The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

Do you know when a client reaches out, that’s the time when they are most motivated to hire a contractor? And if you’re taking too long to respond, you’re risking to lose that opportunity. Tim and Derek discuss how time kills deals and the importance of responding quickly to customers. They share their own experiences with letting too much time pass before getting back to clients and its impact.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The problem with late responses from contractors and the reasons behind it
• The importance of acting quickly when a customer reaches out, as that’s their peak motivation
• When Derek lost a $15,000 job because he took three days to get back to the client
• Strategies and tools for improving response times and customer communication
• The importance of making clients feel valued and important

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

From the past episodes, you may remember that Tom recently launched a new painting company, Simplify Painting, as a side hustle. And it’s off to a great start! In just the first month, they’ve landed 12 projects and received 39 leads. In this episode, Tom shares what he is doing to build the company and his plans for growing the business over time.

Tom also shares how he scored a $6,200 job with a 60% gross profit. He walks you through the entire process and shows how the Shin-Fu sales method helped him qualify the lead, save time, and seal the deal in just 2 days.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro

[00:31] - Benefits of the Shin-Fu sales process

[00:42] - Selling a job with 60% gross profit

[02:01] - Trust the process

[03:24] - Walkthrough of the job scope

[08:14] - The importance of marketing your business

[08:23] - Businesses shutting down due to poor marketing

[10:14] - Role of third-party lead generation sites Thumbtack and Angi 

[11:11] - Tom’s strategy for building Simplify Painting as a side hustle

[13:02] - Tom’s plans for scaling the business

[14:00] - Closing remarks

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

As a salesman, being likable can make all the difference. It’s not just about your service. It’s about the connection you build with your clients. Tim and Derek are here to share with you some simple yet powerful ways to become more likable. They share tips and strategies for building genuine connections with clients, from giving a good first impression to maintaining that impression and positive energy throughout the process.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The importance of being likable and enthusiastic when interacting with clients
• Tips for appearing likable, like smiling, expressing gratitude, complimenting the client’s space, etc
• Giving a good first impression — have the right attitude and energy when interacting with clients
• Being genuine and consistent in interactions to build trust
• Handling the client’s space with care, like wearing booties and cleaning up thoroughly, and communicating your plans for the work area
• Maintaining a positive attitude and energy before and during consultations

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

Do you want to launch a home improvement business as a side hustle? Tom’s got you covered! Tom recently launched his side hustle, a painting company, Simplify Painting, in Colorado Springs. In this episode, he reveals his secret to running a thriving side hustle. He shares nine essential things to know about being successful if you are starting your home improvement business as a side hustle.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Starting a side hustle

[00:43] - Tom’s side hustle: Simplify Painting

[01:34] - Unique advantage of side hustlers

[03:47] - Be proactive

[05:35] - 9 key things to know for side hustle success

[05:36] - #1: Commit to your side hustle or quit

[06:24] - #2: Understand your target clients and tailor your marketing to them

[10:10] - #3: Plan for success: Budget wisely

[12:45] - #4: Master your craft

[14:12] - Invest in yourself with continuous learning

[14:38] - #5: Sell unafraid 

[17:03] - #6: Deliver like a pro

[19:25] - Handle issues directly and communicate well with clients

[21:35] - #7: Review and adjust

[23:38] - #8: Work-life balance

[24:38] - #9: Stay hungry, driven, and continuously improve

[25:37] - Closing  remarks

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify 

In today’s digital world, it is easy to communicate through text or email and avoid verbal, face-to-face communication. But are you really communicating? Tim and Derek are here to remind us there’s no substitute for the power of the human voice. They discuss the importance of effective communication and the value of verbal communication over text and email.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The challenges of relying solely on text/email communication
• The role of tone and body language in communication and how they can be lost in written messages
• Preferring phone calls to have meaningful conversations and make people feel heard
• 70:30 rule in communication — let the other person talk 70% of the time, and you only speak 30%
• The importance of addressing issues directly and not hiding behind technology

Resources:

==Contractor Growth Network: https://www.contractorgrowthnetwork.com/ 

== Get the Freedom Bundle (Nail Your Numbers course + Shin-Fu Sales training) for $248 (Save $100) https://thecontractorfight.com/freedom/ 

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

Running a successful contracting business needs more than just technical skills. You also need good project management and financial acumen to stay profitable and grow. One tool that can help with this is JobTread. Tom sits down with Rilee Fisher, the Director of Business Development at JobTread. Rilee shares how JobTread can help you streamline your estimating, job costing, and overall business operations.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro

[01:46] - Rilee’s bio

[02:24] - What is JobTread

[03:20] - Client spectrum of JobTread

[05:49] - How JobTread helps establish SOPs

[07:52] - Overcoming SOPs intimidation and formalizing your processes

[10:20] - Number of demos Rilee and his team have conducted

[10:50] - Challenges contractors face in adopting new tools

[12:16] - Importance of job costing

[12:42] - Increased profitability by using JobTread

[14:21] - Importance of fully utilizing software tools

[15:15] - Providing a good experience to JobTread users

[17:21] - Commitment and effort when using software tools or a program

[19:47] - Book a demo at Job tread

[22:50] - Closing remarks

Resources:

== Checkout JobTread: https://www.jobtread.com

== Mile High Profit Summit Tickets still available: https://milehighprofitsummit.com/

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify 

The 2024 Summer Olympics are over now. Did you watch the games and were amazed by the incredible skill and dedication of the athletes? Those Olympians aren't just showing up to participate—they're training their hearts out to win gold!

In this episode, Tim and Derek discuss the mindset and preparation needed to truly excel in your field. They draw parallels between elite athletic training and the dedication required to be a top-performing salesperson.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The importance of repetition, practice, and focus in developing your skills
• The training and mindset of Olympians and the need for salespeople to approach their work with a similar level of dedication and preparation
• The importance of quality over quantity in training
• The role of leadership and how a supportive environment boosts team performance
• Feeling embarrassed or getting ridiculed when practicing unconventional skills
• Practicing role-playing and mastering your communication skills

Resources:

==Contractor Growth Network: https://www.contractorgrowthnetwork.com/ 

== Get the Freedom Bundle (Nail Your Numbers course + Shin-Fu Sales training) for $248 (Save $100) https://thecontractorfight.com/freedom/ 

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

Today, Tom’s guest is Aaron Horner, Director of Video Marketing at Contractor Growth Network. Aaron explains how powerful storytelling is in the marketing content you create for your business. He also shares how you can bring your current clients into your stories, which makes the content much more relatable to prospects who see your videos on social media. 

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro

[02:00] - The work Aaron does with Contractor Growth Network

[04:15] - Storytelling - what is it and how to do it well

[06:53] - Examples of stories Aaron and his team tell

[10:20] - How CGN plans out the storytelling process with contractors

[11:58] - What do they do when they come across people who don’t want to be interviewed

[12:26] - How to encourage your current clients to be part of the storytelling process

[13:20] - Crazy things homeowners have said to Aaron

[15:26] - Posting videos through ad campaigns on social media

[18:49] - Letting your work speak for itself

[20:56] - What to do if you can’t create video content yet

[21:31] - How to get in contact with Aaron for advice

[22:30] - Why Tom wants you to stop half-assing your marketing efforts

Resources:

==Contractor Growth Network: https://www.contractorgrowthnetwork.com/ 

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify 

Are you tired of feeling like you're stuck in a never-ending loop of Groundhog Day at your business? You try to train your team on how to do something, but then a few weeks later, you're back to square one, fixing the same mistakes over and over again. Well, the solution to your problems may lie in one simple word — Systems.

Tim and Derek discuss the importance of creating effective systems and processes in your business to improve efficiency and productivity. They tell you to have well-defined systems in place for the success of your business and avoid the constant Groundhog Day repetition.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The need to have effective systems in place in your business
• How a lack of systems can lead to constant repetition and Groundhog Day scenarios
• The benefits of delegating tasks and empowering employees through documented processes
• Creating a system to make your business more focused, quitting procrastination, and improving efficiency

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify 

Today, Tom’s guest is Patrick Ungashick, the CEO of NAVIX. Patrick guides you through the essential steps to ensure that you sell your business the right way — from preparing your business for sale to securing the best deal. He also shares how to position your business for a successful sale and ensure you get the maximum value when it’s time to exit.

Patrick also previews the highlights of his upcoming workshop at the Mile High Profit Summit on how to grow your business and create an exit plan.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro

[01:50] - Patrick’s bio and backstory

[03:08] - Happy Exit

[04:16] - Key things that need to be checked before considering an exit

[06:04] - Building great company vs. a great team

[06:31] - The Growth Myth workshop

[07:07] - Factors that can hijack the ability to sell business

[08:20] - Investing in your team

[10:16] - How the exit game has changed over the years

[12:51] - Factors to consider when evaluating if a business is ready to sell

[14:37] - What trades do better than others

[16:43] - Acquiring underperforming businesses and turning them around

[20:32] - Mistakes contractors make in business deals

[21:56] - Ideal size of a business for sale

[23:50] - Profit margins and business efficiency in attracting buyers

[25:14] - Key topics Patrick will cover in his workshop

[27:42]  - How to reach out to Patrick

[28:43] - Closing thoughts

Resources:

== NAVIX Consultants Website: https://www.navixconsultants.com/ 

== Get the Freedom Bundle (Nail Your Numbers course + Shin-Fu Sales training) for $248 (Save $100) https://thecontractorfight.com/freedom/ 

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify