In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, Mike Compton of SWVA Stump Co. joins Austin Gray to discuss the journey of starting a stump grinding business from scratch. 

Mike shares how he transitioned from a W2 job to becoming an owner-operator, his approach to pricing jobs, and the ups and downs he encountered in his first five weeks of business. 

They also talk about the importance of taking fast action, learning from mistakes, and building credibility in a local market.

Mike’s journey is a perfect example of how entrepreneurs can start small, make mistakes, and grow through persistence and hard work. 

If you're thinking about starting a service-based business or just want some motivation, this episode is for you. 

Tune in for insights into equipment purchasing, marketing strategies, and overcoming challenges as a new business owner.

Text us your questions about starting your business at 970-585-OWNR!

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

📖 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: →

https://www.ownrops.com/newsletter

💰Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz:➡ https://skool.com/ownrops

Thanks for listening to the OWNR OPS Podcast, where we help entrepreneurs start and grow local service businesses. 

Join us every Friday for new episodes!

In this solo episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, I’m sharing some powerful insights I’ve been learning about how to scale a service-based business the right way. 

From mastering paid ads to building systems that actually work for growth, I break down the key strategies I’m using to grow my business, Bearclaw, and how you can apply them to your own local service business.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to optimize what you’ve already got, these actionable tips will help you level up and push your business forward.

For those who don’t know me, I’m Austin Gray — owner of Bearclaw Land Services, specializing in land clearing, forestry, and snowplowing. 

I’m also the host of OWNR OPS, where I share my journey and learn from other seven-figure service business owners so we can all grow together.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The importance of building strong systems before scaling.
  

• How paid advertising and sales funnels are critical to growth.
  

• Why tracking and analyzing leads through tools like Google Tag Manager is essential.
  

• How tagging customers in your CRM can increase long-term customer value.
  

• Austin’s top tips for generating better leads and optimizing marketing efforts.
  

Tune in and learn from Austin’s journey to growing a successful service business!

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

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

🔥 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](http://ownrops.com/newsletter)

💰Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz:➡ https://skool.com/ownrops

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

This week on the OWNR OPS Podcast, Austin Gray speaks with Marlena, the co-founder of G&M Outdoor Services, who has played a crucial role in scaling the business to $6M in revenue.

Marlena and her brothers provide year-round services, including snow removal, excavation, and landscaping, and they’ve perfected how to manage seasonal challenges and business overhead.

💰Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz

In this episode, Marlena shares:

• How to navigate employee retention during the off-season

• The secrets behind snow plowing contracts and how to win bids

• Managing heavy equipment and seasonal expenses

• How Jobber has been a game-changer in reducing administrative time and improving customer service

• Financing options for clients and the role of technology in making business operations more efficient
  

Whether you’re in the outdoor services business or running a similar service-based company, Marlena’s insights are invaluable for overcoming seasonal hurdles, managing client relationships, and scaling your business efficiently.

🔥This episode is brought to you by: 

🚀 Jobber – Streamlining your service-based business

💼 Stryker Digital – Helping service businesses grow online

 📞 OpenPhone – Simplify communication and help team support customers with ease

Tune in to learn how Marlena’s hustle and strategy have fueled growth—and how you can apply these lessons to your own business. 

🎧 Subscribe for more actionable business tips from the OWNR OPS Podcast.

📰 Join the OWNR OPS Newsletter

Follow us on social media for updates and more business insights!

Instagram: @OwnerOps

Twitter: @OwnerOps

How do you build a $50M+ portfolio without VC money or a tech background? 

Nick Huber—founder of Sweaty Startup—did just that. 

In this episode, Nick shares how he went from scraping sidewalks and hiring Walmart employees to raising $52M for real estate and growing a remote team of 325+.

We cover:

• His “Sweaty Startup” mindset (and why he avoids the tech trap) 

  
  

• The first hire every service business should make
  

• How to delegate, hire, and fire with confidence
  

• Why decision-making and selling are the two most critical skills
  

• A full playbook for going from $0 to $1M and beyond
  

Whether you're just starting your service business or trying to scale without stress, this episode is your blueprint for high-output, no-fluff growth.

💰 Join our Free OW⁠NR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz

Nick's Free Resources!

🔗 Explore 200+ business ideas: sweatystartup.com/ideas

🔗 Hire amazing talent at: somewhere.com

🔗 Follow Nick: @sweatystartup

🔗 Get the book: “The Sweaty Startup” on Amazon

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

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

How do you build a $50M+ portfolio without VC money or a tech background? 

Nick Huber—founder of Sweaty Startup—did just that. 

In this episode, Nick shares how he went from scraping sidewalks and hiring Walmart employees to raising $52M for real estate and growing a remote team of 325+.

We cover:

• His “Sweaty Startup” mindset (and why he avoids the tech trap) 

• The first hire every service business should make
  

• How to delegate, hire, and fire with confidence
  

• Why decision-making and selling are the two most critical skills
  

• A full playbook for going from $0 to $1M and beyond
  

Whether you're just starting your service business or trying to scale without stress, this episode is your blueprint for high-output, no-fluff growth.

In today’s episode of the OWNR 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.

💰 Join our ⁠Free OW⁠NR OPS Skool Community⁠ to grow your local service biz

• 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.

📞 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

📖 Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros

🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker Digital⁠ SEO

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

📰 Sign up for the OWNR OPS 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.

💰 Join our ⁠⁠Free OW⁠NR OPS Skool Community⁠⁠ to grow your local service biz

🔥 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 Shopper

Twitter: @thomasrudy

LinkedIn: Thomas Rudy

Learn more about Data Shopper on YouTube: 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.

💰 Join our ⁠⁠⁠Free OW⁠NR OPS Skool Community⁠⁠⁠ to grow your local service biz

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 Mumford

Twitter/X: @StumpGuyTai

LinkedIn: Tyler Mumford

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, I sit down with Daryna Kulya , 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.

💰 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free OW⁠NR OPS Skool Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ to grow your local service biz

🔧 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: Daryna Kulya 
Role: Co-Founder, OpenPhone

• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/darynakulya/
• X: @darynakulya
• Website: OpenPhone

🔥 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.

💰 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free OW⁠NR OPS Skool Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to grow your local service biz

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