This week, Ryan sits down with Joel Dykes, founder of Blue Dog Builds, a renovation company making its mark in Carleton Place with a reputation for clean, client-focused work.

Joel shares his journey from barbering to building, the leap of faith in leaving a steady job to start his own business, and the lessons he’s learned about sales, systems, and self-belief along the way.

They dive into:

• Why bathrooms were the natural launch point for Blue Dog Builds 🛁

• The importance of branding, insurance, and bookkeeping from day one

• How Facebook groups are today’s version of word-of-mouth marketing

• Balancing the thrill and fear of being fully responsible for your own sales pipeline

• The mindset shift needed when going from tradesperson to business owner

If you’re in the trades and thinking about striking out on your own, this episode is packed with hard-won insights and candid advice.