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👇 Take the Trade Traction Score Assessment and discover what to focus on next in your business:  https://tradetraction.scoreapp.com

Every plumber starting out pictures the same thing. Big shop, double doors, wrapped trucks, the whole setup. Dennis spent 25 years building a $12 million plumbing company and says that vision is exactly what holds most trades owners back. The shop should be the last thing you buy, not the first.

In this episode, Dennis breaks down what he'd do instead if he started his plumbing business over today. He covers the fixer-upper strategy for building rental income and keeping crews productive, why buying equipment you want instead of what your company needs is a costly trap, and why idle crews sitting in the shop waiting for calls destroys morale and kills sales. The line that stuck: confidence sells.

Topics discussed:

00:00 - Why he wouldn't buy a shop first
00:40 - The fixer-upper strategy instead of a fancy shop
01:48 - Spotting project houses while on the job
02:51 - Turning slow days into crew training
04:20 - The $70K mistake and the want vs. need trap
05:19 - Why he never bought a backhoe in 25 years
07:18 - When the big shop is actually justified
08:36 - What he lost by not buying rentals sooner
10:28 - Why idle crews kill morale and sales

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
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Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

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👇 Take the Trade Traction Score Assessment and discover what to focus on next in your business:
 https://tradetraction.scoreapp.com

Most plumbing companies think they have a marketing problem when they actually have a branding problem.

In this video, Gene Johnson breaks down why the best plumbing company doesn't always win—the best marketer does. You'll learn how successful plumbing businesses create a powerful brand, attract more customers, spend marketing dollars more effectively, and grow without relying entirely on Google, Yelp, Angi, or lead generation platforms.

Whether you're a plumber, HVAC contractor, electrician, remodeler, or home service business owner, this training will help you understand how to build a business people specifically ask for instead of competing solely on price or paid leads.

You'll discover:

✅ Why branding matters more than most contractors realize
✅ The difference between marketing and brand building
✅ How to create a purpose-driven business customers remember
✅ Why throwing money at ads often fails
✅ How to generate more calls without increasing ad spend
✅ The marketing lessons learned from building a successful plumbing company
✅ How community involvement creates trust and referrals
✅ The contractor growth strategy that compounds over time

If you're serious about growing your plumbing business, attracting better customers, hiring great technicians, and becoming the company everyone in town recognizes, this episode is for you. Based on Gene's experience building a leading plumbing company, the core message is simple: build a brand first, then amplify it with marketing.

#PlumbingBusiness #ContractorMarketing #PlumbingMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness #BusinessGrowth #ContractorBusiness #ServiceBusiness #LeadGeneration #MarketingStrategy #SmallBusinessGrowth

Chapters

00:00 Why the Best Marketer Wins
02:02 The Marketing Budget Formula Every Contractor Should Know
04:15 What Yellow Pages Taught Me About Marketing
06:25 Why Most Contractors Market Too Soon
08:40 Building a Brand One Truck at a Time
11:15 The Difference Between Branding and Marketing
13:20 How Customers Learn to Trust Your Company
16:05 The Cycling Team Sponsorship That Built Our Brand
19:30 Why Google, Yelp, and Angi Aren't Enough
22:10 Finding Your Company's Purpose Beyond Plumbing
25:45 The Compounding Effect of Brand Building
28:10 How to Amplify a Brand With Marketing
30:45 The Biggest Marketing Mistake Contractors Make
34:00 The Sewer Liner Lesson That Changed Everything
37:15 Let Demand Force Growth
40:20 Why Every Contractor Needs Business Coaching
43:10 Trade Traction Score App & Next Steps
45:00 Final Thoughts on Winning Through Marketing

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice

Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

Send us Fan Mail

👉 Take the contractor assessment and learn what your business should focus on next:  https://tradetraction.scoreapp.com

Are you struggling to grow your plumbing business, retain plumbers, or build a profitable plumbing company?

In this episode, Dennis the Apprentice reveals one of the most important lessons every plumbing business owner must learn: your primary customer is not the homeowner—it's your plumber.

Most plumbing contractors focus all their attention on customer service, but the most successful plumbing companies understand that attracting, training, and retaining great plumbers is what drives long-term growth. If you want to grow a plumbing company, increase profitability, recruit top technicians, and build a business that lasts, this mindset shift can change everything.

Dennis shares how he transformed his plumbing service business by creating an environment where plumbers wanted to work. You'll learn why paying plumbers more often requires charging more, how flat-rate pricing helped support business growth, why technician retention matters more than most owners realize, and how investing in training can help your plumbing company dominate the market.

