In this episode, Natalie Koop and Danielle Putnam sit down with Skip Wilson — founder and CEO of DRAFT Media Partners, former VP of Digital Media at iHeartMedia (where he helped launch what became iHeartRadio and the iHeart Podcast Network), and host of The Advertising Podcast — to talk about the science behind advertising that actually works. Skip breaks down why most contractors feel like marketing is just guessing (because a lot of it is), the specific benchmarks every owner should know before spending a dollar (around $50 per lead and $150–$200 customer acquisition cost), and the silent way Google quietly throttles your ad spend when your team isn't answering the phone. He walks through his 3-stage diagnostic for finding exactly where your ads are breaking down, why Bing still owns 30% of search (and which businesses should care), the biggest waste of marketing dollars he sees in the home service world, and where advertising is headed as ChatGPT, Apple, and Amazon fragment the search and social landscape. If you're tired of pouring money into ads and hoping something sticks, this episode hands you a real framework to fix it.Social Media Links:InstagramTNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠FacebookTNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠DRAFT Media Partners- https://www.facebook.com/draftadvertisingtechnology/LinkedInTNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠Skip Wilson- https://www.linkedin.com/in/skipwilson/ Links and Resources:https://thenewflatrate.com/https://www.draftadvertising.com/

In this episode, Natalie Koop and Danielle Putnam sit down with Garrett Fritz, Partner at MetaCTO, to talk about what AI actually looks like in the trenches of real businesses — not the rosy marketing version. Garrett, a fractional CTO who's helped startups, mid-market companies, and service businesses turn ideas into working digital products, breaks down the gap between AI hype and AI ROI, why buying licenses doesn't make you an "AI company," and the real way home service businesses (plumbers, HVAC, contractors, lawyers, accountants) are going to be impacted. He shares how MetaCTO replaced two years and $80,000 of manual data entry with an AI agent that finished the job in 3 days, why "speed to proposal" is one of the highest-leverage AI plays for any service business, and what owners get wrong when they try to vibe-code their own app over a weekend. If you've felt pressure to "do something with AI" but don't know where to start — or you're tired of stacking software subscriptions that never actually move the needle — this episode cuts through the noise.

Social Media Links:

Instagram

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠

Facebook

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠

LinkedIn

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠

Garrett Fritz- https://www.linkedin.com/in/grfritz/

Links and Resources:

https://thenewflatrate.com/

https://www.metacto.com/

In this episode, Natalie Koop and Danielle Putnam sit down with Chris Papin — CPA, attorney, business advisor, author of 168 Hours, and host of the BLABO (Behave Like A Business Owner) Podcast — to talk about the financial habits that separate growing businesses from struggling ones. Chris breaks down why so many business owners avoid their numbers, the difference between owning a business and actually behaving like a business owner, and why the company you think is worth $7 million may only be worth $700,000 when a real valuation hits the table. He also unpacks the 8-8-8 pie chart for sustainable business owner life, the one number every owner should know weekly, and the uncomfortable conversation most entrepreneurs are avoiding. If you're a contractor, service business owner, or anyone tired of guessing on bad data, this episode is full of straight-talk financial wisdom you can put to work this week.

Get his book here! 168 Hours. Please leave a review on Amazon if you get his book!

https://www.amazon.com/168-Hours-Business-Respects-Structure/dp/B0GHQ9WRYJ

Social Media Links:

Instagram

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠

Facebook

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠

Papin Law PLLC- https://www.facebook.com/PapinLaw/

LinkedIn

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠

Chris Papin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispapin/

Papin Law PLLC- https://www.linkedin.com/company/papincpapllc/

Listen to the BLABO Podcast

Apple Podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blabo-behave-like-a-business-owner/id1831290137

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1Jll3VIXtTFOR0DwGhQKJb

iHeart- https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-blabo-behave-like-a-busin-288711550/

Links and Resources:

https://thenewflatrate.com/

https://www.papincpa.com/

https://www.amazon.com/168-Hours-Business-Respects-Structure/dp/B0GHQ9WRYJ

In this episode, we sat down with Colleen Keyworth to unpack where contractors are wasting money right now—and why chasing AI and marketing trends isn’t always the answer. From fear-based decisions and “shiny object syndrome” to broken systems and missed opportunities, this episode dives into what actually drives revenue (and what doesn’t). If you want to spend smarter, focus your efforts, and build a business that lasts, this conversation is a must-listen.

Social Media Links:

Instagram

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠

Colleen Keyworth- https://www.instagram.com/ckeyworth04/

Facebook

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠

Colleen Keyworth- https://www.facebook.com/colleen.keyworth/

LinkedIn

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠

Colleen Keyworth- https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-keyworth/

Links and Resources:

https://thenewflatrate.com/https://

www.hvacwebsites.com/

Today we sat down with Amy Matheny, General Manager and Co-Owner of Reliability Home Services, to talk about a common issue in service businesses—CSRs saying “yes” when they should be saying “no.” What seems like good customer service often leads to overbooked schedules, burnt-out technicians, and frustrated customers. Amy breaks down the concept of “Eat the Frog,” how avoiding hard conversations creates bigger problems, and how to train your team to confidently set expectations. If your team struggles with overbooking or communication, this episode is a must-listen.

