Tax season sneaks up fast, and for a lot of contractors, the stress comes from one thing: disorganized books. In this episode, we sit down with Andrew from LNM Accounting Solutions to break down what contractors should actually focus on before CRA comes knocking.

We talk about the real contractor–accountant relationship (and why you shouldn’t let an accountant force your day-to-day software), why QuickBooks is everywhere, and where it starts to fall short for field operations. Andrew also shares practical tips on staying audit-ready, avoiding “brown envelope syndrome,” and the simplest habits that keep your books clean all year.

If you’re running a construction business, this one covers what matters: bookkeeping, GST/HST, payroll vs dividends, shareholder loans, business use of home/vehicle, and how to reduce tax stress with better systems and routines.

👉 Learn more about Jobtable: https://www.jobtable.com
Subscribe for weekly conversations with real contractors building smarter, more profitable businesses.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – The funniest client email and intro
01:30 – Meet Andrew (LNM Accounting Solutions)
03:00 – Should contractors “follow the accountant” on software?
11:45 – Why QuickBooks dominates (and how it protects its moat)
21:10 – When contractors need systems beyond accounting software
36:15 – CRA scrutiny, audits, and “brown envelope syndrome”
45:00 – Contractor tax habits: organization, receipts, CRA access
53:05 – Payroll vs dividends, shareholder loans, mortgage realities
01:10:45 – Billboard advice + final takeaways

Jada Finch is part of a growing wave of women doing real work in the trades — and proving themselves the right way: skill, grit, and job site experience. In this episode, she shares what it’s actually like building a trade business at 22, navigating a male-dominated industry, and turning organization and professionalism into a serious advantage.

We get into stereotypes on site, earning respect, and why “girl power” can help or hurt depending on how it’s approached. Jada also breaks down what separates a good tradesperson from a real business owner — from how you show up, to how you quote, invoice, and communicate with clients.

If you’re a contractor trying to grow, this one hits on the stuff that actually matters: quality, reputation, systems, and building a foundation that isn’t messy from day one.

👉 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 + client shoutout (Robert in Toronto)
01:10 – Meet Jada Finch + Pink Collar Contracting & Tile
02:00 – How she got into construction at 16
03:30 – Stereotypes, respect, and old-school attitudes on site
06:30 – “Accommodations” vs being able to do the job
10:45 – Craft, attention to detail, and why quality is slipping
14:15 – Organization, professionalism, and client perception (quotes/invoices)
22:30 – Branding as “Pink Collar” + marketing advantages
31:00 – Advice for hiring women + resilience in the trades
37:30 – Inspiring youth to choose trades over university debt
44:50 – College being overrated + learning by doing
56:55 – Billboard lesson + where to find Jada

Most contractors think “freedom” means a bigger company. Carlo Di Renzo (Effect Electric) says the real unlock is systems + money knowledge — so you can work less in the winter, travel, and still keep clients happy.

In this episode, Carlo breaks down his niche (data racks, servers, backup power), why electricians tend to adopt tech faster, and how he built a business that runs while he’s away. The conversation goes deep on planning your slowdown, choosing the right clients, and why you can’t just “flip a switch” and disappear for 3 months without structure.

We also get into practical money talk for contractors: paying down debt, investing basics, diversification, and why learning finance is a skill that pays you back for life - especially if you want more time with your family.

👉 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 + review (NextGen Heating & Cooling)
01:10 – Carlo’s niche: generators, data racks, servers, backup power
03:30 – Why electricians adopt tech faster than other trades07:05 – “How much is enough?” Scaling on purpose (not ego)
10:00 – The Florida plan: shutting down in winter without losing clients
15:20 – Cutting “bad-fit” contracts and designing your workload
17:00 – Money for contractors: TFSA, ETFs, diversification, crypto
21:40 – Stress, health, and resetting your brain as an owner
25:45 – The truth: you still need a decade of grind
40:50 – Kids, trades, and why the old playbook is changing
46:05 – Billboard advice: “Learn about money” + how to reach Carlo
48:20 – Jobtable outro: systems that buy back your time

Most contractors say they want to “scale”… but the real question is: how do you grow without sacrificing craftsmanship, quality, and your name? In this episode, we sit down with Ian MacFayden, co-owner of Hummingbird Hill Homes (luxury custom home builder in the GTA/Muskoka) and co-founder of Project Network—a professional platform built to help trades hire better, connect faster, and verify real work.

