In today’s episode of the Owner Ops Podcast, Austin Gray talks with John Diekel, the owner of Master Plumbing and Heating in Vermont.From his time in the military to owning a plumbing business, John shares his journey of building a successful service business by focusing on community engagement, modern systems, and creating a company culture based on care and mentorship.

• The Importance of Community Engagement for Business Growth
• Implementing Software Tools: Streamlining Operations with Jobber
• Building a Diverse Team Across Generations
• Recruitment Strategies for Hard-to-Fill Senior-Level Roles
• The Power of Investing in People: Employee Benefits & Growth
• John’s Advice for Business Owners: Focus on Caring for Your Team
• Final Thoughts: Growing a Business with a Strong Foundation

Mentioned in This Episode

🔥 We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-spotify

📞 We moved our phone line to OpenPhone so that we can record calls, summarize & tag customers with AI, and integrate with Jobber.➡️ Get 20% off OpenPhone here: https://get.openphone.com/ownr-ops

📖 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros: https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops

🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker Digital⁠ SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo

Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business?📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → ownrops.com/newsletter

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and success stories!

In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, we dive into customer acquisition, local marketing strategies, and how you can maximize your ROI with data-driven remarketing. Austin is joined by Thomas Rudy, co-founder & CMO of Data Shopper, a software company revolutionizing remarketing for local businesses.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

• Fast Customer Acquisition Tactics
• Overcoming Fear in Sales
• The Power of Local SEO
• Remarketing with Direct Mail
• Attribution in Marketing

Mentioned in This Episode🔥 We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownerops-spotify

📞 We moved our phone line to OpenPhone so that we can record calls, summarize & tag customers with AI, and integrate with Jobber.➡️ Get 20% off OpenPhone here: https://get.openphone.com/ownr-ops

📖 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros: https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops

🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker Digital⁠ SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo

Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business?📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → ownrops.com/newsletter

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and success stories!

Check out Thomas Rudy’s work at Data Shopper:Website: Data ShopperTwitter: @thomasrudyLinkedIn: Thomas Rudy

Watch more from Thomas Rudy on his YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/4SjQFvPj59M?si=h7R40v25hQFi_q1A

In this week’s episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Tyler Mumford, owner of GrindTime Stump Grinding.

Tyler’s story is nothing short of inspiring. 

He built his stump grinding business from scratch and hit $100,000 in revenue in just 7.5 months—and he did it all solo, with no debt and no outside investment.

Tyler shares how he took the leap from a tech sales job to the world of stump grinding, how he built B2B relationships that generate consistent revenue, and the challenges he overcame along the way. 

He’s not just grinding stumps—he’s building a business with grit, determination, and relentless hustle.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Tyler transitioned into the service industry with zero experience.

• The steps he took to reach $100K in revenue without employees.

• A breakdown of his $3,500 day and what goes into pricing stump grinding jobs.

• The mindset that kept him going during difficult times.

• Tyler’s ambitious goal of hitting $200K in 2025 and what’s next for his business.

  
  

Whether you're just starting out or scaling your business, Tyler’s approach offers valuable lessons in building a service-based business, maintaining a positive mindset, and finding success on your own terms.

Connect with Tyler!

Instagram: Tyler MumfordTwitter/X: @StumpGuyTaiLinkedIn: Tyler Mumford➡️ First Appearance: "0 to 75K in Stump Grinding" - **https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCfiQ-Y-5tI**

Tune in now for a deep dive into how Tyler’s hustle turned into 6-figure success in less than a year!

Mentioned in This Episode:

🔥 We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-spotify

📞 We moved our phone line to OpenPhone so that we can record calls, summarize & tag customers with AI, and integrate with Jobber.➡️ Get 20% off OpenPhone here: https://get.openphone.com/ownr-ops

🚀 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros: https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops 🔥

🚀 Get ranked #1 on Google with Stryker Digital SEO:⁠ http://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo

Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business?

📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → ⁠ownrops.com/newsletter

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and success stories!

#StumpGrinding #BusinessSuccess #EntrepreneurMindset #OwnerOps #SmallBusiness #ServiceBusiness

🚨 This week on OWNR OPS, Austin Gray sits down with Doreen Acuya, co-founder of OpenPhone, to talk about their game-changing integration with Jobber—and why it’s about to streamline operations for thousands of contractors.

🔧 They break down:

• Why personal phones are killing your team’s efficiency

• How OpenPhone’s shared numbers + AI call tagging help you delegate smarter

• What the Jobber integration means for CRM syncing, job tracking, and call summaries

• The systems Doreen recommends to stop being the bottleneck and finally scale

If you’re building a service business or managing a growing team, this episode is your blueprint to better communication, fewer missed calls, and owning your time.

Have a business question? Text 970-585-OWNR and we'll answer in live Q&A in a future episode! 

🎙 Guest: Doreen Acuya
Role: Co-Founder, OpenPhone

• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/darynakulya/
• X: https://x.com/darynakulya
• Website: https://www.openphone.com

🔥 Mentioned in This Episode

🔥 We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.getjobber.com/ownerops-spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📞 We moved our phone line to OpenPhone so that we can record calls, summarize & tag customers with AI, and integrate with Jobber.

