OWNR OPS Podcast

💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops

Can you really make 6 figures in 60 days—and still run a tight, high-ticket business? Steve Hunsaker proves it's possible.

In this episode, Austin Gray sits down with Steve, founder of Valley Christmas Lights and Home Service Accelerator, who shares the exact systems, sales playbook, and paid ad strategies behind his explosive seasonal success.

From postcard ROI and CRM attribution to speed-to-lead systems and why he won’t train competitors in his own market—this is a masterclass in building lean, profitable service ops.

You’ll learn:

• How Steve turned $5K in postcard ads into $28.5K in October sales
  

• Why accurate lead tracking is non-negotiable for growth
  

• The speed-to-lead system that outpaces every competitor
  

• Why sticking to high pricing builds a better business long-term
  

• How to avoid being “busy but broke” in seasonal services
  

If you’re in lights, landscaping, junk removal, or any local service business—this episode is packed with tactical clarity.

🔥 Services We Use 🔥

We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing ➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube

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

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

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

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

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️https://skool.com/ownrops

How should land clearing operators price their jobs in 2025?

In this episode, Austin Gray sits down with Jacob Neffendorf, founder of Land Clearing Growth, to unpack everything from day rates vs. project pricing to instant estimate tools, client education, and why pricing transparency actually drives better leads.

Jacob shares what’s working right now across 120+ land clearing companies—from pricing psychology and “good, better, best” packages to avoiding tire kickers, improving qualification, and marketing smarter on Facebook.

You’ll learn:

• Why job-based pricing usually beats hourly or day rates
  

• How to use estimate tools to qualify leads before you ever pick up the phone
  

• The top mistakes new operators make when pricing their first few jobs
  

• How to get local Facebook content ranking on Google
  

• What mindset shift Jacob says will unlock better clients (and more profit)
  

  
  If you're in land clearing, fire mitigation, or any blue-collar service business—this episode is packed with tactical, field-tested insights you can apply today.

🔥 Services We Use 🔥

We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing ➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube

📞 QUO- Business Phone System That Scales With You: Get 20% off your first 3 months. https://www.quo.com/

🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker 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://ownrops.com/newsletter

💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops

Can AI really generate construction estimates better than a human? Alex Boyd says yes—and built the proof.

In this episode, Austin Gray sits down with Alex, founder of Brushwork Land Clearing, who reveals the full tech stack he uses to automate his sales process from start to finish.

Using a pendant to record conversations, ChatGPT to summarize and price jobs, and Housecall Pro to send instant estimates—this is the future of blue-collar automation.

You’ll learn:

• How Alex trained AI to understand brush density, terrain, and job pricing
  

• The exact tools he uses to automate everything from estimates to social posts
  

• Why switching from per-day to per-project pricing was a game changer
  

• How AI helps land more jobs with better accuracy
  

• The framework any contractor can use to build their own AI estimating system
  

If you’re in land clearing, landscaping, tree service, or any local service business—this episode is packed with real-world, tactical automation strategies.

🔥 Services We Use 🔥

We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube

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

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

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

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

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops

How do faith and business intertwine in the life of an entrepreneur?

In this episode, Austin Gray talks with Alex Kirby, a former pastor who turned his passion for landscaping into a thriving multi-million-dollar business.

Alex shares his journey of overcoming initial challenges, scaling debt-free, and how his faith played a pivotal role in his success.

Alex reveals:

• How he built Trifecta Landscaping from the ground up
  

• The importance of aligning business with your core values
  

• Marketing strategies that didn’t require big ad spend
  

• The mindset shifts required to scale past the $250K revenue barrier
  

• Why he chose to franchise and the lessons from his expansion
  

Whether you’re a tradesman or an entrepreneur, Alex’s insights on blending faith, hustle, and business are invaluable.

Tune in to learn how to grow your business and create a lasting legacy while staying true to your values.

🔥 Services We Use 🔥

We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube

📞 QUO- Business Phone System That Scales With You: Get 20% off your first 3 months. https://www.quo.com/

🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker 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://ownrops.com/newsletter

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

What’s the real math behind profitable growth in home services?

In this episode, Austin Gray talks with Andy Walker (Stryker Digital) about using LTV : CAC (LTGP : CAC), Average Order Value, and speed-to-lead to scale—without racing to the bottom on price.

Andy shares:

His practical $2K podcast/production mindset applied to service marketing.

A step-by-step speed-to-lead framework (3-minute call, 7-day follow-up, long-tail nurture) Facebook vs Google Ads for high-ticket services (roofing, mitigation, remodeling) Bonus-stacked offers, guarantees, and timeline commitments to win without discounting.

How weekly manual reporting builds data discipline and sharper decisions Why focus beats shiny objects—and when to expand.

Whether you’re in the trenches scaling a local service brand or optimizing your acquisition flywheel, this episode gives you the playbook to raise AOV, improve LTGP : CAC, and outspend competitors profitably.

Listen in to turn your marketing into a durable growth engine.

