Doing the same thing twice and getting an excellent result is sexy. 

Revenue must exceed expenditure. Daily. Weekly. Monthly. Yearly. 

Closed jobs must hit north of 20%++. Every time. Every day. No excuses. 

Ongoing jobs must be on a pathway to make north of 20%. Every time. No excuses. 

Labour efficiency must hit its targets. Allocation. Utilisation. Quality. 

Be excellent. On site. Off site. Communication. Vision. Mission. Staff. Clients. Materials. Admin. Everything must be excellent. 

And to do things that work you must repeat similar (or the same) tasks. Every day. Every week.  Every month. Every year. For decades. Until you stop. 

And repeating similar (or the same) tasks gets boring. 

Sure it works! But it’s monotonous. 

Sure it works! But it’s mundane. 

So you need to find the sexy in monotony. Find the sexy in mundane. 

Find the sexy in doing the same thing twice and getting an excellent result. 

Get stuck on the hamster wheel that’s sexy. 

And then repeat it. 

For decades. 

Enjoy the pod x 

Summary

Greg Crowe shares insights on how consistent, boring business practices can lead to long-term success. He emphasizes the importance of sticking to what works, maintaining excellence, and focusing on relationships and profitability over time.

Keywords

business success, consistency, profitability, excellence, business growth, long-term strategy

Key Topics

The concept of positive hamster cycles in business

Importance of sticking to proven strategies

Maintaining 20-40% net profit on jobs

Labor efficiency and quality of work

The role of the office in business profitability

The importance of being excellent and service quality

Long-term focus over short-term gains

The value of continuous improvement

Titles

The Power of Boring Business Success

Why Consistency Wins in Business

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Why Boring Businesses Win

00:30 The Negative and Positive Hamster Wheels

01:23 Getting Stuck in a Positive Cycle

02:17 Remembering When Your Business Worked

03:16 Diverting from What Works

04:13 The Power of Consistency and Boredom

05:11 Revenue and Expenditure: The Basics

06:35 Introducing Dave: The Business App

08:29 Avoiding the Shadowy Place: Jobs Under 20% Net Profit

09:23 Gross Profit vs. Net Profit

10:16 The Importance of Paying Yourself a Market Wage

11:14 Managing Ongoing Jobs for Profitability

12:43 Learning from Job Mishandling

14:12 Checking Job Profitability and Labor Efficiency

16:25 Opportunity Cost and Office Time

18:01 The Value of Office Management and Quotes

19:44 The Cost of Rushing and Mistakes

21:06 The Power of Chasing Subcontractors

22:07 The Money is Made in the Office

23:27 The Core Values: Make Money, Build Wealth, Be Kind

24:28 Be Excellent: The Key to Business Success

26:46 The Importance of Quality and Communication

28:10 Progressing in Business: The Car Park Analogy

29:36 The Boring Path to Success

30:34 Final Thoughts: Consistency and Excellence

Making money is easy when you know how. 

The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money.

The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept. 

In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows: 

-weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss) 

-the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit 

-the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit 

-all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”)

-all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”) 

Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is. 

The goal? That revenue would consistently hit significantly above expenditure. Be kind. Repeat. 

May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind. 

Much love, 

Crowe

Summary

In this episode, Greg Crowe dives into the crucial aspects of labor efficiency in electrical businesses, emphasizing the importance of measuring paid vs. allocated hours, utilization, and quality of work. He shares practical insights and stories to help business owners optimize their operations and boost profitability.

Keywords

labor efficiency, electrical business, productivity, utilization, profitability, business growth, labor management, efficiency metrics

Key Topics

Labor efficiency metrics: paid vs. allocated hours, utilization, quality

Importance of measuring and controlling overheads and break-even rates

The impact of quality hours on profitability and business growth

Stories illustrating low-quality work despite good utilization

Strategies for effective labor management and scheduling

 Takeaways

Every hour must have a clear purpose and a 'home' in your business.

Utilization and allocation are separate metrics; both must be optimized.

Quality of hours is subjective but crucial; it impacts profitability.

Controlling break-even rates is essential for sustainable profit.

Regularly review and adjust labor metrics to prevent low-quality work and inefficiencies.