Whether you're a plumbing contractor, service plumber, HVAC business owner, electrical contractor, or home service entrepreneur, this episode will help you build a stronger team, improve recruiting, increase technician retention, and create a more profitable service business.

What You'll Learn:

✔ Why your plumbers are your most important customer
✔ How to attract and retain top plumbing technicians
✔ Why great plumbers can work anywhere they want
✔ How to grow a plumbing company with the right culture
✔ Why cheap pricing hurts your plumbing business
✔ The connection between profitability and technician pay
✔ How training programs attract better plumbers
✔ Why "whoever has the plumbers owns the market"
✔ How to build a plumbing business that top talent wants to join

If you're looking for plumbing business coaching, plumbing company growth strategies, plumbing management advice, recruiting plumbers, retaining plumbers, flat-rate pricing strategies, or home service business growth, this episode is for you.

👇 Take the contractor assessment and discover what your plumbing business should focus on next.

Subscribe for more plumbing business coaching, contractor growth strategies, service business management, leadership training, and home service business success tips.

Chapters

00:00 Plumbing Business Owners Are Thinking About Customers Wrong
01:15 Why Your Plumber Is Your Real Customer
03:20 The Plumbing Business Model Explained
05:10 Why Great Plumbers Can Work Anywhere
07:08 How to Attract Top Plumbers to Your Company
09:42 How Plumbing Companies Pay Plumbers More
12:15 Flat Rate Pricing and Plumbing Business Growth
15:00 The Customer Complaint That Changed Everything
18:05 Why Cheap Plumbing Companies Struggle
20:30 Building a Plumbing Company Technicians Love
23:15 Whoever Has the Plumbers Owns the Market
25:40 Plumbing Training Programs That Attract Top Talent
29:05 Creating a World-Class Plumbing Training Center
32:00 Plumbing Business Coaching and Contractor Growth
35:10 Final Advice for Plumbing Business Owners

#PlumbingBusiness #PlumbingCompany #PlumbingContractor #Plumber #ServiceBusiness #H

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice

Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

Send us Fan Mail

Most plumbing business owners don’t fail because they’re bad at plumbing… they fail because nobody taught them how money actually works in business.

In this episode of Trade Traction, Dennis sits down with Electra to break down the money mistakes keeping contractors stuck — from underpricing and cash flow chaos to why most owners are terrified to raise prices. They dive deep into Profit First, flat rate pricing, customer psychology, marketing spend, and the mindset shifts required to build a truly profitable service business.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re working harder but still not making enough money, this episode will hit hard.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro & meeting Electra
02:00 – Why contractors avoid looking at numbers
05:34 – The biggest operational mistakes owners make
08:31 – Profit First & fixing cash flow problems
11:48 – Understanding your real numbers in business
15:07 – Flat rate pricing & charging what you’re worth
18:27 – The truth about customer experience in plumbing
21:50 – What profitable companies do differently
25:00 – Why “singles and doubles” build profitable businesses
28:10 – Pricing mindset & why owners undercharge
31:36 – The servant mindset behind great tradespeople
34:43 – Educating customers the right way
38:05 – ServiceTitan, payroll & when to hire help
39:46 – Final thoughts on growing a profitable trade business

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice

Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

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Most contractors think the hiring problem starts with finding apprentices. But according to HVAC education leader Clifton Beck, the real issue is what happens after they get hired.

In this episode of ESCO Institute and Trade Traction, we break down why so many young techs leave the trades early, how contractors are failing the next generation, and what companies must do to actually retain profitable employees long-term.

From apprenticeship systems and mentorship to company culture, technology, leadership, and the future of the skilled trades — this conversation is packed with insights every plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contractor needs to hear.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Why contractors keep losing good technicians
00:32 – Introduction to Clifton Beck & ESCO Institute
02:10 – Why most contractors misunderstand apprenticeship programs
05:00 – How contractors can shape local trade education programs
09:12 – The biggest reason young techs leave the industry
10:00 – Creating career paths that retain employees
15:00 – How technology is changing HVAC & skilled trades
20:00 – Why money alone won’t keep technicians loyal
25:00 – The massive opportunity still available in the trades
30:00 – The deeper purpose behind skilled trades work
35:00 – Different career paths inside HVAC & plumbing
37:15 – Final message on building a profitable company that keeps great people

#HVAC #PlumbingBusiness #SkilledTrades #ContractorBusiness #HVACLife #TradeTraction #Apprenticeships #BusinessGrowth #HVACTechnician #Tradespeople

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice

Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

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🚨 Slow Season in Your Plumbing Business? Here’s Exactly What To Do.

