You can’t scale a business simply by adding more services or by relying on referrals. Listen in to understand whether or not you’re really ready to scale and how to grow your business successfully!

In this episode, we talk about…

• You have to perfect what you have before you can scale
• What happens to your time when you add services
• The benefit of narrowing your niche when you first start your business
• Advice for documenting your process to systematize it so it’s easy to replicate
• Simplify to multiply-simplify your product offerings
• The importance of having an organizational chart for your business
• Always know the numbers for your business
• Have a Mastery Ladder to help employees know how they can advance
• You must know where your leads come from and track your marketing and sales
• Charging more money allows you to make more money doing less work
• Understand why you want to scale your business

Links to Resources:

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having employees that want to work for you is critical to the success of your business. Listen to learn how to make sure you have the right mindset when it comes to hiring and attracting winners to your team!

In this episode, we talk about…

• Check your self-talk and quit saying nobody wants to work
• 2 Steps to Reframe Your Mind:

Step 1: Start thinking in terms of positivity to attract what you want

Step 2: Change your offer and focus on what an employee wants

• Check your social proof and what message your business projects to the public
• Advice for creating attractive job postings:
  • 1: Get the offer in front of the right people and show them why they should want to join your team
  • 2: Make an offer they like and include specific details about company culture
  • 3: Build trust by including quotes from other employees about why they enjoy working on your team
• Understanding many employees will be poached from other companies so always take care of your own
• Thinking outside the box when it comes to attracting and retaining loyal employees
• Leveraging videos and social media can build trust and share your company’s culture
• If people are willing to quit working with you, be willing to look inward and ask why
• Create an organizational chart that shows opportunities and use mastery ladders

Links to Resources:

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you want your business to stay profitable and healthy, you must stay ahead of the curve and prepare for whatever comes next. Check out how to know if your business is ready for an economic downturn and how you can start preparing today so you’re not hurting in the future!

In this episode, we talk about…

• Different ways to prepare for an economic downturn in the construction industry:
  • Have ideally 6 months, at minimum 3 months, of expenses covered in the bank
  • Have money set aside to cover 1-2 months of payroll
  • Have appointments booked out for several months
  • Know your numbers and how many leads are needed to sustain production
  • Know your where all your marketing comes from
• Recognizing many contractors are on thin ice, barely breaking even each month
• The importance of realistic expectations and what it takes to have a healthy business
• Understanding consequences and that there’s no downside to saving money
• Why you should start stacking cash and start looking for labor-only revenue streams for your business

Links to Resources:

Flash Foresight by Daniel Burrus

https://www.hammerandgrind.com/tools-of-the-trade

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re unable to pay yourself first, you don't have a financially healthy or sustainable business. Alicia Osthus dives into the basics of the Profit First method and explains why it’s time to get your finances in order so you can have a profitable business!

In this episode, we talk about…

• Alicia’s accounting background and what led her to the Profit First method
• Common financial mistake contractors make and why it pays off to hire a professional
• Suggestions for using Profit First Nation to understand accounting basics
• Benefits of Profit First method vs. traditional accounting

1. Separate accounts for personal vs. customer deposits

2. Ability to have bonus pay and profit distribution

3. Guidelines for allocating money and consistent paychecks

• The mindset shift required to pay yourself first and understanding your real revenue
• Deduction possibilities and the difference between a 1099 contractor vs. employee
• We sell like we buy—don’t be a cheapskate in your own business
• How Profit First gives you both clarity around your finances and permission to spend

Links to Resources:

Alicia Osthus - https://aliciaosthus.com/

Profit First By Mike Michalozicz - https://mikemichalowicz.com/profit-first/

Profit First For Contractors By Shawn Van Dyke -https://www.profitfirstcontractor.com/

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just like you can’t catch bass without the right bait, you can’t attract your target audience without the right marketing. Listen in to learn how to scale your marketing, leverage data, and start reeling in your ideal clients!