Titles

Mastering Labor Efficiency in Your Electrical Business

The 3 Key Metrics to Boost Your Electrical Business Profitability

 Sound bites

"Make sure weekly revenue exceeds expenditure"

"Your numbers show you everything about your business"

"Labor hours must have a clear 'home' in your business"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to labor efficiency and its importance

09:28 Measuring paid vs. allocated hours

09:57 Understanding utilization and break-even rates

10:24 The significance of hours having a 'home' in your business

11:22 Defining roles and expectations for staff

12:48 Controlling break-even rates and overheads

15:13 Assessing overheads and overhead drop

16:11 The difference between allocation and utilization

17:34 The importance of quality hours and subjective measurement

19:29 Stories illustrating low-quality work despite good metrics

26:04 Final tips on daily and weekly labor management

Making money is easy when you know how. 

The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money.

The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept. 

In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows: 

-weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss) 

-the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit 

-the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit 

-all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”)

-all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”) 

Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is. 

The goal? That revenue would consistently hit significantly above expenditure. Be kind. Repeat. 

May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind. 

Much love, 

Crowe

Summary

In this episode, Greg Crowe shares essential strategies for managing and maximizing profitability in electrical businesses. From understanding break-even rates to optimizing project management and quality of hours, learn how to make smarter decisions that grow your business.

Keywords

Electrical Business, Profitability, Project Management, Break-even Rate, Cost Control, Job Estimation, Quality of Hours, Contractor Relationships

Key Topics

Understanding and controlling break-even rates

Effective project staging and claiming

Choosing the right contractors and suppliers

Managing project scope and variations

Ensuring quality of hours and team organization

Using metrics like gross and net profit per hour

Importance of site walkthroughs and variation management

Strategic decision-making in ongoing jobs

Titles

Mastering Profit in Electrical Business: 12 Key Strategies

How to Control Costs and Maximize Profit in Electrical Projects

Sound Bites

"Make more money by managing your costs and projects"

"Know your margins before you start a project"

"Quality of hours is subjective but crucial"

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Financial Metrics in Electrical Business

05:06 The Importance of Ongoing Job Management

09:51 Evaluating Project Viability and Margins

15:00 Building Strong Relationships with Contractors

19:54 Maximizing Profitability Through Quality Management

Making money is easy when you know how. 

The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money.

The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept. 

In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows: 

-weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss) 

-the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit 

-the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit 

-all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”)

-all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”) 

Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is. 

The goal? That revenue would consistently hit significantly above expenditure. Be kind. Repeat. 

May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind. 

Much love, 

Crowe

Summary

Greg Crowe shares insights on managing electrical business projects, emphasizing the importance of accurate quoting, effective communication between office and site, and fostering a positive company culture to ensure profitability and growth.

Keywords

Electrical Business, Project Management, Quoting, Business Growth, Company Culture

Key Topics

Importance of accurate quoting and formulas

Communication between office and site

Open book pricing and transparency

Staff management and culture

Financial metrics: gross profit, net profit, revenue

Long-term business planning and growth strategies

Takeaways

Getting the quote right from the office is crucial for project success.

Open communication and transparency with clients can lead to more contracts.

Regular staff check-ins improve team cohesion and performance.

Focus on people, processes, and numbers to build a sustainable business.

Visualizing your future business helps set clear goals.

Titles

Mastering Electrical Business Projects: From Quoting to Culture

The Secret to Profitable Electrical Projects

Sound Bites

"It's so important to get the formula right from the office."

"Open book pricing can flip the client from doubt to yes."

"You manage people, and that’s the key to success."

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Accurate Quoting

05:09 Balancing Office and On-Site Operations

09:28 The Role of Transparency in Client Relationships

14:15 Building a Strong Team Culture

19:33 Financial Growth and Business Sustainability

24:16 Vision for the Future: Planning for Success

Making money is easy when you know how. 

The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money.

The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept. 

In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows: 

-weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss) 

-the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit 

-the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit 

-all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”)

-all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”) 

Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is. 

The goal? That revenue would consistently hit significantly above expenditure. Be kind. Repeat. 

May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind. 

