On June 11, join Danny Kerr and Charley Burtwistle (from Buildertrend) for a Project Management Roundtable, where 3 high-performing contractors will hand over the secrets to faster projects, happier customers and fatter net profits. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-PM-J25

Download Trent's Price Acceleration Provision and tariff-proof your contracts today: https://trybta.com/DL219

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP219

While the details have shifted over the past few months, there’s no doubt that all the talk about tariffs has caused uncertainty for the small business community. Especially contractors.

And, whether the USA’s plan remains the same or not, this whole situation got me thinking: what exactly should contractors DO to minimize the impact of new tariffs on their materials, supply chain and profit margins?

My guest today, Trent Cotney, is back on the show to help us answer that question.

Trent is a board-certified construction lawyer, author and co-host of the #1 construction law podcast, Law and Mortar.

Today, we cover:

• What tariffs actually are, and how they will impact on our industry
• What clauses you can put in your contracts to protect yourself from tariff shocks
• Trent’s predictions on what’s coming next based on his time spent in Washington DC.

And a whole lot more.

00:00-Intro

01:15-What's the current situation with US tariffs?

07:41-How tariffs actually work

10:40-Audit and rethink your supply chain

13:50-Best way to price jobs when costs are unpredictable

21:03-Tariff-proof contract clauses

25:40-Trent's predictions on the future

28:39-Planning for the good, the bad and the ugly

34:04-One action you can take tonight to become more tariff resistant.

On June 11, join Danny Kerr and Charley Burtwistle (from Buildertrend) for a Project Management Roundtable, where 3 high-performing contractors will hand over the secrets to faster projects, happier customers and fatter net profits. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-PM-J25

Grab a copy of your resource bundle: https://trybta.com/DL218

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP218

Growth can be intimidating.

More revenue, more staff and more work = more headaches.

Plus, there’s no way to predict what new problems you’ll face as you grow.

Except…there actually is.

See, when you coach over 1500 contractors, like we have at Breakthrough Academy, you notice some patterns.

Turns out, the journey to a highly profitable and systemized contracting business looks the same for pretty much everyone.

Four phases. Predictable barriers at each phase. Predictable solutions to get from one phase to the next.

Last year, Danny gave a keynote at a convention in Orlando that walked through this whole process. Today, we’re releasing it as a bonus episode so more contractors can benefit.

Episode Highlights:

• Understand the four phases of contractor growth and how to determine which phase you’re in.
• Learn the predictable problems contractors will face at each phase, and which systems to implement in order to overcome them.
• Get access to systems and templates that hundreds of contractors have used to make more money, hire A-players and promote themselves from operator to strategist.

00:00-Intro

02:48-Danny's story

06:42-About Breakthrough Academy

11:37-About the Contractor Growth Method

14:56-Phase 1: Operators

18:34-Phase 2: Managers

26:45-Phase 3: Leaders

32:30-Phase 4: Strategists

38:51-Summary

46:07-How to implement your learning

On June 11, join Danny Kerr and Charley Burtwistle (from Buildertrend) for a Project Management Roundtable, where 3 high-performing contractors will hand over the secrets to faster projects, happier customers and fatter net profits. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-PM-J25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP217

You’ve heard it before: the riches are in the niches.

But, is that really always true?

Today, I’m talking to Ryan Lee, founder of Landscape Lighting Secrets and host of the Landscape Lighting Secrets podcast.

Before selling in 2019, Ryan grew his business to $200K a month. His service offering? Landscape lighting. Just landscape lighting.

Now, he coaches home service entrepreneurs who either want to run their own landscape lighting business or add landscape lighting to their service offerings.

This conversation is all about niche services:

Should you niche your business down further?

Should you expand into another niche to cover your off season?

What are the honest pros and cons of niche services?

Ryan’s got a wealth of experience that is gonna help us answer these questions.

Episode Highlights:

- Understand the power of niche service offerings from a contractor who grew a landscape lighting business to $200K per month.