➡️ Get 20% off OpenPhone here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://get.openphone.com/ownr-ops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀 Get 50% DISCOUNT DialedIn Bookkeeping⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀Local SEO Stryker Digital: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: Weekly growth tips from real 7-figure service OWNRS → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ownrops.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments—what tool has helped you delegate smarter?

#OpenPhone #Jobber #ServiceBusiness #HomeService #OWNROPS #CRM #BusinessTools #Trades #Contractors

How do you build a recognizable brand in the home service space—from scratch?

Alex Lathery shares his journey from zero clients and free projects to co-founding the now-thriving Cincinnati Painting Co.

This episode is a must-listen if you're building in the local service space and want real talk on:

• How to pick a business name that helps you rank on Google
  

• Balancing bold branding with simple clarity
  

• Why your website should convert in 5 seconds
  

• The 3-month process behind one of the cleanest service biz websites we've seen
  

• When to not spend money on websites, logos, or SEO
  

Whether you're at $0 or $1M+, there’s something in this episode for you.

🎙️ Guest: Alex Lathery | Founder, Blue Collar Builds + Co-owner, Cincinnati Painting Co. 📍 Based in Cincinnati | Focus: Branding, Web Design, Local SEO

💡 Ready to brand smarter? Tune in.

This episode is brought to you by:

🔥 We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.getjobber.com/ownerops-spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📞 We moved our phone line to OpenPhone so that we can record calls, summarize & tag customers with AI, and integrate with Jobber.

➡️ Get 20% off OpenPhone here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://get.openphone.com/ownr-ops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀 Get 50% DISCOUNT DialedIn Bookkeeping⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀Local SEO Stryker Digital: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: Weekly growth tips from real 7-figure service OWNRS → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ownrops.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

#HomeServices #Entrepreneurship #LocalBusiness #SEO #ServiceBusiness #OwnerOps #Podcast

How do you build a recognizable brand in the home service space—from scratch?

Alex Lathery shares his journey from zero clients and free projects to co-founding the now-thriving Cincinnati Painting Co.

This episode is a must-listen if you're building in the local service space and want real talk on:

• How to pick a business name that helps you rank on Google
  

• Balancing bold branding with simple clarity
  

• Why your website should convert in 5 seconds
  

• The 3-month process behind one of the cleanest service biz websites we've seen
  

• When to not spend money on websites, logos, or SEO
  

Whether you're at $0 or $1M+, there’s something in this episode for you.

🎙️ Guest: Alex Lathery | Founder, Blue Collar Builds + Co-owner, Cincinnati Painting Co. 📍 Based in Cincinnati | Focus: Branding, Web Design, Local SEO

💡 Ready to brand smarter? Tune in.

#HomeServices #Entrepreneurship #LocalBusiness #SEO #ServiceBusiness #OwnerOps #Podcast

In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, we speak with Sam Allsopp, the managing partner of Neal Roofing, who’s successfully scaled his business to $25.7M in 2024. Sam reveals his formula for success and shares how he plans to double his revenue in 2025 by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), optimizing marketing spend, and building a robust operational framework.

Whether you're a roofing business owner, entrepreneur, or simply looking to grow your business, Sam’s insights will help you optimize your marketing efforts and create a scalable business model.

Key Highlights:

✨ How Sam broke down his marketing and sales KPIs for daily execution

✨ The role of data tracking in hitting ambitious revenue goals

✨ The secret to successfully managing a mixed team of subcontractors and in-house employees

✨How Neal Roofing uses multiple marketing channels including Google Ads and Local Services Ads to drive sales

✨The importance of referral programs and how Sam incentivizes clients to generate leads

✨What Sam looks at daily to track and adjust his revenue goals and marketing budget

Sam also shares his vision of growing Neal Roofing to $100M and how he plans to acquire and scale new businesses to reach that goal.

If you’re ready to implement proven strategies for your business, this episode is a must-listen!

Don’t forget to follow the OWNR OPS Podcast for more tips from successful entrepreneurs in the home services industry.

📺 Watching on YouTube? Don’t forget to like and subscribe!

📙Free Service Startup Playbook To Generate Your First $100k: https://www.ownrops.com/playbook

This episode is brought to you by:

🔥 We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.getjobber.com/ownerops-spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📞 We moved our phone line to OpenPhone so that we can record calls, summarize & tag customers with AI, and integrate with Jobber.

➡️ Get 20% off OpenPhone here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://get.openphone.com/ownr-ops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀 Get 50% DISCOUNT DialedIn Bookkeeping⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀Local SEO Stryker Digital: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: Weekly growth tips from real 7-figure service OWNRS → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ownrops.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

#entrepreneurship #homeservices #smallbusiness #businessgrowth #owneroperator #startups #businessadvice #digitalmarketing #delegation #workforce #entrepreneurjourney #contractors #marketingtips #businesssuccess #offshorehiring #subcontractors #businessstrategy #companyculture #hiringtips #remotework #smbuni #grit #startupadvice #scaleyourbusiness #five-starservice #businessinsights #entrepreneurtips #teamwork

Welcome to another episode of the Owner Operator Podcast! In today's episode, I sit down again with Kriss Bergethon, a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder of SMB Uni, to discuss all things entrepreneurship, business growth, and practical advice for those starting out in the home services industry.

