Most contractors treat warranty callbacks as a cost of doing business and never run the numbers. On a mid-sized HVAC shop doing $1-2M a year, a 5% callback rate can bleed out over $70,000 annually, and almost nobody is tracking where that money actually goes.

Kosta and Johny break down why callbacks aren't always the contractor's fault (often it's a manufacturer defect you end up eating the cost for), how to actually track warranty costs by job and by vendor inside your software, and why most trades businesses never bother negotiating supplier pricing even as repeat, predictable customers. They also get into the wave of aging-out boomer contractors with no succession plan, and why every business, whether you plan to sell it or not, should be built to run without the owner.

This one's relevant whether you're running HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or general contracting. Job costing, supplier relationships, and exit planning all come up.

Jobtable makes it easy to track warranty and callback costs right inside your job costing, so you have real numbers instead of guesses next time you're negotiating with a supplier.

 👉 Learn more at https://www.jobtable.com

New episodes every week, subscribe so you don't miss one.

00:00 – Intro and listener review from BC contractor
01:50 – Recurring jobs and invoices coming to Jobtable
02:43 – The real cost of warranty callbacks (HVAC numbers breakdown)
05:04 – Why most callbacks are the manufacturer's fault, not yours
12:04 – How to actually track warranty costs by job in your software
19:36 – Why customers blame you, not the manufacturer, when something breaks
28:34 – Negotiating supplier pricing as a repeat customer
35:48 – Group purchasing organizations and bulk buying direct
39:08 – Boomer contractors aging out with no succession plan
48:52 – Why every business needs to run without the owner to be sellable

Only about 5% of businesses in the US and Canada ever hit a million dollars in revenue. For contractors, the gap between "doing good work" and actually crossing that mark usually comes down to a few specific things that most trade school programs never cover.

Kosta and Charlie break down the four walls that keep contractors stuck below a million: no real processes in place, reluctance to hire and get off the tools, no sales system, and weak people management. Charlie draws from 16-plus years building iPLUMB into a multi-million dollar commercial plumbing operation, including the hiring mistakes, the micromanagement phase, and what finally changed.

If you're running a trades business and you want more structure, Jobtable helps contractors manage jobs, quotes, scheduling, and follow-ups from one place. Contractors using it report faster approvals and less time chasing paperwork. 👉 Learn more at https://www.jobtable.com

New episodes every week — subscribe so you don't miss one.

00:00 – Intro + Listener Review (Preston Funkhauser, GC, Tennessee)
01:40 – Why Only 5% of Businesses Hit $1M Revenue
02:50 – Processes: The #1 Thing Stalling Contractor Growth
06:00 – Hiring: Getting Off the Tools and Trusting Your Team
13:30 – The Case for Hiring Back Office Before Another Tradesperson
17:20 – Margin Reality: Making 40% Off $1M vs. 10% Off $5M
25:50 – Sales: Why Most Contractors Leave Money on the Table
33:30 – Quote Follow-Up, Open Tracking, and Closing Rate Data
42:00 – People Management: Running Like Clockwork at Scale
48:30 – Promoting Your Best Tech vs. Hiring the Right Manager
54:00 – Closing Thoughts: Don't Be Afraid to Grow

Something is shifting in who's showing up to job sites. Gen Z is entering the trades faster than anyone expected, and the reasons go deeper than just a labor shortage stat. This episode gets into what's actually pulling younger people away from university and toward skilled trades, whether it's going to last, and what it means for trade business owners hiring right now.

Kosta, Johny, and Charlie also get into the pricing conversation a lot of contractors avoid. With 67% of small business owners raising or planning to raise rates in 2026, the question isn't whether to raise your prices, it's how to do it without losing the clients you've worked to keep. They break down how to communicate a rate increase, how to identify the clients who aren't worth keeping anyway, and why competing on price is usually the wrong game.

If you're running a trades company and you're still charging what you charged two or three years ago, this episode is worth your time. Jobtable helps contractors manage quotes, invoices, scheduling, and client communication in one place, keeping operations tight so you can focus on the work. 👉 Learn more at https://www.jobtable.com

New episodes every week. Subscribe so you don't miss one.

00:00 – Intro & Jobtable shoutout
01:45 – Gen Z entering the trades: real shift or overstated stat?
05:10 – Why money (not just AI fear) is the real driver
09:30 – The stigma around trades is gone
14:00 – Smart people are building trade businesses, not just working in them
18:30 – How to tell clients you're raising rates
25:00 – Comparing apples to apples: why cheap bids cost more in the end
43:00 – Why contractors still get lowballed (and what to do about it)
51:00 – The professionalism gap and defending your price
58:30 – Banner question: No plan B's

Wall Street isn't investing hundreds of millions in trades training because they care about blue collar workers. BlackRock and Lowe's are doing it because they need electricians, plumbers, and HVAC techs to build AI data centers, and they don't have nearly enough of them. That context changes how you read the "labor shortage" narrative.

