The New Flat Rate

In this episode, Navy submarine veteran and business coach Dave Rossberg joins host Natalie Koop and co-host Danielle Putnam, CEO of The New Flat Rate, to talk about what real leadership looks like—beyond the buzzwords. From his experience leading one of the Navy’s lowest-performing submarine teams to the top 10% in the fleet, Dave shares how trust, clarity, and genuine care can transform any team. Whether you’re a business owner, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode dives deep into building stronger teams, empowering decision-making, and creating a culture where people lead because they want to, not because they have to.Social Media Links:InstagramTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate/?hl=enDavid Rossberg- https://www.instagram.com/dave.rossberg/?hl=enFacebookTNFR- https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRateDavid Rossberg- https://www.facebook.com/rossberg.daveLinkedInTNFR- https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/David Rossberg- https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrossberg/Links and Resources:⁠⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/https://daverossberg.focalpointcoaching.com/

In this episode of The New Flat Rate Podcast, host Natalie Koop and co-host Danielle Putnam sit down with Thaddeus Tondu, CEO of On Purpose Media, to talk about the intersection of culture, purpose, and profit in the home service industry. Thaddeus shares how defining your company’s “why” and cultivating a strong culture can fuel sustainable growth—and why too many businesses lose sight of both as they scale. He breaks down the importance of appointing culture stewards, evolving core values as your business grows, and turning your existing customer database into a powerful marketing tool. Whether you’re an HVAC, plumbing, or electrical contractor, this episode delivers real-world insights on how to build a business that’s not just profitable—but purpose-driven.Social Media Links:InstagramTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠⁠Thaddeus Tondu- https://www.instagram.com/thaddeustondu/?hl=enFacebookTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠⁠Thaddeus Tondu- https://www.facebook.com/thaddeus.tondu/LinkedInTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠⁠Thaddeus Tondu- https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaddeustondu/?originalSubdomain=caYouTubeThaddeus Tondu- https://www.youtube.com/@thaddeustonduLinks and Resources:⁠⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/https://onpurposemedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/thaddeus.tondu/

In this episode of The New Flat Rate Podcast, hosts Natalie Koop and Danielle Putnam sit down with Teddy Slack, CEO of Modern Contractor, to uncover how he built and sold multiple service businesses by focusing on value instead of revenue. Teddy shares how flat rate pricing helped him double revenue in just 12 months, reach 43% EBITDA, and create companies designed to thrive without him. From pricing strategy to exit planning, this conversation is a must-listen for contractors ready to scale smarter and build a business worth buying.Links and Recourses:https://thenewflatrate.com/https://www.youtube.com/@teddyslackhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/teddyslack/

Today, Danielle Putnam, CEO of The New Flat Rate, sits down with Brennen Smith, Fractional CMO and founder of Compass Fractional, to unpack how contractors can stop wasting marketing dollars and start building strategies that actually drive revenue. From identifying “revenue levers” and constraints, to uncovering hidden cash flow in open estimates, Brennen explains how service businesses can think beyond quick fixes and set themselves apart in a crowded market. Whether you’re tired of guessing where to spend your ad budget, or you want a long-term plan that matches your company’s culture and vision, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can put into action right away.

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

Compass Fractional- https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithbp/

YouTube

Compass Fractional- https://www.youtube.com/@Brennen_Smith

Links and Resources:⁠⁠

https://thenewflatrate.com/

https://compassfractional.com/

https://compassfractional.com/tools

In this episode of The New Flat Rate Podcast, host Natalie Koop and CEO Danielle Putnam sit down with Tyler Martin, founder of CFO Made Easy and seasoned fractional CFO. Tyler shares hard-won lessons from scaling businesses to $25M+, selling to a multi-billion-dollar company, and guiding contractors through the financial growing pains that come with rapid expansion. From common cash flow mistakes and underpricing pitfalls to practical strategies for planning growth and staying profitable, this conversation is packed with clarity and encouragement for business owners. If you’ve ever looked at your bank balance and wondered if you’re really set up for growth, this episode will show you how to build a financial foundation that lasts.Social Media Links:InstagramTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠⁠FacebookTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠⁠LinkedInTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠⁠CFO Made Easy- https://www.linkedin.com/in/thinktyler/YouTubeCFO Made Easy- https://www.youtube.com/@thinktylercfoLinks and Resources:⁠⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/https://cfomadeeasy.com/https://profitandgrit.com/