🔥 Services We Use 🔥

We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube

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

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

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

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

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops

How do you scale a land clearing / forestry mulching / fire mitigation business from busy operator to true owner?

In this live episode, Austin Gray talks with Jacob Nefendorf (Rise Online Ads, Land Clearing Growth) right after the $100M Money Models launch and an acquisition.com strategy day.

Jacob lays out the exact marketing and ops moves that drive qualified jobs—not vanity views.

You’ll learn:

• The Operator → Owner path at $1M, $5M, and beyond
  

• How to define and qualify your ideal customer (machines, revenue, mindset)
  

• The 72-Hour Booking Machine to 3× your close rate from existing leads
  

• Why pricing pages & “cost to clear land” content cut tire-kickers
  

• The framework: test on TikTok/IG → scale winners with Meta ads
  

• When YouTube beats everything for older landowners & education
  

• Systems and processes that make your company sellable
  

Follow Austin (THE OWNROPS) and Jacob (Land Clearing Growth), grab the free book via growth.riseonlineads.com, and subscribe to the OWNROPS Podcast for more service-business growth playbooks.

🔥 Services We Use 🔥We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube

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

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

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

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

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops

Are Facebook ads dead for local service businesses? Not even close.

In this episode, Austin Gray chats with Jacob Neffendorf, founder of Rise Online Ads — an agency managing Facebook ad campaigns for over 125 land clearing businesses nationwide. 

Jacob unpacks how he’s helping operators land six-figure jobs, get 100+ leads per month, and scale with simple, proven strategies.

You’ll learn:

• How one video ad landed a $425K right-of-way clearing job
  

• Jacob’s preferred pricing model: day rate vs. by-the-job
  

• The biggest mistake land clearing operators make in sales
  

• What to say in a 2025 Facebook ad (hint: targeting is changing)
  

• How focusing on one niche can transform your agency or service business
  

Whether you’re a contractor or a marketer, this is a tactical deep dive into what’s actually working right now.

🔥 Services We Use 🔥

We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-spotify

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

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

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

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

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️

https://skool.com/ownrops

Want to know how Meta ads can transform your local home service business? 

In this episode, Steve Hunsaker, a successful entrepreneur with years of experience in running Meta (Facebook & Instagram) ads, shares his proven strategies for generating high-quality leads, building brand recognition, and scaling effectively through digital marketing.

Steve dives deep into:

• How Meta ads help local businesses build trust and drive conversions
  

• Targeting high-income neighborhoods with laser-focused ads
  

• The importance of video content and humor in capturing attention
  

• Using lead forms and adding friction to filter out low-quality leads
  

• Real-life examples from his Christmas light business success
  

• How to use Meta ads for both lead generation and brand building

  
  

Whether you’re a local business owner, marketer, or entrepreneur, this episode offers invaluable insights on running Meta ads profitably and creating ad campaigns that deliver results. 

Listen in to learn how to make Meta ads work for you and scale your business effectively.

🔗 Follow Steve on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/valleychristmaslights

🔗 Check out their website: https://www.stevehunsaker.com

🔥 Services We Use 🔥

📞 QUO- Business Phone System That Scales With You: Get 20% off your first 3 months. https://www.quo.com/

We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing

➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube

🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker 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://ownrops.com/newsletter

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

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

How do you start a land clearing business from scratch and scale it into a seven-figure company?

In this OWNR OPS Live Q&A, Austin Gray (founder of Bear Claw Land Services) shares the exact playbook he used to build his business around fire mitigation, excavation, and driveway grading.

Inside, you’ll learn:

• How Austin landed his very first $3,500 job
  

• Why a website & Google Business Profile are non-negotiable
  

• When to rent vs. buy equipment like skid steers & mulcher
  

• How to charge $2,500/day and build profitable bids
  

• Facebook & YouTube ad strategies that actually generate calls
  

• Why “speed to lead” closes more jobs than any other tactic
  

• How to get consistent five-star reviews & dominate your market
  

If you’re a contractor, service business owner, or aspiring land clearing pro—this episode gives you the unfiltered blueprint to launch and grow.

🔥 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-youtube

📚 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!

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

How do you validate demand, buy heavy equipment, and scale a land clearing business profitably?

In this episode, Austin Gray talks with Alex Boyd, founder of Brushworks Services Co., about starting and growing a land clearing business from scratch.

Alex shares:

• Why he invested $90K into a skid steer and mulcher
  

• The keyword research that revealed untapped demand
  

• Mistakes he made on pricing and financing (and how he fixed them)
  

• How grapple attachments add nearly 100% profit margin
  

• The real cost of maintenance, warranties, and downtime
  

• Why he runs Facebook video ads with a local-first strategy
  

• How he integrates Jobber, HouseCall Pro, and GoHighLevel into his workflow
  

• The surprising snow plowing side hustle at $375/hr per skid steer
  

If you’re an entrepreneur looking at excavation, forestry mulching, or other heavy equipment businesses, this episode is a must-listen.

🔥 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-youtube

📚 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!