Kriss has built multiple successful businesses, and in this conversation, we dive deep into the strategies that helped him grow his ventures—from starting in the trenches to scaling rapidly. Whether you're considering entering the home service industry or you're already in it, we share invaluable insights that can help you fast-track your success.

📙Free Service Startup Playbook To Generate Your First $100k: https://www.ownrops.com/playbook

🔑 Here’s what we cover in this episode:

✅How an aging workforce in industries is opening up new opportunities for fresh entrepreneurs.

✅How leveraging relationships with contractors, property managers, and subcontractors expands business.

✅Why digital marketing, delivering five-star service, and leveraging reviews are essential for getting your business off the ground.

✅How hiring back-office support and outsourcing key tasks helped grow the business without burning out.

✅Kriss’s approach to using remote workers for tasks like marketing and bookkeeping.

✅His new platform, SMB Uni which offers courses, resources, and a community to support business growth.

✅Our strategies, challenges, and how we navigated early-stage growth.

This episode is a great mix of sharing stories, asking the tough questions, and offering practical, real-world advice that will help any entrepreneur succeed.

#entrepreneurship #homeservices #smallbusiness #businessgrowth #owneroperator #startups #businessadvice #digitalmarketing #delegation #workforce #entrepreneurjourney #contractors #marketingtips #businesssuccess #offshorehiring #subcontractors #businessstrategy #companyculture #hiringtips #remotework #smbuni #grit #startupadvice #scaleyourbusiness #five-starservice #businessinsights #entrepreneurtips #teamwork

📺 Watching on YouTube? Don’t forget to like and subscribe!

This episode is brought to you by:

🔥 We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.getjobber.com/ownerops-spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📞 We moved our phone line to OpenPhone so that we can record calls, summarize & tag customers with AI, and integrate with Jobber.

➡️ Get 20% off OpenPhone here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://get.openphone.com/ownr-ops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀 Get 50% DISCOUNT DialedIn Bookkeeping⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀Local SEO Stryker Digital: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: Weekly growth tips from real 7-figure service OWNRS → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ownrops.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join me as I share my journey of launching a land-clearing business. With years of experience as an entrepreneur, I'll take you step-by-step through my approach to starting a home service business—from identifying my ideal customer to creating a solid plan for operations, sales and marketing, and finance.

📙Free Service Startup Playbook To Generate Your First $100k: https://www.ownrops.com/playbook

🔑 Here’s what we cover in this episode:

✅Why understanding your target market and creating a customer avatar is crucial

✅How I break down my business into three main areas: operations, sales and marketing, and finance

✅The role hiring plays in the early stages of your business and how I approach it strategically.

✅How I stay focused on "scoring touchdowns" and driving revenue in my business

Don’t miss the first episode of this series on starting a service-based business. Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your business to the next level, these episodes are packed with real advice and insights from my experience as an owner-operator.

📺 Watching on YouTube? Don’t forget to like and subscribe!

This episode is brought to you by:

🔥 We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.getjobber.com/ownerops-spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📞 We moved our phone line to OpenPhone so that we can record calls, summarize & tag customers with AI, and integrate with Jobber.

➡️ Get 20% off OpenPhone here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://get.openphone.com/ownr-ops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀 Get 50% DISCOUNT DialedIn Bookkeeping⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀Local SEO Stryker Digital: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: Weekly growth tips from real 7-figure service OWNRS → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ownrops.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Simon Turner, who is a very seasoned and savvy entrepreneur. He has built and sold two companies over the last two decades, and he's the type of person who, whenever he commits to something, sees it through and does it.

Simon also shares the theme of building company culture, his thoughts on creating a positive and productive work environment, and how to foster a sense of community and teamwork within an organization.

📙Free Service Startup Playbook To Generate Your First $100k: https://www.ownrops.com/playbook

Here’s what we covered:

✅The importance of going all-in and making a long-term commitment to a business

✅Simon's approach to dealing with challenges and setbacks

✅Building company culture: focus on people and creating a positive work environment

✅The role of resilience and adaptability in entrepreneurship

Simon is an expert at finding the right people for his organizations. Don’t miss out on his powerful insights—listen now and get inspired to achieve success in both your personal and professional life!

#entrepreneurjourney #servicebusiness #entrepreneurship #localbusiness #businessowner #businesstransformation #successstory #worklifebalance #businessgrowth #businessculture #companyculture #entrepreneur #business

🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify!

This episode is brought to you by:

🔥 We use Jobber to manage our quoting, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off your first 6 months here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://go.getjobber.com/ownerops-spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📞 We moved our phone line to OpenPhone so that we can record calls, summarize & tag customers with AI, and integrate with Jobber.

➡️ Get 20% off OpenPhone here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://get.openphone.com/ownr-ops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀 Get 50% DISCOUNT DialedIn Bookkeeping⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚀Local SEO Stryker Digital: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: Weekly growth tips from real 7-figure service OWNRS → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ownrops.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