Much love, 

Crowe

Summary

In this episode, Greg Crowe shares practical insights on managing ongoing jobs, quoting strategies, controlling your calendar, and understanding your break-even rates to improve profitability and business growth.

Keywords

business management, quoting strategies, break-even rates, project management, electrical business, construction, business growth, time management

Key Topics

Managing ongoing jobs over 20k to 2 million+

The importance of quoting and follow-up questions

Controlling your calendar and time management

Understanding and calculating break-even rates

The role of contracts and pricing in project success

Building relationships with clients and staff

Lessons learned from business growth and mistakes

The importance of quality work and materials

Takeaways

Ongoing jobs over 20k are the easiest to get wrong but hardest to fix.

Always allocate 30-60 minutes to review quotes before sending.

Your calendar reflects your priorities; control it to control your business.

Know your break-even rates, including fixed and variable costs.

Build strong relationships with clients and staff for long-term success.

Mistakes in quoting and project management can be costly but teach valuable lessons.

Focus on quality materials and workmanship to ensure work stands the test of time.

Be aware of market rates and adjust your pricing accordingly.

Titles

Mastering Ongoing Jobs: Strategies for Electrical Business Success

How to Control Your Calendar and Boost Profitability

Sound Bites

"Ongoing jobs over 20k are the easiest to get wrong."

"Your calendar reflects your priorities."

"Know your break-even rates to stay profitable."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Managing Ongoing Jobs

00:30 Common Mistakes in Quoting and How to Avoid Them

01:55 The Importance of Reviewing Quotes and Asking Good Questions

02:50 Controlling Your Calendar and Time Management

04:17 The Power of a Well-Structured Schedule

05:43 Sending Quotes: Pleasing Both Present and Future Clients

07:12 Building Long-Term Relationships and Forecasting

09:34 Handling Difficult Conversations with Clients

10:56 Lessons from Business Growth and Mistakes

12:48 The Value of Experience and Continuous Learning

15:09 Understanding Break-Even Rates and Cost Components

17:27 Controlling Overheads and Variable Costs

19:50 Final Thoughts: Avoiding Costly Mistakes in Quoting

Making money is easy when you know how. 

The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money.

The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept. 

In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows: 

-weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss) 

-the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit 

-the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit 

-all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”)

-all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”) 

Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is. 

The goal? That revenue would consistently hit significantly above expenditure. Be kind. Repeat. 

May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind. 

Much love, 

Crowe

Summary

In this episode, Greg Crowe shares practical insights on how service industry businesses, especially electrical, solar, and aircon companies, can increase profitability by focusing on labor and materials, effective quoting, managing staff, and personal finance discipline.

Keywords

business profitability, service industry, labor and materials, quoting, staff management, personal finance, ongoing jobs, project management

 Key Topics

Labor and materials split in service businesses

Effective quoting and variation management

Importance of personal and business budgets

Managing staff performance and accountability

Handling ongoing jobs and client relationships

Titles

Mastering Profit in Service Businesses: Greg Crowe's Top Strategies

How to Use Labor as a Trojan Horse for Profit

 Sound Bites

"Labor is a Trojan horse for profit"

"20% of a higher number is a higher number"

"Not all revenue is good revenue"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Profitability in Service Industries

02:30 Understanding Labor and Materials in Business

05:17 The Importance of Budgeting in Business

08:36 Time Management and Its Impact on Profitability

11:33 The Consequences of Poor Staffing Decisions

14:26 Identifying and Managing Underperforming Staff

17:16 The Ripple Effect of Bad Decisions in Business

20:38 The Importance of Client Relationships

23:31 Final Thoughts on Business Success

Making money is easy when you know how. 

The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money.

The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept. 

In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows: 

-weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss) 

-the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit 

-the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit 

-all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”)

-all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”) 

Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is. 

The goal? Revenue exceeds expenditure. Be kind. Repeat. 

May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind. 

Much love, 

Crowe

Summary

In this episode, Greg Crowe shares practical strategies to increase profitability in electrical, solar, and air conditioning businesses. He emphasizes the importance of consistent execution, effective quoting, and managing ongoing jobs to maximize net profit.

