In this high energy episode, Sean interviews Jesse Lane of J Lane Construction out of Jacksonville FL. Jesse shares his whirlwind background story and how doubling down his focus allowed him to build a multi-seven figure construction company in 6 short years. We dive into the opportunities that lie in commercial contracting and how to get your foot in the door in this arena. Jesse shares some great insights for growth, teams and scaling up:

• Jesse’s top 3 keys:
  • Communication
  • Top Quality Work
  • Great Team
• Leverage a virtual office service like Intelligent Office:https://www.intelligentoffice.com or Pink Callers: https://www.pinkcallers.com/to get high value service at a fraction of in-house pricing
• Use video whenever possible. Record yourself explaining jobs, post on social, share on your website.
• Get client video testimonials. Let your website be your digital billboard. Make it as high quality as you can with real sample projects to help clients envision working with you
• Setup a “client training” page on your website where you put up videos for clients to better understand how they can follow their project online and be apart of the process: Example: https://www.jlaneconstruction.com/training
• Document your SYSTEMS. Write step by step manuals for every task and responsibility in your company. Use tools like http://www.get-systemized.com/
• Use a cloud-based CRM system:
  • Buildertrend: https://www.buildertrend.com
  • Use promo code JLANE60 to get 60 days free trial

Get in touch with Jesse:

• Subscribe to his youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Xa3EduXCFEtGa4SeQOR1w
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesselane123

DM and talk directly with Jesse on our Contractor Innovation FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193320537569847/

Looking to systemize your business? Join our new software program - Systemize: your one-stop shop for documenting, editing, delegating and storing systems in your business.

Join us as a founding member of our Beta group: www.contractorinnovation.com/software

In this episode, we speak with Joseph Toppi and 20-year veteran to the contracting industry. Joseph has personally built several multi-million dollar construction firms on his own and has packaged his knowledge into a coaching practice to help others achieve the financial freedom they desire. This episode covers one of the most frequently asked topics in the Contractor Innovation community.. How do I better understand my numbers?

Joseph goes deep with loads of useful takeaways to get you the knowledge you need to better understand where your money goes.

Resources:

• The 12 Essential Construction Numbers: https://www.josephtoppi.com/offers/WU6Touqz/checkout
• 3 Tiers of Bidding Contractors:
  • The Charity: bids time an material. 
  • Not profitable
  • The Hobbyist: occasionally adds in Overhead if he/she thinks they can command it on that job
  • The Business Owner: recovers and profits on every project by properly accounting for all costs, expenses, overhead and profit
• The 3 Buckets of Spending:
  • https://www.josephtoppi.com/blog/3-buckets-of-spending
• If you own equipment you really own two different companies:
  • An operating business (does the work in the field)
  • And a rental business - where equipment is accounted for and rented for operations
• 3 Main Metrics of Overhead Recovery:
  • Total Costs of the Equipment
  • Total Life Expectancy
  • Actual Usage
• Factors often overlooked in calculating Labor costs:
  • Unbillables: meetings, down time, travel
• • Benefits, perks, giveaways
• • Payroll Liability
  • Works Compensation insurance

   

  Get in touch with Joseph Toppi:

  • Website: https://www.josephtoppi.com
  • Check out his courses: https://www.josephtoppi.com/store
  • Check him out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joseph.toppi.35

   

  Ask him a question in our private free Facebook group Contractor Innovation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193320537569847/

   

  Looking to systemize your business? Join our new software program

• Systemize: your one-stop shop for documenting, editing, delegating and storing systems in your business.

   

  Join us as a founding member of our Beta group: www.contractorinnovation.com/software

   

  Questions or comments? Email me: [email protected]

In this episode, Sean does a solocast on the topic of how to professionally end the relationship with customers that are a bad fit for us. This can be a really tricky situation and one that needs to handled in a specific manner. We talk about the Four Types of Bad Customers and Sean shares exact scripts and examples of how to have the “breakup” conversation with each type.

To see the text version of this episode and read the scripts visit: https://www.contractorinnovation.com/blog/fire-bad-customers

Looking to systemize your business? Join our new software program - Systemize: your one-stop shop for documenting, editing, delegating and storing systems in your business.

Join us as a founding member of our Beta group: www.contractorinnovation.com/software

This week Sean interviews Justin Woodford of A cut Above (1-855-RILAWNS) and Ready Business Systems. Justin started his lawn and landscaping business as a high school job and turned it into a fully automated operation that runs smoothly without him. In this episode, we talk about how to identify your strengths as a business owner and why you should surround yourself with others that compliment your weakness to achieve success.

Justin focuses on creating predictable results in his business and he does so through a strict adherence to leveraging technology and automations in every system in his business. 

Justin has taken his knowledge and expertise in automations and business building and started a consulting helping other contractors do the same with Ready Business Systems.

Resources:

• CRM system (Customer Relationship Management software): serviceautopilot.com
• Payroll Software: gusto.com
• VOIP phone system with answering service: http://readybusinesssystems.com/phone-system
• Look to outsource your marketing and collection to third parties so to not bog down your office staff
• Be your managers and office team’s coach/mentor. Guide them by giving them the environment to make the right decisions

Get in touch with Justin:

• Consulting: http://readybusinesssystems.com

Service Autopilot services: 

• http://readybusinesssystems.com/service-autopilot
• Check him out on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ReadyBusinessSystems/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGK1kNm2qavYGKWf7qU3Gog

 Looking to systemize your business? Join our new software program - Systemize: your one-stop shop for documenting, editing, delegating and storing systems in your business.