This episode breaks down what's actually driving the demand for trades right now, why the renovation market is sitting at a record $522 billion for 2026, and why most contractors are completely sleeping on the simplest sales move available to them. Kosta and Johny go through all of it with no filter.

If you're running a trades business, keeping your pipeline full is part of the job. Jobtable helps contractors stay on top of quotes, jobs, and invoices without the learning curve of software that wasn't built for them. 👉 Learn more at https://www.jobtable.com

New episodes every week — subscribe so you don't miss one.

00:00 – Intro + Jobtable review shoutout
01:55 – What's new in Jobtable
03:10 – BlackRock's $100M and Lowe's $250M trades training initiatives
07:00 – AI data centers: the real reason behind the labor shortage narrative
10:25 – A trade skill is the one thing nobody can take from you
12:45 – AI outlook: optimism, fear, and software engineer job postings
19:45 – Renovation boom: $522B in 2026 and homeowners sitting on equity
39:45 – Why contractors don't knock on doors (and why they should)
49:30 – Construction has no sales culture — and that needs to change

Most people with a microphone in construction are giving you answers. Nobody's asking questions. That gap, between what gets said publicly about the industry and what's actually happening on job sites across Canada, is what this episode is about.

Manny, host of The Construction Life Podcast, joins Kosta and Johny to talk about Red and True, his plan to take a crew across all 10 Canadian provinces and interview real boots-on-the-ground contractors. They cover the retention crisis nobody's naming, development fees that have climbed 600% while wages haven't kept pace, why media-trained voices are making the real problems harder to solve, and why going directly to the trades to fund this thing makes more sense than chasing corporate sponsors who can't speak the language.

Running a construction business is hard enough without the industry working against you. Jobtable helps contractors keep the business side organized so they can stay focused on the work. 👉 Learn more at https://www.jobtable.com

New episodes every week. Hit subscribe so you don't miss one.

Learn more about Red & True: https://theconstructionlife.com/

00:00 – Intro and Why Human Support Still Beats a Chatbot
02:34 – Introducing Manny, The Construction Life Podcast
05:10 – What Is Read and True
13:00 – The Retention Problem Nobody in Construction Is Naming
17:00 – Media Training and the Death of Honest Conversation
24:00 – What Being on the Ground Captures That a Studio Never Will
38:00 – Development Fees Up 600%: Why Construction Is Stalling
1:01:00 – Funding the Tour Directly Through the Industry

Most electricians who start their own company know how to wire a house. What they don't know is how to run payroll, fill a pipeline, hire the right people, or say no to work that's bleeding them dry. Elber Gamboa learned all of that the hard way, and he's honest about every mistake.

Elber is the owner of Made Electric in the Greater Toronto area, a residential electrical contractor specializing in custom homes and home automation. In this episode, he talks about nearly quitting in his first six months, the cold-call strategy that saved his business, why hiring the wrong personality type cost him more than any bad invoice, and how he's navigating a slow market by doubling down on high-end residential work.

If you're running a trades business and trying to figure out how to actually grow it, tools like Jobtable exist to take the admin weight off so you can focus on the work that matters. 👉 Learn more at https://www.jobtable.com

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Intro + listener review
02:17 – Meet Elber Gamboa and Made Electric
05:07 – The difference between being good at the trade and running a business
06:00 – Almost quitting at 6 months: the Facebook group story
09:50 – Early marketing that actually worked: property managers, yard signs, neighbor pamphlets
12:00 – Scaling to 5 employees, then back down, and what went wrong
13:00 – Hiring for personality, not just skill set
16:00 – Why Elber has a perfect 5-star Google rating
17:30 – Niching into residential, custom homes, and home automation
25:00 – How he's staying steady through a slow market
27:00 – Networking events, marketing courses, and building relationships before you need them
35:00 – Why software is non-negotiable for a growing trades business
44:00 – The economic outlook: why maintenance work is recession-proof
49:00 – Billboard question

Most contractors are slow right now. Input prices are up nearly 20%, new construction starts are down, and the guys who are still busy aren't doing anything magical. They just never stopped doing the basics. This episode gets into what those basics actually are, and why skipping them early is what puts companies in trouble when the market tightens.

Kosta, Johny, and Charlie break down what they'd prioritize if they were starting trades company from scratch in 2026, including running lean, getting processes in place from day one, and building GC relationships that carry you through slow periods. They also get into the labor shortage numbers that keep getting reported versus what they're actually seeing on the ground — 60 resumes on the desk, guys from union companies applying to non-union, and projects that just aren't there.