- Learn what to consider before niching down or adding a niche to your existing services.

- Get tips on how to manage the impacts adding a new revenue stream has on your operations, branding, and org chart.

00:00-Intro

01:16-About Ryan

10:12-Why add a service?

13:22-Biggest operational impacts of adding a service

16:45-Why specialize?

21:10-Impact of specializing on profit margins

25:15-3 key focuses of niching: raise prices, close deals on the spot and generate high quality leads

32:04-When is a contractor ready to build out sub-brands/niches?

37:11-Wrap-Up & Final Advice

40:15-Connect with Ryan

On June 11, join Danny Kerr and Charley Burtwistle (from Buildertrend) for a Project Management Roundtable, where 3 high-performing contractors will hand over the secrets to faster projects, happier customers and fatter net profits. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-PM-J25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP216

To the outside world, the word “sales” has gotten a bad rap.

People think it’s all transactional. All about pushing something on the customer in order to get what’s best for the sales rep or the company.

And that can make the act of selling feel uncomfortable, awkward and transactional.

That’s why we wanted to talk to Joe Crisara.

Joe is a seasoned expert in contractor sales training, best known for creating the Pure Motive Service System that helps service businesses ethically boost revenue and closing rates all while doing what’s best for the customer.

In this episode, Joe walks us through five key principles that anyone in sales can adopt today, creating a win-win for the customer, for the sales rep and for the company.

Episode Highlights:

• Get a walkthrough of the Pure Motive Service System from its creator, Joe Crisara.
• Learn how offering three options to every customer will boost your revenue, closing rates and reputation.
• Understand how to use the five principles outlined in Joe’s book, What Should We Do? to connect with your customers, move away from transactional selling methods and maintain integrity in every sales interaction.

00:00-Intro

01:24-About Joe

05:14-About The Book: What Should We Do?

14:00-5 Principles of Pure Motive Service

14:18-Principle 1: Client-Centric Solutions

22:25-Principle 2: Integrity-Driven Sales

26:08-Principle 3: Customized Service Options

38:06-Principle 4: Effective Communication

45:42-Principle 5: Continuous Improvement

50:12-How Joe is Continuously Improving

55:32-Connect With Joe

On June 11, join Danny Kerr and Charley Burtwistle (from Buildertrend) for a Project Management Roundtable, where 3 high-performing contractors will hand over the secrets to faster projects, happier customers and fatter net profits. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-PM-J25

Grab a free chapter of Beyond the Hammer here: https://trybta.com/DL215

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP215

Being a strong leader is an essential business skill.

We all know this.

If you listen to this podcast, you probably know most of the fundamentals already.

And yet so few of us actually take the time to work on them.

Today, we're talking to Brian Gottlieb. After a highly successful career building and exiting his $150MM remodeling business, Brian wrote the book, Beyond the Hammer to give contractors an easy to follow framework on the path to becoming better leaders.

In this episode, he breaks down the five foundational pillars that make up the mindset of a successful leader in the contracting space.

Episode Highlights:

• Understand the drivers behind the success of Brian Gottlieb, a 9-figure remodeler who grew his team from one (himself) to over 600 when he exited.
• Learn the five foundational pillars of leadership Brian outlines in his book, and go deeper on the impact each one can have on your business.
• Get tips on managing resistance from your team as your leadership and business evolve.

00:00-Intro

01:19-About Brian

05:57-Beyond the Hammer: why leadership?

08:47-Why do contractors struggle to become good leaders?

13:48-5 foundational pillars of leadership

14:08-Pillar 1: Belief is Transferrable

17:32-Pillar 2: Leaders Shape Culture Through Purpose & Direction

22:48-Pillar 3: Leaders Are Aware of The Echo of Their Voice

27:42-Pillar 4: Leaders Model Their Business as a Training Organization

31:01-Pillar 5: Managers Need a Checklist

40:09-How to start implementing these pillars TODAY

41:27-What would you say to young Brian?

On June 11, join Danny Kerr and Charley Burtwistle (from Buildertrend) for a Project Management Roundtable, where 3 high-performing contractors will hand over the secrets to faster projects, happier customers and fatter net profits. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-PM-J25

Download Dr. J.J.'s one-liner template here: https://trybta.com/DL214

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP214

Today we're interviewing the one and only Dr. J.J. Peterson, Head of Storybrand and co-author of Marketing Made Simple, which sold over a million copies worldwide.

Dr. J.J. has helped thousands of businesses clarify their message by using a storytelling framework as old as time. 

Plus, we found out before we started recording that he actually has a contracting background. His family ran a concrete business when he was growing up, so he REALLY gets the challenges you’re all facing.

Today’s conversation is all about how to apply the seven-part Storybrand framework to a contracting business. How to position your customer as the hero of your story so you can become their trusted guide.

Episode Highlights:

• Get an overview of the Storybrand framework from someone who has implemented it into thousands of businesses.
• Learn how to apply each of the seven parts of a Storybrand to a roofing, painting, landscaping, construction, electrical, plumbing or home services business, with examples.
• Understand why it is so critical that you keep your message simple, and why so many businesses get this wrong.

00:00-Intro

01:43-About Dr. J.J.'s background in contracting and storytelling

06:46-Why is story so important to marketing?

17:17-The messaging sweet spot: too vague vs. too complex

19:03-The 7-Part StoryBrand Framework: Contracting Edition

24:20-Step 1: What does your customer want?

25:16-Step 2: What problem does your customer face?

32:57-Step 3: How do you position yourself as their guide?

35:47-Step 4: What’s the plan?

38:21-Step 5: The call to action

38:50-Step 6/7: What does success/failure look like for your customer?

41:12-Danny's example, Dr. J.J.'s feedback

49:12-How to get the info you need from your customer

53:39-Most common Storybrand mistakes

57:54-Signs your messaging is working

01:00:47-About Dr. J.J.'s one-liner template

On May 6, attend our free web class to learn the proven hiring framework top contractors use to attract and retain A players during a labor shortage. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-HIRING-M25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP213

Today’s the day.

The last official day of Benji's time on Contractor Evolution.

And the first official day of a new era.

In today’s episode, we're pumped to introduce Danny Kerr as your new host.

Danny is one of the co-founders of Breakthrough Academy. In fact, he’s the visionary behind the whole thing. 

He’s a lifelong entrepreneur, former painting contractor and a true expert in guiding contractors to more profitable and more fulfilling businesses.

In this episode, he leads his first official interview on the show—with Benji. They're diving into the history behind Contractor Evolution and everything Benji has learned about content marketing along the way.

Episode Highlights:

• Get an introduction to the new host of Contractor Evolution: Breakthrough Academy visionary and co-founder Danny Kerr.
• Reminisce with Benji as he walks us through the history of the show and what he learned along the way.
• Learn from Benji’s experience when it comes to content marketing, and understand how you might use it to benefit your business.

00:00-Intro

01:42-The history and evolution of Contractor Evolution

14:34-The case for content marketing

25:12-Content Marketing 101 for contractors

42:46-Value-add content vs. salesy content

47:41-Avoiding false starts

54:04-Lightning round

On May 6, attend our free web class to learn the proven hiring framework top contractors use to attract and retain A players during a labor shortage. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-HIRING-M25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP212

Grab your free financial management resource bundle here: https://trybta.com/DL212

A few weeks ago, Danny cohosted a web class with Matt Risinger (Host of The BUILD Show) on one of the most important topics in business: finances.

On top of teaching the hundreds of attendees our approachable financial management systems, I had a chance to pick Matt’s brain about his experience managing cash flow as he grew his company into the monster it is today.

So we’re releasing the web class on the podcast to give you everything you need to run your finances like a 7-figure contractor.

We’re covering budgets, forecasting, cash flow, and how to drive results with your team.

If the thought of financial management gives you a migraine, this webinar replay is for you.