In this episode, we break down practical plumbing marketing strategies to keep your phones ringing, your technicians busy, and your business growing — even during slow periods. From direct mail campaigns and email marketing to branding, social media, partnerships, and neighborhood marketing, this is a complete playbook for plumbing company owners who refuse to sit back and accept “slow.”

If you own a plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or home service business, this episode is packed with actionable ideas you can implement immediately to generate more service calls, improve team morale, and build a recognizable local brand.

You’ll learn why successful companies focus on consistency, branding, visibility, and proactive marketing instead of waiting for leads to magically appear.

🔥 In this episode, you’ll discover:

•  Why every plumbing business needs 3 calls per tech per day 
•  How to market your plumbing company during slow seasons 
•  The power of direct mail postcards and local radius marketing 
•  Email marketing ideas for plumbing and home service businesses 
•  How to reactivate past customers with simple offers 
•  Why collaboration with electricians, HVAC companies, and roofers works 
•  Social media marketing tips for plumbing businesses 
•  Neighborhood marketing strategies that actually get noticed 
•  How yard signs, A-frames, and truck placement generate leads 
•  The importance of branding in the trades 
•  How purpose-driven marketing builds customer loyalty 
•  Leadership mindset and responsibility as a business owner 

This episode is essential for:
 ✅ Plumbing company owners
 ✅ HVAC contractors
 ✅ Electricians
 ✅ Home service business owners
 ✅ Trades entrepreneurs
 ✅ Service managers looking to improve call volume

📈 If your business feels slow, don’t panic — market harder, get visible, and create momentum.

👇 Subscribe for more plumbing business coaching, marketing strategies, leadership advice, and home service growth content.

#PlumbingBusiness #PlumbingMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness #HVACMarketing #ContractorMarketing #ServiceBusiness #LocalMarketing #BusinessGrowth #TradesBusiness #PlumbingContractor

⏱️ CHAPTERS:
 00:00 Why Slow Seasons Are Dangerous
 00:55 The “3 Calls Per Tech” Rule
 02:26 Direct Mail Marketing Strategy Explained
 04:06 Handling Slow Periods the Right Way
 05:23 Email Marketing for Plumbing Companies
 07:11 Predicting Slow Days & Seasonal Trends
 08:25 Calling Your Customer List for More Work
 08:53 Partnering with Other Trades for Referrals
 10:54 Social Media & Customer Engagement Tips
 12:11 Why Doing Something Builds Company Morale
 12:52 Neighborhood Marketing Tactics That Work
 14:18 The Power of Yard Signs & Visibility
 15:02 Why Techs Need Sales Training
 16:59 Building a Strong Plumbing Brand
 18:18 “Banana on the Roof” Branding Concept
 19:35 Creative Marketing Campaign Ideas
 20:23 Creating Social Media Content That Stands Out
 20:41 Purpose Partnerships & Sponsorship Marketing
 22:31 Using Community Branding to Get Direct Calls
 23:45 Collaborating With Local Business Owners
 24:26 How to Use Your Service Trucks as Billboards
 25:21 Why Owners Must Lead Marketing Efforts
 26:17 All Hands on Deck During Slow Seasons
 26:32 Final Motivation for Business Owners

Source transcript adapted from uploaded script file.

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice

Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

Send us Fan Mail

If you're tired of hiring people who say they know the trade… but then you realize they only know one small part of the job, this episode is for you.

Most contractors aren’t struggling because of lack of work… they’re struggling because of bad hires, weak training, and no real pipeline of skilled labor.

In this episode, you’ll learn how top contractors are fixing that, by actually knowing who they’re hiring, building stronger training systems, and creating a reliable workforce that drives profit instead of killing it.

Jennifer Wilkerson from NCCER breaks down how standardized training, real skill assessments, and national programs are changing the game for contractors across the country.

If you want better people, better systems, and better profit, this is the blueprint.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – The Hiring Problem Every Contractor Faces
02:29 – Why “Skilled Workers” Aren’t Actually Skilled
04:36 – The Real Reason Contractors Lose Profit
06:40 – Labor Mistakes & Weak Training Systems
08:35 – How Smart Contractors Fix Hiring
10:27 – Building a Reliable Skilled Labor Pipeline
12:27 – Inside NCCER & Standardized Training
15:10 – How Skill Assessments Actually Work
18:03 – Programs Contractors Are Using Right Now
20:55 – Future of Hiring & Why This Matters
 Podcast: Trade Traction Host: Dennis Hamon Guest: Jennifer Wilkerson (VP of Innovation & Advancement, NCCER)

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice

Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

Send us Fan Mail

If you own a plumbing business and feel like you're working hard but still not making money, this episode explains why most plumbing companies get stuck before reaching real profit.