Join us as a founding member of our Beta group: www.contractorinnovation.com/software

Questions, comments, suggestions? Send me an email: [email protected]

Sean interview Josh Petosa of ZipWhip a business texting platform for contractors and service companies. We talk about how texting is becoming the preferred communication channel amongst homeowners and property owners. Why texting is one of the best ways to create a great customer experience, stay top of mind and mitigate complaints in our business.

Josh touches on how consistent communication and giving your clients a frictionless channel like texting to voice a concern or ask a question can be a differentiator that moves the needle in our business.

Resources:

• https://www.zipwhip.com
• To learn more text: Contractor to 816.3982
• Josh’s email: [email protected]
• State of Texting Report: https://www.zipwhip.com/state-of-texting/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9QNUcuoBsE

Looking to systemize your business? Join our new software program - Systemize: your one-stop shop for documenting, editing, delegating and storing systems in your business.

Join us as a founding member of our Beta group:

https://www.contractorinnovation.com/software

In this episode, we speak with Shawn Day of Blue Skies Recruiting + Admin Services. Shawn cut his teeth in the cleaning industry growing his business to over 40 employees before selling his company to Blue Skies Services in 2016.

Since then, Shawn and his team have focused on rapid growth through acquisition and the creation of a top-notch employee recruiting system. We talk in detail about the step by step process Shawn and his team use including How to setup a job ad, how to implement a “knockout” phase, and how to weed out the poor fits through a simple system that makes candidates jump through a few initial hoops.

Shawn explains how he implements an assessment system to screen candidates automatically gather precious data about their character BEFORE ever interviewing them. He then describes why it is important to always be recruiting even if you are not hiring at the moment.

Resources:

• Blue Skies Cleaning Services: https://www.blueskiesservices.com/
• Blue Skies Recruiting Services: http://yourblueskies.com/sale/
• See Recruiting checklist on above link^^^
• Shawn’s email: [email protected]

Looking to systemize your business? Join our new software program - Systemize: your one-stop shop for documenting, editing, delegating and storing systems in your business.

Join us as a founding member of our Beta group: www.contractorinnovation.com/software

In this episode we unpack a ton of value about understanding what a sales pipeline is, how to manage our leads, expertly managing your time and handling buyer objections.

Mike Claudio of Winrate Consulting helps contractors and construction professionals to dominate their sales processes. Mike works one on one with you on a monthly basis to uncover your blind spots and reveal the keys to doubling your sales this year.

Check out Mike’s programs:

• https://winrateconsulting.com/\
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.claudio.56
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-claudio-53812b63/

Looking to systemize your business? Join our new software program - Systemize: your one-stop shop for documenting, editing, delegating and storing systems in your business.

Join us as a founding member of our Beta group: www.contractorinnovation.com/software

In this interview, we talk with Nicole Landau of Landau Accounting and Consulting. Nicole specializes in providing tax, financial and accounting services for the construction industry.

We talk about understanding tracking your numbers, material costs and overhead recover. Nicole gives insights into how technology can make accounting simple and easy. She also talks about how cashflow is king in small businesses and why proper books actually MAKES you money.

Reach out to Nicole directly:

• http://www.landauconsultingsolutions.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelandau1/

Looking to systemize your business? Join our new software program - Systemize: your one-stop shop for documenting, editing, delegating and storing systems in your business.

Join us as a founding member of our Beta group: www.contractorinnovation.com/software

Sean interviews Clay Martin of Martin Recruiting & Consulting an agency focused on providing Puerto Rican laborers to the Green, construction and manufacturing industries.

With a background in the green industry, Clay quickly recognized the massive skilled labor shortage happening in the U.S. and decided to take action. Being bilingual, Clay began making relationships in Puerto Rico and realized this was the perfect opportunity to bridge the labor shortage gap.

His agency has a unique offering in which they help facilitate the coordination and onboarding of Puerto Rican laborers for contracting companies.

Resources:

• Culture building activities engrain positive work environments
• Nurture cross-cultural training
• H2B: https://www.h1base.com/content/h2bvisa
• Contact Martin Recruiting and Clay:
  • https://martin-recruiting.com/
  • [email protected]
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clay-martin-7788b179/?trk=profile-badge-cta
  

www.contractorinnovation.com/software

Sean interviews Ricky Regalado of Rozalado Services a building service contractor out of the Chicago area. Ricky has an amazing story of how he doubled down on what was working in his affiliate and relationship-based marketing to scale to $7Million in revenue in just 6 short years.

Ricky talks about how diversifying your services can be a double-edged sword and he lays out actionable tips about how to think differently regarding your service offering. We talk about his unique walkthrough and proposal process that allows him to delegate his workload to his more than 200 employees.

This episode cover a wide-range including how Ricky went from part-time franchisee to operating in over 11 states in just 6 years.

Resources from this episode:

• Quickbooks: quickbooks.com
• Ricky’s Company: https://rozaladocleaning.com/
• Ricky’s software tool for building contractors - Route: getroute.com

Check Ricky and his team out on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickyregalado/
• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ricky.regalado.39?fref=search&__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARBv0EobD5U_HRjDuNknCxuzHi1YXBwVYF9JFXe5hi0sNyqfndQbrZRvixLN7bd1B02mgse1np71mGyz
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn4cyQRGICzCxq2pElKHhpA

Want more tips on systemizing and scaling your contracting business? Join the conversation in our private Facebook group: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193320537569847/?ref=bookmarks

See more of our content at: https://www.contractorinnovation.com/

www.contractorinnovation.com/software