If your business is feeling the squeeze or you're trying to make sure you never do, Jobtable helps contractors get organized from the start so nothing slips through the cracks. Simple job management, invoicing, scheduling, and more, built specifically for trades companies.

👉 Learn more at https://www.jobtable.com

New episodes every week — subscribe so you don't miss one.

Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – Intro + customer review (Pacific Shine on switching from Jobber)
01:30 – Why contractors need an AI-powered website in 2026
07:48 – If you were starting your trades company today, what would you do?
12:17 – Building GC relationships and why it keeps you busy when others go slow
17:30 – Construction economy: tariffs, rising input costs, and what's really happening
35:38 – The labor shortage myth: 60 resumes and not enough work to hire them
48:30 – Spring outlook for Ontario construction
51:18 – Charlie's billboard: "No one cares about you"

If you're a contractor in Canada and your pipeline has been slower than usual, this episode explains why. Daniel Foch breaks down the condo collapse, what caused it, how long it lasts, and what the recovery actually looks like — using hard data and the only real historical comp we have.

We get into the 90% drop in condo starts, the 30,000+ unsold units sitting in Toronto, why developers are shelving land instead of building, and what the shift to purpose-built rental actually means for trade companies. Daniel also talks through the Alberta migration, capital leaving the country, and how to read the signals that tell you when work starts coming back.

We close on AI, and this part matters if you're running a small crew. Daniel lays out exactly how trades companies should be thinking about automating their businesses right now, and why small operators have a real window that bigger companies don't. If you want software to help you track jobs, manage invoices, and stop losing time on admin while you wait for the market to turn, that's what Jobtable is built for. 👉 Learn more at https://www.jobtable.com

New episodes every week — subscribe so you don't miss one.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Intro + Listener Review
03:00 – Meet Daniel Foch, Valerie.ca
06:25 – The Condo Collapse: Who's Building and Who Stopped
15:30 – Unsold Inventory, the Rental Pivot, and What CMHC Is Driving
20:45 – When Does the Construction Pipeline Come Back?
36:00 – Capital Flight, Alberta Migration, and Government Incentives
48:09 – Tariffs, CUSMA, and How to Prepare for the Worst Case
01:07:00 – AI for Trades: Start Automating Before Your Competitor Does

The construction industry is shifting fast—and if you're a contractor, you're feeling it. Rising material costs, fuel volatility, tighter margins, and more competition are forcing business owners to adapt or fall behind.

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Baklarian of S&P Developments to break down what’s really happening on the ground. From pricing pressure and “race-to-the-bottom” competitors to how fuel spikes and supply chain issues impact your jobs, this is a real look at construction business today.

We also dive into practical strategies: how to protect your margins, why educating your clients is more important than ever, and where the real opportunities are in today’s market—from niche commercial work to infrastructure-driven growth.

👉 Learn more about Jobtable: https://www.jobtable.com

Subscribe for weekly conversations with real contractors building smarter, more profitable businesses.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & Customer Review
02:00 – State of the Construction Market Right Now
06:30 – CN Tower Inspiration & Industry Pride
08:00 – Pricing Pressure & Competing in a Tight Market
12:00 – Why Educating Clients Wins More Jobs
16:00 – Fuel Prices, Material Costs & Margin Impact
25:30 – Contracts, Clauses & Protecting Your Business
38:00 – Hidden Profit Killers on Job Sites
52:00 – Future Opportunities: Infrastructure & Niche Markets
01:02:00 – Final Advice for Contractors

What does it really take to run a high-stakes construction business where mistakes aren’t an option?

In this episode of The Deconstruction Podcast, we sit down with Jeff Burke, owner of Lift All Crane, to break down the realities of scaling a construction business, managing massive equipment investments, and surviving in today’s economy. From cash flow challenges to hiring skilled operators, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what contractors don’t usually talk about. 

We dive into the importance of diversification in construction, why many contractors struggle during economic shifts, and how smart operators position themselves to win—even when costs, taxes, and interest rates are working against them.

If you're a contractor, trades business owner, or entrepreneur in construction, this episode is packed with real-world insights on growth, profitability, and staying resilient.

👉 Learn more about Jobtable: https://www.jobtable.com

Subscribe for weekly conversations with real contractors building smarter, more profitable businesses.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & New 2-Way SMS Feature
02:30 – Jeff’s Journey: 3 Generations in Cranes
06:45 – Scaling a Crane Business from Scratch
12:10 – Why Diversification Saves Construction Companies
18:30 – Cash Flow Reality: Paying Before You Get Paid
26:40 – The True Cost of Equipment & Growth
33:00 – Hiring Skilled Operators & Labor Shortage
41:20 – Economy, Interest Rates & Business Pressure
50:00 – Scaling Mistakes & Overhead Traps
58:30 – Final Advice: “Full Tilt” Mentality