In this Trade Traction episode, plumbing contractors will learn the 4 stages of plumbing business growth and why many plumbing business owners look successful while still struggling financially.

Many plumbing business owners stay busy, run trucks every day, and still feel pressure around payroll, cash flow, and profit. The truth is that every plumbing company moves through predictable business stages, and only one stage creates consistent profit, stronger teams, and peace of mind.

In this episode, we cover:

• Stage 1: surviving as a small plumbing company
• Stage 2: looking successful but still struggling financially
• Stage 3: relying too heavily on plumbing sales
• Stage 4: building a plumbing business around training, options, and trust

If you are a plumbing contractor trying to grow your plumbing business, improve plumbing sales, increase profit margins, or build a stronger home service business, this episode will help you identify what needs to change next.

Trade Traction helps plumbing contractors stop working for free, improve profitability, and build the business they once dreamed of.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why most plumbing businesses struggle
01:05 Stage 1 plumbing business survival
04:10 Stage 2 plumbing company growth problems
07:05 Stage 3 plumbing sales focus
10:45 Why sales pressure creates problems
13:20 Offering options in plumbing sales
17:10 Why training creates profit
21:05 The profitable plumbing business stage
24:10 What stage is your plumbing business in?

#PlumbingBusiness #PlumbingContractor #PlumbingCompany #HomeServiceBusiness #ContractorProfit #TradeTraction

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice

Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

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If you're a plumbing contractor staying busy every day but still wondering why there’s no money left at the end of the month, this episode of Trade Traction breaks down exactly why busy does not always mean profitable.

In this episode, we cover the 3 biggest profit mistakes plumbing companies make that keep contractors stuck working hard without building real financial freedom:

• Why charging more is necessary if you want to stop working for free
• Why offering more options increases profit on every service call
• Why paying yourself first changes everything in a plumbing business

Too many plumbing business owners believe that full schedules automatically create profit—but without proper pricing, upselling, and profit discipline, even a busy plumbing company can stay broke.

If you want to build a profitable plumbing business, improve plumbing sales, and finally create the company you once dreamed of, this episode will show you where to start.

Chapters

00:00 Why busy plumbers still stay broke
01:12 Why customers always say “that’s expensive”
04:08 Why plumbing contractors must give options
07:25 Charge for the truck you actually want
10:14 Why correct pricing still leaves you broke
13:05 Sell more than they called you for
17:42 The hidden profit in offering upgrades
21:18 Why paying yourself first works
25:07 Profit First for plumbing contractors
28:44 Small price increases that change everything
32:10 Why plumbing is worth charging more for

If you're serious about growing a plumbing company that produces real profit, subscribe to Trade Traction for weekly strategies built for plumbing contractors.

#PlumbingBusiness #PlumbingContractor #ProfitFirst #ServiceBusiness #TradesBusiness #PlumbingSales

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice

Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

Send us Fan Mail

If you're a plumbing contractor working hard every day but still wondering where the money went, this episode of Trade Traction is for you.

In this episode, we break down five practical moves that can help turn a busy plumbing company into a profitable plumbing business—without gimmicks, without complicated systems, and without losing your integrity.

Too many plumbing contractors are stuck in survival mode: running calls, answering phones, fixing emergencies, making payroll... yet still not building real profit. The truth is, being great at plumbing does not automatically mean you're running a strong business.

Today we cover five simple shifts that can start changing that immediately:

✅ Pay yourself first
✅ Raise prices gradually and intentionally
✅ Offer customers options instead of one price
✅ Document where your company really stands financially
✅ Use meetings and phone systems to create traction

This episode is for plumbing business owners, service plumbers, HVAC contractors, drain cleaning companies, and trade business leaders who are tired of working for free and ready to finally build the business they once dreamed of.

Whether you run one truck or twenty, these ideas can help you stop spinning your wheels and start creating profit.

Chapters

00:00 Why busy plumbing companies still struggle financially
01:10 Pay yourself first: why profit must come before expenses
04:45 Why even 1% profit changes everything
07:05 The simple price increase most contractors avoid
10:15 Why customers—not you—hold your profit
12:10 Offer options instead of one price
17:30 Why homeowners often buy more than you expect
20:05 Document where your business really stands
24:15 Why writing down debt creates clarity
27:40 Start meetings that actually improve performance
31:20 Training creates confidence and culture
34:45 Answer the phone and book every call
39:10 Final encouragement: get traction this week

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. 

Connect with Dennis:

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242
Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice

Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.