GET FLUID DISPATCHING HERE: https://thenewflatrate.com/fluid-dispatching

Social Media Links:

Instagram

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate

⁠⁠Facebook

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠

LinkedIn

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠

Links and Resources:https://thenewflatrate.com/

https://thenewflatrate.com/fluid-dispatching

In this episode, Danielle Putnam, CEO of The New Flat Rate, dives into why revenue alone doesn’t equal profit and what contractors really need to track to make their businesses sustainable. Using real-world examples, she breaks down the key metrics, like call booking rates, conversion by van, labor-to-revenue ratios, and cost per acquisition, that reveal where money is being lost and how to fix it. Danielle shares simple, actionable steps to track the right numbers weekly, turn data into decisions, and build a business that’s not just bigger, but genuinely profitable.

Links and Resources-

Website: ⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/⁠

Get Demo: ⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/demo?hsCtaAttrib=192034463396⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NewFlatRate⁠

Episode Show Notes:

00:00 Intro

00:43 Know Your Numbers

02:57 The Power of Tracking Your Numbers

04:57 What to Track 

10:03 How to Collect Data Effectively 

11:46 Using Data to Drive Change 

13:03 Tracking For Long Term Success 

14:33 Take Action & Know Your Numbers

15:34 Outro

In this episode, we do something different. Instead of just talking theory, we walk through a real-world contractor scenario and break down exactly what’s going wrong and how to fix it.Joined by Paul Maskill of Blue Collar Business Advisors, we dive into:* Why cash flow problems happen (even in successful businesses)* The numbers every contractor should be watching* Common financial mistakes that cost you big* How to build a business that’s actually profitable — not just busyIf you’re an HVAC, plumbing, or electrical contractor trying to grow without the financial stress… this episode is for you.Billable Hour Calculator: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bcxxofoEfXhUETj_HpaBg8JhMkjhuNv0ZbKggcgHrs8/viewSocial Media Links:InstagramTNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠Paul Maskill- https://www.instagram.com/paul_maskill/FacebookTNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠Blue Collar Business Advisors- https://www.facebook.com/BusinessFreedomFormula/LinkedInTNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠Paul Maskill- https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmaskill/YouTubePaul Maskill- https://www.youtube.com/@paul_maskillLinks and Resources:https://thenewflatrate.com/https://thebluecollaradvisors.com/[email protected] Hour Calculator: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bcxxofoEfXhUETj_HpaBg8JhMkjhuNv0ZbKggcgHrs8/copy

In this episode, Matt Koop, Vice President of The New Flat Rate, dives into why contractors are losing their best technicians and how effective coaching can change that. He breaks down what it really means to be a coach, not just a boss, including asking the right questions, creating actionable growth plans, and leading by example. From bridging generational gaps with Gen Z to building training systems that actually work, Matt shares practical strategies to engage, retain, and empower your team. If you want your technicians to grow, stay, and perform at their best, this episode shows you how to build a culture of coaching that drives results.

Links and Resources-

Book a free 30 min call with one of our success coaches: ⁠HERE

Website: ⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/⁠

Get Demo: ⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/demo?hsCtaAttrib=192034463396⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NewFlatRate⁠

Episode Show Notes:

00:00 Intro

00:38 Who’s The Coach?

02:48 The Role of The Coach in Business

05:34 Training For Success 

08:00 The Future of Leadership (free template)

12:01 Online vs In-person

13:54 Leading by Example - The Heart of Coaching

16:33 Empowering Your Team to Lead

17:47 Outro

In this episode, Matt Koop, Vice President of The New Flat Rate, challenges contractors to ask themselves: “Would you buy your own business?” He breaks down the difference between strategic growth and fast, inflated growth that looks impressive but isn’t sustainable. From mastering your core business and optimizing profit margins to avoiding the “vertical trap” and building systems that actually scale, Matt shares actionable insights for creating a business that’s not just bigger, but stronger, more profitable, and truly valuable. If you want to grow smart, retain your best customers, and build a business someone would actually want to buy, this episode is a must-listen.

Links and Resources-

Book a free 30 min call with one of our success coaches: HERE

Process Writing Kit: HERE

Website: ⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/⁠

Get Demo: ⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/demo?hsCtaAttrib=192034463396⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NewFlatRate⁠

Episode Show Notes:

00:00 Intro

00:18 Would You Buy Your Own Business 

01:54 Understanding Strategic Growth 

03:11 Different Vertices & Their Impact on Growth 

07:10 Profit, Niche, & Industry

09:15 Avoiding the Trap of Inflated Growth 

12:35 Wrapping It Up

14:31 Outro 

In this episode, Danielle Putnam sits down with Kenny Ridgell to talk about how contractors can use data, technology, and better processes to grow smarter. From tracking marketing ROI to improving hiring pipelines and fixing inefficiencies, Kenny shares real-world strategies that help service businesses scale sustainably.

Social Media Links:

Instagram

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠

Kenny Ridgell- https://www.instagram.com/kennyridgell/

Ridge Media- https://www.instagram.com/ridge__media/

Facebook

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠

Ridge Media- https://www.facebook.com/ridgemediallc/

LinkedIn

TNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠

Kenny Ridgell- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-ridgell/

YouTube

Kenny Ridgell- https://www.youtube.com/@ridgemediallc?app=desktop

Links and Resources:

⁠⁠thenewflatrate.com⁠⁠

https://ridgemediallc.com/