Keywords

Electrical Business, Solar Profit, Aircon Business, Profit Strategies, Quoting, Ongoing Jobs, Business Efficiency

Key Topics

Profitability in service businesses

Effective quoting and variation management

Ongoing job profitability tracking

Importance of consistency and discipline

Building relationships for ongoing work

Titles

5 Simple Ways to Make More Money in Your Electrical Business

How to Increase Profitability in Solar and Aircon Jobs

 Sound Bites

"Let the content dictate the format."

"20% of a higher number is a higher number."

"Did I get the original price right?"

Chapters

00:00 Maximizing Profit in Service Businesses

02:56 Understanding Profitability Metrics

06:12 The Importance of Consistency and Discipline

09:06 Evaluating Ongoing Jobs for Profitability

12:00 The Role of Reputation and Word of Mouth

14:51 Quoting and Pricing Strategies

17:46 Managing Variations and Client Expectations

21:10 The Value of Relationships in Business

24:01 Learning from Experience and Mistakes

26:55 The Importance of Communication in Business

30:09 Conclusion and Next Steps

July 1 is coming up, and there really is no better time to consider a rise in rates + margins. 

Today we discuss 7 key items that will help you in your decision. 

Good / Excellent Relationships With Clients Is The Key 

• Can you have hard conversations with your clients? 
• Can you talk money with your clients? 
• If you can’t, how strong is the relationship? 
• Life, and business, is all about building relationships 
• A good relationship is built on mutual respect, trust, transparency etc 
• Don’t be scared to fill them in on what’s going on 

Avoid The Generic Email, Go And See People

• Or at worst case call them 
• Imagine if someone is having a bad day, or your relationship is already on the rocks, and they get an email about your price rises 
• Delivering the news in person you can gauge their emotions + also communicate effectively 
• Definitely for all your major clients, everyone else can be just told along the way 
• A generic email to 1000 clients should be absolute worst case scenario. 

Think Of What This Actually Means For Your Clients 

• A GPO might go up $10-$15+
• A 4 hour job might go up $40+ 
• It’s honestly not that big of a deal 

Think Of What This Actually Means For Your Business 

• Charging an additional $5 per person per hour = $40 per day = $200 per week = $10k per year 
• Do this across 5 staff members that’s $50k straight to the bottom line 
• Do this across 10 staff members that’s $100k straight to the bottom line 
• Do this across 20 staff members that’s $200k straight to the bottom line 

Establish A Yearly Rhythm For Your Clients, Staff + Yourself 

• Every year, your price will need to go up 3-5%
• Every year, your staff wages will need to go up 3-5%
• Every year, your wage will go up 3-5% in line with market value 
• For the first year, this will feel uncomfortable. After 5 years, it will feel normal 

Don’t Overthink It

• It’s not something you have a say in, it’s company policy 
• If you were the CEO, you would need to do this 

But Honestly, Sometimes OverThink It 

• If you are making $2m a year and yo are genuinely worried, back your gut + put it on pause 

It’s time for you to get after your trade god ordained destiny of making money, building wealth + being kind. 

Much love,

Crowe x

Summary

In this episode, Greg Crowe discusses the importance of strategic rate increases, building strong client relationships, and maintaining business profitability through disciplined daily practices and annual planning. Learn practical tips to raise your rates effectively while preserving trust and long-term success.

Keywords

business growth, rate increase, client relationships, profitability, daily discipline, annual planning, business strategy

Key Topics

Timing of rate increases (July 1, January 1)

Four key financial metrics: gross profit, gross profit per hour, net profit, net profit per hour

Importance of daily discipline in checking job profitability

Building strong, honest client relationships

Effective communication when raising rates

Annual rhythm for rate adjustments and cost increases

Avoiding generic communication, personal engagement

Long-term mindset for business and client relationships

Titles

The Best Time to Raise Your Rates and How to Do It

Mastering Client Relationships for Business Success

 sound bites

"There's no better time than July 1 to raise your rates"

"Check every job for gross profit and net profit"

"Build relationships based on trust and transparency"

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Raising Rates

05:12 Building Strong Client Relationships

10:02 Effective Communication Strategies

15:03 Understanding the Financial Impact

17:52 Final Thoughts on Rate Increases

July 1 is coming up, and there really is no better time to consider a rise in rates + margins. 

Today we discuss the pros and cons of considering increases. 

Why you should raise your rates…

• Make money. Build wealth. Be kind. It all starts with making money 
• You deserve a market wage + super + a business net profit of 20-35% 
• You’re currently oncosting yourself as 1 full time position but really you are doing 2 positions (ie 30-40 hours of “volunteer” admin work at night time). If you paid someone to do this, your overhead per hour would increase and you would either be losing money or making less money
• If you don’t raise your prices, every hour is costing you more and out of every dollar you are keeping less. 
• The price of everything has gone up (subscriptions, petrol, staff, super, interest etc)
• A $45 to $50 wage increase for your key tradie has just cost you $10k 

Why you shouldn’t raise your rates…

• You feel dirty like you’re ripping someone off 
• You fear success / failure / making money 
• You are uncomfortable having hard conversations 
• You fear the unknown // what happens if someone pushes back? What happens if you lose clients? Is it worth it?
• If you’re currently charging too low, you might not be able to get there in one go 
• Your overheads are too high and it’s messing with your break evens 
• You genuinely want to absorb this one to keep + build client relationships 
• You are on top of this and are continually raising your rates 

It’s time for you to get after your trade god ordained destiny of making money, building wealth + being kind. 

Much love,

Crowe x

Summary

In this episode, Greg Crowe discusses the importance of raising rates at strategic times, especially July 1, to ensure business profitability and sustainability. He shares practical insights on how to approach rate increases, understand your numbers, and build a profitable, long-term business.

Keywords

business rates, profitability, financial planning, business growth, pricing strategy, July 1 rate increase, business tips, financial year, profit margins

Key Topics

Best times to raise business rates (July 1, January 1)

Understanding your break-even rate and profit margins

The importance of knowing your numbers and costs

Overcoming the fear of raising prices

Building a profitable and sustainable business

The impact of overheads and non-billable expenses

Market normalcy and pricing ethics

Self-development through business challenges

Titles

Why July 1 is the Best Time to Raise Your Business Rates

Master Your Business Finances: When and How to Increase Prices

Sound bites

"Most of you are on costing volunteer administration work"

"Every hour is costing you more money"

"Stop glamorizing the struggle, speak positively about your business"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Rate Increases

01:24 The Importance of Timing for Rate Increases

02:20 Understanding the Need to Raise Rates

05:04 The Financial Reality of Running a Business

08:48 Defining Your Role and Responsibilities

10:58 Market Wage and Profit Margins

12:25 The Cost of Volunteer Administration Work

14:11 The Consequences of Not Raising Rates

16:03 Reasons Against Raising Rates

20:41 Evaluating Overheads and Break-Even Rates

23:03 Market Realities and Client Expectations

25:31 Building Client Relationships vs. Profitability

26:28 Conclusion and Next Steps

Making money is easy when you know how. 

The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money.

The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept. 

In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows: 

-weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss) 

-the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit 

-the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit 

-all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”)

-all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”) 

Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is. 

Revenue > expenditure. Be kind. Repeat. 

May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind. 

Much love, 

Crowe

Summary

Greg Crowe shares practical strategies to increase profitability and build a sustainable electrical business over the long term. He emphasizes the importance of long-term planning, maintaining business health, and focusing on implementation over complexity.

Keywords

Electrical business, profitability, long-term planning, business growth, financial management, Sparky Coach, revenue, expenses, net profit, business systems

Key Topics

Long-term planning and its impact on business success

The importance of weekly revenue exceeding expenses

Building relationships with clients and staff for long-term success

The role of gross profit and net profit in business health

Strategies for increasing revenue and reducing costs

Titles

5 Ways to Make More Money in Your Electrical Business

The Long Game: Building a Sustainable Electrical Business

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Business Growth Strategies

02:51 The Power of Long-Term Thinking

07:34 Balancing Short-Term Hustle with Long-Term Goals

12:14 Five Ways to Increase Revenue in Electrical Business

15:22 Understanding Revenue and Expenditure

26:07 Conclusion and Key Takeaways