PaintED Podcast

If you're running a painting company and still handling your own scheduling, emails, social media, and back-office tasks — this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, host Chris Moore, founder of Elite Business Advisors, tackles one of the most common and costly mistakes painting contractors and painting business owners make: waiting too long to hire administrative help.

What You'll Learn:

· Why every painting contractor needs admin support — and why most wait far too long to get it

· Creative ways to hire admin help at every stage of your business — from virtual assistants and part-time help under $500K, to a network hire between $500K–$1M, to full-time staff at $1M+

· How to use AI tools (including tools like Manus) to handle graphic creation, redesigns, and repetitive tasks

· How to build your admin task list — the work they take off your plate and the growth work they can drive for you (social posting, Google My Business updates, email campaigns to past clients, marketing coordination, and more)

· The systems that make admin hires actually work — Trello, SOPs/Admin Playbooks, Loom videos, and building processes as you scale

· The ROI question every painting business owner needs to answer: What would 5 to 7 hours back per week do for your company?

Interested to learn more about what we do to help Painting Contractors all over North America? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

If you’re relying on leads coming in… you’re already behind.

In this episode, Breakthrough Academy Member John Malanchuk breaks down a proven approach to business development for contractors; one that goes beyond marketing and sales, and focuses on building real relationships that generate consistent, high-value work.

What’s slowing down your contracting or construction business isn’t always obvious.

In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Danny Kerr sits down with Mark Wong to break down the hidden inefficiencies that quietly drain profit, capacity, and momentum inside a growing company. From admin bloat and paperwork to wasted field time and poor workflows, this conversation dives into how smarter systems can improve construction management without adding more chaos.

If you’ve been trying to grow but feel like your team is stuck in reactive mode, this episode will show you where to look first.

Mark shares practical insights on business automation, how to identify repeatable tasks worth fixing, and where AI for contractors can actually create leverage. Instead of replacing people, the best tools help your team move faster, reduce non-billable work, and improve the customer experience.

What if the fastest way to build an accountable team was to show them the numbers you've been hiding? Ellen Rohr (Zoom Drain, Business Uncomplicated) has helped hundreds of contractors implement open book management — and the results are transformational.

In this episode, she breaks down exactly how to share your financials with your team, what to share (and what NOT to), and how to turn transparency into a game your crew actually wants to win.

If you've ever thought "My employees just don't care about profit" — this episode will show you why that's your fault, and how to fix it.

What happens when you put a bad apple next to a perfectly good one? It doesn't take long to find out — and the same principle applies to your team.

In this episode, Elite Business Advisors founder Chris Moore breaks down the "Bad Apple Theory" and why protecting your crew, your culture, and your rock stars is one of the most important things you can do as you head into busy season. One toxic, negative, or underperforming employee doesn't just drag themselves down — they can quietly rot the whole bunch.

Chris covers why the worst business decisions get made in moments of desperation, and why keeping someone around simply because you feel like you "need" them is a strategy that almost always backfires. He shares a practical framework for how to handle bad apples the right way — from proper HR documentation and write-ups to employment agreements and employee handbooks — so that when it's time to act, you're protected and prepared.

The hard truth? No client has ever regretted letting the bad apple go. Productivity goes up. Morale goes up. And your best people — the ones you actually depend on — finally get to thrive.

If you're a painting contractor managing a crew this season, this episode is a timely reminder: don't let one person's attitude or performance undermine everything you've worked to build.

Topics covered:

· Why bad apples spread — and how fast it happens

· The real cost of keeping underperformers out of desperation

· How to isolate a problem employee and evaluate whether they can be salvaged

· Building a termination plan backed by documentation

· Protecting your culture, your reputation, and your rock stars

Most contractors didn't start a business to be trapped inside of it.

Cameron Herold, the operational mind behind 1-800-GOT-JUNK's explosive scale from $2M to $106M, reveals the exact blueprint to turn your contracting company from a daily grind into a sellable, scalable asset.

In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Cameron breaks down why most contractors get stuck between $1M and $10M, what systems need to be in place before you can step out of the day-to-day, and the key hires that actually add enterprise value to your business.

Whether you plan to sell someday or never, building like an owner (not an operator) changes everything.

Most contractors post a job ad, get zero qualified applicants, and wonder why they can't find good people. The problem isn't the labor market — it's your hiring system.

In this roundtable, Matt Risinger (founder of The Build Show Network), Jacob Toler ($2.8M contractor running a 35% gross profit), and BTA coach Matt Balfe break down exactly how top contractors recruit, hire, and retain A-players — even when no one's applying.