Ian breaks down what it actually takes to deliver true luxury construction: the obsession with details, why “cheapest price” is a race to the bottom, and how the best builders scale by hiring top talent and building the systems that protect quality. We also get into client selection, white-glove service, and why relationships (architects, designers, great subs) beat “more leads” every time.

Then we dive into Project Network (Project with a “K”)—a “LinkedIn for construction” concept built for real utility, not social media. Think portfolios, verified collaborations, and smarter connections between contractors, subcontractors, and tradespeople so hiring isn’t just a stack of identical resumes.

👉 Learn more about Jobtable: https://www.jobtable.com
Subscribe for weekly conversations with real contractors building smarter, more profitable businesses.

Chapters / Timestamps (5–8 sections)

00:00 – Contractor review: “Simple, no filler, best bang for buck”
01:02 – Meet Ian: Hummingbird Hill Homes + Project Network
03:00 – Craftsmanship > scale in luxury custom home building
06:10 – Ian’s story: from office life to Red Seal carpenter
09:10 – Scaling to a real business: hiring A-players + structure
17:50 – Ideal clients, pricing, and avoiding nickel-and-dime jobs
30:40 – Project Network: verified portfolios + collaboration model
51:10 – Systems, processes, and stepping away from the tools
01:07:10 – Breaking into high-end markets (architect/designer driven)
01:09:15 – Billboard advice + wrap

Too many contractors believe “lowest price always wins.” In this episode, Kosta and Johny break down why that’s only true in the wrong market, and how the right positioning, relationships, and quoting process can help you win work without racing to the bottom.

They get practical on ICP (ideal customer profile) for construction businesses: why “any job” is a trap, how to qualify prospects before wasting time quoting, and when saying no is the fastest path to better margins and better clients.

They also dive into the overlooked craft of leadership - building a strong team, setting the tone when morale is down, and why staying uncomfortable (and evolving) is the real advantage in the trades.

👉 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 + 2026 kick-off + Tina’s review
01:45 – ICP matters: “business is business” (even in construction)
03:10 – “Lowest bid wins” myth + relationship and trust
06:45 – How to win jobs without being cheapest (quote clarity + transparency)
10:05 – Qualifying prospects before quoting (budget, timeline, tire kickers)
14:10 – Saying no: avoiding bad-fit jobs and unrealistic expectations
18:05 – Leadership in construction: morale, accountability, building people up
33:50 – 2026 mindset: positivity, no plan B’s, keep evolving + Jobtable wrap

Only a small percentage of podcasts hit 50 episodes — and we’re celebrating Episode 50 with one of the biggest voices in Canadian construction media: Manny Neves.

We get real about the labor “shortage” narrative, what’s actually happening on job sites, why younger workers’ expectations feel disconnected from reality, and why many older tradespeople can’t afford to retire. Manny and Johny dig into the real reasons behind slow construction starts, condo quality issues, and how “money culture” is impacting pride in craftsmanship.

Then we shift to what contractors must do going into 2026: stay lean, stop getting complacent, know your numbers, and have the hard conversations with your team before overhead eats you alive. Manny also shares why he’s cautiously optimistic about 2026, plus a hint at a major TCL road trip plan.

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

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

⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Episode 50 milestone + Manny’s “breaking news” for TCL
03:10 – “Men being men” + culture, free speech, and pushing back
08:45 – Jobtable review shoutout (Andrew Spano, electrical contractor)
09:30 – Labor reality check: shortages vs. what’s actually happening
26:00 – Construction starts, development fees, condo quality, and incentives
37:40 – Mistakes from 2025: complacency, overhead, and getting blindsided
44:00 – 2026 predictions: hard conversations, staying lean, finding opportunity
01:09:20 – Manny’s 2026 plans: TCL road trip momentum + persistence story

Toronto’s condo market just cratered — and the ripple effect is already hitting trades. In this episode, Kosta, Johny, and Charlie break down what the construction slowdown really means for contractors and how to stay busy when high-rise work dries up.

They dive into diversification vs specialization, why professionalism (showing up, calling back, quoting on time) matters more than ever, and how your existing database is probably more valuable than any ad campaign. From nurturing relationships and tapping into your CRM to tightening up how you send quotes, this is a practical roadmap for small construction businesses going into 2026.

The guys also talk year-end planning, mindset, and lifelong learning — including how audiobooks, podcasts, and surrounding yourself with the right people can completely change the trajectory of your construction business, your systems, and your profitability.