In this episode, Danielle Putnam sits down with Alex Miranda, CEO and co-founder of Virtrify, to explore how virtual teams can transform home service companies. From missed calls and admin overload to profitability and freedom, Alex shares how HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors can scale smarter with virtual employees. He also opens up about the personal challenges that shaped his journey and why rethinking staffing is key to building a business that doesn’t own you.Social Media Links:InstagramTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate⁠⁠⁠Virtrify- https://www.instagram.com/virtrify/#FacebookTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRate⁠⁠⁠LinkedInTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/posts/?feedView=all⁠⁠⁠Virtrify- https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtrify/YouTubeVirtrify- https://www.youtube.com/@VirtrifyLinks and Resources:⁠⁠https://thenewflatrate.com/https://www.virtrify.com/

Today on The New Flat Rate Podcast, Danielle Putnam sits down with Dave Rothacker, Leadership Explorer and Guide with Go Time Success Group, to dig into one of the most powerful truths about leadership: leadership is influence. With more than 40 years of experience in the trades, Dave shares why influence starts with respect and curiosity, and how passing down knowledge across generations can transform not just companies, but people.From empowering CSRs and technicians to step into leadership naturally, to recognizing how small acts of adding value can shape careers, this episode is packed with real-world lessons. Whether you’re looking to grow future managers, strengthen your team culture, or simply become a more intentional leader yourself, this conversation will inspire you to lead through influence—not authority.

Social Media Links:

Instagram

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

Go Time Success Group- https://www.instagram.com/gotimesuccesscoach/?hl=en

Facebook

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

Go Time Success Group- https://www.facebook.com/gotimesuccessgroup/

LinkedIn

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

Go Time Success Group- https://www.linkedin.com/company/go-time-success-group/

Links and Resources:

⁠⁠thenewflatrate.com⁠⁠https://gotimesuccessgroup.com/Books Mentioned:The Three Signs of a Miserable Job- https://www.amazon.com/Three-Signs-Miserable-Job-Employees/dp/0787995312The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business & Life- https://www.amazon.com/Diary-CEO-Laws-Business-Life/dp/0593715837

Today we sat down with Steve Caton, founder and CEO of Altezza Solutions, to unpack one of the toughest questions founders face: When is it time to step out of the sales role and start truly working on your business instead of in it?Steve shares practical, step-by-step ways to recognize the warning signs—like stalled deals, calendar chaos, and declining conversion rates—and how to build the right processes before handing sales over. From color-coding your calendar to designing a sales process that transfers trust, this episode is full of actionable takeaways for any owner ready to buy back their time and scale sustainably.Whether you’re a contractor still running calls, or a founder wearing too many hats, this conversation will show you how to break free from the sales trap and finally focus on growing your business with intention.

Social Media Links:InstagramTNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrateFacebookTNFR- ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRateLinkedInTNFR- ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRateAltezza Solutions- https://www.linkedin.com/company/altezzasolutions/Steve Caton- https://www.linkedin.com/in/scaton/Links and Resources:https://thenewflatrate.com/https://altezzasolutions.com/

Today we sat down with Matt Koop, Vice President of The New Flat Rate, to talk about how The New Flat Rate’s pricing system connects seamlessly with Freedom Builders University, and how the two together can help contractors simplify operations, empower their teams, and reclaim their time. Matt shares insights on systemizing your business so you’re not stuck wearing every hat, and why building with intention is the key to long-term freedom and growth. If you’re ready to step out of the daily grind and start leading instead of just working, this episode is full of strategies you can put into action.Social Media Links:InstagramTNFR- https://www.instagram.com/thenewflatrate/#FacebookTNFR- https://www.facebook.com/TheNewFlatRateLinkedInTNFR- https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-flat-rate-inc-/Links and Resources:⁠⁠⁠https://thenewflatrate.com⁠⁠https://freedombuildersuniversity.com/fbu-events/Growth Summit Flyer: https://21060341.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21060341/FBU%20Leadership%20Growth%20Summit%20September%202025%20TNFR.pdf

Why Won’t They Pay Me What I’m Worth? by Rodney Koop (Audiobook Series)

If your service company isn’t stacking cash, this book is for you. Rodney Koop reveals why homeowners hesitate to pay—and how to sell the way they already buy. Whether you’re in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or another trade, you’ll learn how to charge what you're really worth.

📖 Read along here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click to open the book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the Author:

Rodney Koop is the founder of The New Flat Rate, the first in-home menu pricing system for contractors. With over 30 years of experience founding and selling service businesses, he's also a Master Electrician, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur who knows what it’s like to struggle—and how to win.