In this episode, we talk about…

• Why your marketing must focus on specific clients, not just what you can get
• The importance of knowing where your audience hangs out
• Changing your marketing and the position of your business to catch your ideal client
• Advice to review your top 10 clients to narrow down patterns of your target market
• Suggestions to test and record which marketing strategies attract your ideal client
• You can’t scale referrals but you can scale your marketing effort
• Understanding the value of ads and the quality of leads
• Business is all about making decisions based on data, not emotions
• Tips for finding your customers and improving your ad copy to reach them
• Remember: Test, Record, Adjust 

Links to Resources:

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women working in the trades is growing more common. Elyse Parks shares her experience of finding her place in the trades, how and why contractors should add more women to their crew, and advice for women interested in a career in the trades industry.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Elyse’s transition from the corporate world to the trades industry
• How Elyse and her fiance handle disagreements and division of labor on the job
• How writing newsletters led to an award from the Professional Women in Building Council
• What it’s like working as a woman in trades and the biggest hurdle females face getting into the industry
• Advice for women to contact their local homeowners association about working in the trades
• Recommendations for contractors trying to hire female trade workers
• Suggestions for women curious about working in the trades to try exposure programs like Habitat for Humanity

Links to Resources:

Bold City Builders - www.boldcitybuilders.com

Elyse on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thatswhatshesawed

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Referrals are great but having a marketing strategy is key for contractors. Matt Thibeau breaks down his 7 Step Marketing Method to help contractors build their reputation and business!

In this episode, we talk about…

• Matt’s experience as a one man show marketing department
• The biggest mistakes contractors make when it comes to marketing
• Reactive marketing vs. marketing with intention
• Seven Step Marketing Method for Contractors: 

1. Define the niche you’re good at and that you’ll make the most money from doing.

2. Build a systematic approach to getting reviews so you can build your reputation.

3. Create a simple landing page dedicated for advertising purposes.

4. Generate traffic to your landing page/website using Google ads

5. Build up the reviews in your business listing and optimize your Google listing for the keywords that you want to target.

6. Set up an email confirmation and follow up system to respond to quote requests.

7. Use social media to build certainty and demonstrate proof of knowledge and proof of happy customers.

• Details about the Contractor Marketing Book 

Links to Resources:

Contractor Marketing Book - www.contractormarketingbook.com

Matt Thibeau - https://www.facebook.com/matt.thibeau

Savant Marketing Agency - https://savantmarketingagency.com/

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Check out these helpful suggestions to find the labor you want, understand how to pre-qualify customers, and why it’s time to up your marketing game!

In this episode, we talk about…

1. Where can I find GENERAL labor?

1. People in the food industry, specifically cooks
2. Big box/construction retail store employees typically have great customer service skills
3. High school trade or vocation students interested in construction
4. Always look for opportunities to find employees 

2. Where can I find SKILLED labor?

• Ethically poach contractors from other construction businesses
• Use ads that convince them you offer a better opportunity, make your business attractive to them
• Be willing to pay them well 

3. How can I pre-qualify customers over the phone?

• Make sure you can do the scope of work
• Make sure you can meet the time frame
• Make sure you’re on the same page with pricing
• Ask calibrated questions and use Profit Club tools for sales process
• Figure out the pain and pleasure of why the customer wants this project
• Have they worked with other contractors? 

4. How can I create systems in my business?

• Understand there is no one size fits all, plug-it-in, ready to go system
• Address your micro frustrations and fix what bugs you the most
• Try 2 second improvements and repeat them to create an efficient system
• Figure out how to do what you need to do better, faster, cheaper 

5. Where do you find good customers and where do you find leads?

• If you’re attracting bad customers, it’s because your marketing sucks
• Create a customer avatar based on who you want to work for
• Market to your target demographic and start adding value
• Use marketing and branding to be visible and get in front of customers
• People have to know about you—market yourself! 

Links to Resources:

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A common mistake contractors make is competing on price. Listen in for simple ways to shift your mindset and increase your value without competing on price!

In this episode, we talk about…

• Raising the value of your business by raising the expectation of the customer
• Why you shouldn’t position your services as a commodity
• Using intangibles like customer service, employee vetting for increased value
• Why your image, professionalism, and branding must match across the board
• Advice for improving your value by investing in your business
• Why you must dedicate time, effort, and intention to build your value
• Suggestion for using outside and customer feedback, auditing your website and sales process, and changing “We’s and I’s to YOU”
• Why you must start making changes now if you want your business to survive and thrive 

Links to Resources:

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever considered going into business with your spouse? Justin and Kristin Bender shed light on what it’s really like to run a contracting business together as husband and wife.

In this episode, we talk about…

• Why working together as spouses is complicated, incredible, and challenging
• What it was like for Kristin to jump into a contractor business with zero trade skills
• How Justin and Kristin’s roles evolved over time
• Tips for fighting fair and improving communication during disagreements
• The difficutly of keeping work life and personal life separate
• Managing CRM issues and other organizational challenges
• What books Justin and Kristin are currently reading
• What you should know before going into business with your spouse 

Links to Resources:

Justin & Kristin Bender - www.benderhomesllc.com

Learn how to better manage pressure in the Profit Club – www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast/

Website – www.hammerandgrind.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.