Episode Highlights:

• Discover the least painful way to track your budgets, forecasting, and overhead—without wasting hours with mind-numbing numbers.
• Learn how to take the guesswork out of your financial decision-making by understanding your industry benchmarks.
• Get insight into how Matt Risinger avoids lumpy cash flow and why Risinger Build NEVER bids on work.

00:00-Intro

06:12-About Danny and Matt

10:06-Purpose and outcomes

12:18-Why is staying on top of your numbers so hard?

20:39-Matt Risinger on Breakthrough Academy

23:15-Budgeting

38:43-What does “good” look like?

41:20-Gross profit margins as you evolve

46:14-Financial forecasting

52:19-Driving numbers with your team

59:37-Implementing change

01:07:09-Q&A

On May 6, attend our free web class to learn the proven hiring framework top contractors use to attract and retain A players during a labor shortage. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-HIRING-M25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP211

Chances are, you’re familiar with at least one personality test. Myers Briggs, Enneagram, Personal Style Indicator (PSI) or, the focus of this episode, DISC profiles.

Are these tools actually helpful? In my opinion, they have a time and place. But the truth is they’re kinda useless if you don’t actually apply the information you get from them.

Otherwise, people just use them as an excuse to behave a certain way.

That’s why today’s guest has become so popular in the world of small business and leadership. Thomas Erikson’s bestselling book Surrounded By Idiots is less about labeling yourself and others as red, yellow, green or blue and more about bringing awareness to your behavioral tendencies to more effectively lead and interact with others.

Instead of saying “I’m a red, so I can’t help being brash,” the book encourages you to say “My tendency to be brash may be pushing people away—what can I do to change that?”

In other words, how to stop feeling like you’re surrounded by idiots just because the people around you don’t act the same way you do.

Episode Highlights:

• Get a brief overview of the DISC personality assessment and its use cases from the author of the bestselling book Surrounded by Idiots.
• Learn how self-awareness can help you become more effective in business and life.
• Understand how to use personality assessments like DISC as tool for personal growth, rather than an excuse for your behavior.
• Bonus: Learn how to recognize and deal with energy vampires in all areas of your life.

00:00-Intro

02:15-Where does "behavior" come from?

04:24-Overview of the 4 DISC personality types

10:28-Distribution of color profiles in society

13:06-Why is this framework useful in running a business?

21:26-Correlation between personality types and roles

28:01-Benji's pushback on personality profiles - can they do more harm than good?

37:33-What motivates the different colors?

43:46-How to use knowledge of the colors to level up as a leader

49:29-About energy vampires

53:48-Closing advice for leaders trying to get the most out of their people

On May 6, attend our free web class to learn the proven hiring framework top contractors use to attract and retain A players during a labor shortage. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-HIRING-M25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP210

To grab a copy of the Skill/Will Matrix, DORAGI framework, and Conflict Resolution Guide, click here: https://trybta.com/DL210

In contracting, your people are your business. They determine how customers experience your brand, the productivity of your job sites, the profitability of your business and your own enjoyment of life as an entrepreneur.

So understanding how to manage them as a strong leader is essential.

Today, we’re going to break down one of my favorite frameworks that will give you the tools to bring out the best in your team, maximize productivity, and build a workplace people actually want to be a part of.

It’s called the skill/will matrix.

The idea is that whenever productivity is down or someone isn’t meeting your expectations, ask yourself this one question:

Is this a skill issue? Or a will issue?

Listen to the full episode to learn how to handle each situation.

Episode Highlights:

• Get a summary of the skill/will matrix and how to use it to identify and address productivity issues on your team.
• Learn how to use the DORAGI training framework to help team members struggling with skill.
• Learn how to have a healthy conflict to improve the performance of team members struggling with will.

00:00-Intro

01:28-About the Skill/Will Matrix

02:00-High Will, Low Skill

05:56-Low Will, High Skill

09:46-High Will, High Skill

10:43-Low Will, Low Skill

12:07-Recap