Most entrepreneurs know they should prioritize their health — but knowing and doing are two very different things. In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, host Chris Moore pulls back the curtain on the health and fitness journey he's been on this year and shares the three things that have actually produced real, consistent results.

Chris breaks down why tracking macros — not just calories — changed everything, how he's using tools like ChatGPT and MacrosFirst to take the guesswork out of nutrition, and why pre-logging meals is one of the most powerful habits you're probably not doing. He also gets into the mental benefits of working out 3–4 times per week, why not blowing the diet matters more than not missing a workout, and the role that accountability has played in keeping the momentum going through 6:30 AM morning check-ins and shared wins.

If you've been putting your health on the back burner while building your business, this episode is your permission slip to make it a priority — and a practical roadmap for doing it in a way that's actually sustainable.

Today’s guest is a trusted voice in the painting industry and a true educator at heart. Mike Kremsreiter, founder of Home Painting Advice, has spent over 25 years helping homeowners and contractors elevate their craft through practical knowledge, honest insights, and real-world experience.

From running a successful residential painting business to building one of the fastest-growing online resources for DIYers and professionals alike, Mike has mastered the art of bridging hands-on expertise with digital education. His approachable style and deep technical know-how have helped thousands of homeowners avoid costly mistakes and empowered new contractors to grow with confidence.

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance craftsmanship with content creation—or how to turn years of trade experience into lasting impact—this episode is for you.

In this conversation, we dive into Mike’s journey from the job site to the digital stage. He shares:

- The story behind Home Painting Advice and how it grew into a trusted online brand

- The most common mistakes homeowners make (and how to avoid them)

- Why communication and transparency are game changers for contractors

- The truth behind “one-coat coverage” paints and other industry myths

- How to educate, connect, and grow your audience through authentic content

Whether you’re a painting contractor, DIY enthusiast, or business owner looking to modernize your approach, this episode delivers inspiration and actionable advice straight from one of the industry’s most genuine voices.

Contact Mike Kremsreiter:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (720) 295-4950

Website: homepaintingadvice.com

YouTube: @HomePaintingAdvice

Instagram: @homepaintingadvice

X : @homepaintadvice

Watch, listen, or read the full podcast here:

🎧 Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016944/episodes/18096691

📖 Transcript: https://www.estimaterocket.com/whats_new/bridging-hands-on-experience-and-digital-education-with-mike-kremsreiter

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About Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors:

The Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors podcast brings you off-the-cuff conversations from business growth and tech experts to help you grow your trade business. Whether you just started your own business or are a veteran with an expanding team, this show will keep bringing you useful ideas, interviews, tools, and tips to help you grow.

About Estimate Rocket:

Estimate Rocket is an all-in-one software platform built for contractors and service businesses to streamline their workflow from estimate to payment. With tools for estimating, scheduling, invoicing, reporting, and client communication, Estimate Rocket helps teams stay organized, profitable, and professional. Whether you’re managing field crews, tracking sales, or monitoring profitability, Estimate Rocket gives you the clarity and control you need to grow your business with confidence.

#EstimateRocket #RocketYourBusinessPodcast

Is your bank account actually growing this busy season — or are you just staying busy?

In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, Chris Moore breaks down the financial framework every painting contractor needs to maximize busy season profits. Because working harder doesn't automatically mean keeping more money — and too many contractors reach the end of busy season only to realize they never actually got ahead.

Chris walks through three core areas:

How to Measure — Get your baseline number: if you closed up shop today, what would you actually have free and clear? Chris explains why tracking this weekly is essential, how receivables distort your cash picture, and why real-time job costing against overhead is the habit that separates true business owners from the ones who stay stuck.

How to Plan — Know your cash targets at every stage. Chris shares specific cushion goals and winter targets broken down by company size — from solo operators to $1.5M+ operations — so you know exactly what number you're chasing and how many months of busy season you have left to close the gap.

How to Reap Without Guilt — Once your cushion and winter reserves are covered, Chris introduces Profit Account Theory and money management strategies — including high-yield savings, investments, and building additional income streams — so you can finally benefit as an owner without second-guessing every dollar you take home.

If you're putting in the hours this busy season, this episode makes sure you see the fruits of your labor.

🎙️ Elite Business Advice Podcast | Hosted by Chris Moore, Founder of Elite Business Advisors

Interested in scheduling a free business analysis meeting with us to see how we help Painting Contractors all over North America professionalize and/or grow their businesses? Visit www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!