DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE: @Cabinetmakerprofitsystemcom @profittoolbelt4527

Most foremen aren't failing… They're being set up to fail. In this episode, we break down what happens when you promote your best worker into a leadership role, without giving them the tools to succeed. We asked 100 foremen what's broken in their role, and the answers revealed the real issues behind burnout, turnover, and lost profit in cabinet shops and contracting businesses. In this episode, we cover: - The 8 biggest frustrations foremen face - Why promoting your best worker isn't enough - The hidden cost of poor leadership training - How lack of structure creates chaos in your shop - Simple ways to build stronger leaders on your team If you want your business to run without everything depending on you, this is where it starts. 👉 Subscribe for more practical strategies for shop owners 👉 Like the video if this hit close to home 👉 Comment below: What's the biggest challenge your foreman faces? Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/

Overtime is killing your profits… but not for the reason you think. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Coach Sebastien Nault to break down what overtime REALLY means inside your business and how to fix it. If your shop is constantly working late, rushing jobs, or struggling with margins… this episode will hit home. 👉 The truth: overtime is just a symptom The real problem is hidden in your systems, numbers, and communication. 🔑 What You'll Learn: • Why overtime destroys profit (even when jobs get done) • How to benchmark your business using CP90 • The role of gross profit in tracking performance • How labor efficiency impacts your bottom line • Why your team needs visibility into targets • How End-of-Job (EOJ) reports reveal hidden issues • The real reasons jobs go over time (misquotes, inefficiencies, etc.) If you're a cabinet shop, millwork owner, or contractor… this is a must-listen. More about Sebastien Nault: LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/sebastien-nault-3b8ab710 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-tie-property-services Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/

If you're a contractor or shop owner, you WILL exit your business one day. The question is, will you do it right? In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Tim Vorhoff to break down how business owners in construction, cabinetry, and trades can plan their exit and avoid costly mistakes. Most owners are great at building businesses… But when it comes time to sell, they're negotiating against professionals. This episode helps level the playing field. What You'll Learn: - What a management buyout really looks like - How to choose the right exit path (sell, recap, ESOP, etc.) - Why "one buyer" is a dangerous position - How buyers actually make money - The 3 key steps in a management buyout - Why your management team determines your business value - The biggest mistakes owners make when selling Why This Matters If your business depends on you… it's worth less. If your team can run it without you… it's worth more. That's the difference between a stressful exit and a successful one. If this episode helped you: 👉 Subscribe for more contractor-focused business strategies 👉 Like this video to support the channel 👇 Drop a comment: More About Tim Vorhoff: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-vorhoff/ Company Website (Platform): https://howtoexitright.com Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/

What can contractors learn from a founder who went from bankruptcy to building a major business? A lot. In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Ryan Hogan, co-founder and CEO of Talent Harbor, about failure, leadership, hiring, culture, business systems, and what it really takes to grow without carrying the whole company on your own. Ryan shares the lessons he learned through failed businesses, a personal bankruptcy, rebuilding from scratch, and eventually creating a new company around a problem he saw firsthand: recruiting is broken for small and mid-sized businesses. If you're a contractor, cabinet shop owner, millwork owner, remodeler, or trades business owner trying to grow, this episode will feel very real. In this episode, we cover: - What Ryan learned from bankruptcy - Why owners hold onto bad ideas too long - How to test a business idea before going all in - Why recruiting is a real skill, not an extra task - How culture, compensation, and clarity affect hiring - Why metrics matter if you want to scale - How to stop being the bottleneck in your own business If this episode helped you: 👉 Subscribe for more contractor-focused business strategies 👉 Like this video to support the channel 👇 Drop a comment: More about Ryan Hogan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanehogan/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talentharbor/ Website: https://talentharbor.com/ Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/

Rework is one of the biggest hidden profit leaks in a cabinet shop, millwork business, or install team. In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Ryan Hindmarsh about: why rework costs more than most owners think how missed details in design, production, packing, and install hurt profit why install should be treated like its own business how meetings, SOPs, and checklists reduce waste why labor, job performance, and profit leaks need to be tracked Rework doesn't always look dramatic. Sometimes it's: a missing part the wrong color a mislabeled pallet a second trip to site overtime that never should have happened That is why this episode matters. Subscribe for more contractor-focused business strategies Like this video to support the channel Drop a comment: Where does rework hit your business the hardest: office, shop, or install? More about Ryan Hindmarsh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhindmarsh/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mid-ontario-appliance-installations/ Website: www.rhinocoaching.ca Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/

How do you charge for change orders without hurting the client relationship? In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Colleen Stanley to unpack one of the most common profit leaks in construction and contracting: poor change order communication. This conversation is especially helpful for construction and contracting business owners who deal with scope creep, client pushback, repeated jobsite issues, and uncomfortable pricing conversations. Colleen breaks down how better communication, better expectation-setting, and better leadership can make those conversations easier and more professional. In this episode, you'll hear about: ✅ Why change orders should be discussed before they happen ✅ How to set expectations without sounding negative ✅ Why clients react badly to surprises ✅ How better communication protects trust and profit ✅ The power of giving clients choices ✅ Why recurring problems usually point to a broken system ✅ How mentorship and delegation connect to stronger leadership If you work in cabinetry, millwork, remodeling, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or general contracting, this episode will give you practical ideas you can use right away. 👉 Subscribe for more contractor-focused business strategies 👉 Like this video to support the channel 👇 Drop a comment: What's the hardest part of handling change orders in your business? More about Colleen Stanley: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenstanleysli/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salesleadership-inc./ Personal / Company Website: https://www.salesleadershipdevelopment.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colleen.stanley.716/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SalesLeadership/ Books Page: https://www.salesleadershipdevelopment.com/resources Also check out: Cabinet Maker Profit System: https://www.cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com Profit Toolbelt: https://www.profittoolbelt.com/ Contractor Wealth System: https://www.contractorwealthsystem.com/ DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE: ⁨@Cabinetmakerprofitsystemcom⁩ ⁨@profittoolbelt4527⁩