👉 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, client review & Toronto Building Show
02:30 – Toronto condo sales crater and what it means for trades
11:00 – Pivoting markets: rentals, diversification & staying busy
20:30 – Relationships, referrals & the power of your database
28:45 – Stop half-assing quotes: presenting professional estimates
33:30 – Year-end pressure, planning for 2026 & keeping the engine running
37:30 – Using drive time to learn: podcasts, audiobooks & leveling up
45:00 – Book recommendations, contractor mindset & Jobtable Black Friday offer

This is an emergency broadcast for every contractor, tradesperson, and construction business owner in Canada. A shocking story is spreading across job sites — and it's one you cannot afford to ignore. Contractors are being underbid by 60% or more, and the reason why is raising serious questions about legality, safety, and the future of the trades.

In this episode, we break down a rapidly growing trend: companies using LMIA migrant workers to perform skilled electrical work without proper licensing, apprenticeships, ratios, or safety oversight — then having a licensed journeyman “sign off” at the end. It’s happening in the open, it’s undercutting legitimate businesses, and it threatens the integrity of skilled trades across the country.

Ben Bruce, an electrical contractor from Winnipeg, joins us to expose what he witnessed firsthand: crews working overnight, unlicensed workers doing skilled tasks, and multi-story buildings being roughed-in at impossible prices. We dig deep into LMIA rules, enforcement gaps, safety concerns, and how this could reshape the construction industry if left unchecked.

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

Subscribe for weekly conversations with real contractors building smarter, more profitable businesses — and share this episode to help sound the alarm.

⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Emergency intro: the shocking underbid
02:10 – Ben’s story: what he saw on site
06:30 – LMIA explained: what the program is actually for
09:45 – Safety risks & code violations no one is checking
14:20 – The unfair playing field for legitimate contractors
19:40 – The economics: why the system incentivizes this
25:10 – Loopholes, enforcement gaps & zero accountability
32:45 – Free-market argument: is this an evolution or exploitation?
46:50 – What happens if this becomes normal?
58:00 – Final warning: contractors need to speak up now

This week, we sit down with Lincoln Phelps, owner of Exceptional Carpentry in Edmonton, Alberta — a one-man powerhouse pulling in numbers most crews can’t match. Lincoln shares his raw perspective on the trades: why integrity and urgency are everything, how he built a thriving construction business during COVID, and why excuses about “the economy” are just noise.

He dives into topics most contractors avoid — pricing confidence, client respect, and how efficiency and character directly drive income. This one’s packed with real-world lessons every tradesperson should hear.

👉 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 & a client email that says it all
 01:30 – Meet Lincoln: from production carpenter to business owner
 05:40 – How the economy doesn’t define your success
 07:40 – Integrity, urgency, and the character gap in the trades
 10:40 – Why systems and efficiency separate winners from complainers
 16:30 – Pricing, profit margins, and saying “no” to bad deals
 25:40 – Creating your own economy (and your reputation)
 28:20 – How Lincoln uses Jobtable to simplify and save time
 33:40 – Standing firm on pricing and client respect
 47:00 – Marketing without ads — word of mouth and Instagram strategy
 55:00 – Real talk on collaboration, competition, and authenticity
 1:03:00 – Family, homeschooling, and raising kids with discipline
 1:17:40 – Final advice: character determines your value

What makes someone walk away from a stable career path to build something real with their hands? In this episode of The Deconstruction Podcast, we sit down with Michael Ariganello, owner of AMJ Custom Renovations, to talk about his journey from teaching to running a fast-growing renovation company in Ontario.

Michael shares what it’s like starting out in a competitive market, building a trustworthy crew, balancing the tools with business strategy, and how focusing on knowledge over money has fueled his growth.

We dive into the realities of the trades today—training the next generation, staying profitable in a tight economy, and how technology like Jobtable helps contractors save time, quote faster, and manage everything in one place.

👉 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 + a client success story using Jobtable
02:10 – Meet Michael Ariganello & the AMJ story
04:15 – Working with family and lessons from his father
09:20 – From teaching to trades: why Michael made the switch
17:30 – The mindset and motivation behind craftsmanship
20:00 – The challenge of training apprentices in today’s trades
33:00 – Competing in a tight renovation market
39:00 – Marketing, referrals & building consistent leads
49:30 – Balancing on-site work with running the business
56:00 – How Jobtable streamlined his quoting process
58:30 – Michael’s best advice for every contractor