The Tradepreneur Show: Trade Business & Home Services Success with Patrick Somers

Are you wasting money on marketing without realizing it? Patrick Somers sits down with Nicole Bergen of Elevate Market Research to explain why the four most expensive words in marketing might be: “I think I know.” Nicole breaks down how consumer research can reveal who actually knows your brand, what homeowners think about you, whether they would hire you, and where your marketing dollars are really making an impact.

Nicole shares how home service companies can potentially squeeze 15–20% more value from their existing marketing spend by replacing assumptions with real customer data. From branded search and Google LSAs to demographic opportunities, creative messaging, AI-driven search, and the importance of having operations ready before generating more leads, this episode gives HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other trades businesses a smarter framework for building their 2027 marketing strategy.

Can a teenager entering the trades really become a business owner? Patrick Somers and Francisco Rodriguez share how they went from entry-level jobs to becoming co-owners of an HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company—and what it actually took to get there. They break down the lessons that shaped their careers, from finding great mentors and mastering the technical side of the trade to taking responsibility, developing leadership skills, and understanding the financial risks behind business ownership.

Now they're helping raise the next generation of tradespeople, including their own sons. Patrick and Francisco discuss college vs. the trades, getting paid to learn, saving and investing early, building customer trust, and why mentorship matters if you want to move beyond being a technician. The skilled trades can create incredible opportunities, but success requires discipline, education, sacrifice, and a willingness to keep learning.

Check out what Mr. Jarrett is teaching kids over on Dope Teacher: https://www.youtube.com/@DopeTeacher

What if your HVAC business could stop chasing seasonal demand and start planning for it? In this episode of The Tradepreneur Show, Patrick Somers breaks down how contractors can prepare their customers, technicians, inventory, marketing, and office teams before the next busy season arrives. From retraining technicians and adjusting truck stock to preparing CSRs and planning seasonal marketing, the goal is simple: stop reacting and start getting ahead.

Patrick also explains how HVAC service calls can become long-term customer relationships instead of one-time transactions. By educating homeowners, documenting system needs, offering maintenance agreements, and using slower seasons to stay connected, contractors can create more predictable revenue while delivering more value. His challenge: look 90 days ahead and ask what you can do today to make your next season easier and more profitable.

October is Fire Prevention Month, making this the perfect time for contractors, technicians, and tradespeople to rethink what fire safety looks like on the job. From damaged extension cords and overloaded outlets to brazing, lithium batteries, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors, Patrick Somers explains how developing a fire prevention mindset can help you catch problems before they become emergencies.

But fire prevention isn't just about protecting yourself. Tradespeople entering homes and businesses have a unique opportunity to identify safety hazards, educate customers, and prevent potentially devastating incidents. Patrick shares real-world stories from his experience as a technician and volunteer firefighter, along with practical advice for business owners and technicians on fire extinguishers, home evacuation plans, emergency preparedness, and making safety part of your everyday routine.

What happens when a rattlesnake shows up under your house, in your car, or near your family and pets? Patrick Somers sits down with High Desert Dani (Danielle Wall), a Southern California rattlesnake rescuer and self-taught snake wrangler, to talk about rescuing rattlesnakes, relocating wildlife, and educating people about living safely alongside desert animals. Danielle shares how one rattlesnake encounter changed her life, the viral rescue that put her on the map, and what really happens when she gets an emergency call in the High Desert.

Danielle also breaks down some of the biggest rattlesnake myths, including whether snakes chase people, whether baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous, when snakes are most active, and what you should actually do if you encounter one. She discusses the realities of running a donation-based wildlife rescue in California, the emotional side of difficult calls, and why respect, not fear, is the key to living in snake country. If you live in Southern California, spend time in the desert, or simply want to understand rattlesnakes better, this episode is packed with wild stories, practical snake safety tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at wildlife rescue.

Working in extreme heat can be deadly, especially for HVAC technicians, plumbers, electricians, roofers, and other skilled tradespeople working in attics, rooftops, and outdoor jobsites. In this episode of The Tradepreneur Show, Patrick Somers breaks down practical heat illness prevention strategies and explains why every trade business needs a strong heat injury and illness prevention plan. From hydration and cooling areas to acclimation, rest breaks, ice, and leadership on the jobsite, Patrick shares the systems companies can use to keep their teams safe during extreme temperatures.

But safety goes beyond simply following OSHA requirements. Patrick explains why every employee needs the authority to stop work when conditions become unsafe and why protecting workers and customers must come before productivity. He also shares powerful real-world stories involving emergency HVAC calls, vulnerable homeowners, and helping a family without adequate air conditioning. If you own or manage a trade business—or work in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, construction, or another physically demanding industry—this episode offers practical safety advice that could help prevent heat illness, protect your team, and save lives.

AI is changing the world, but AI can't build a data center, install a power system, repair a cooling system, or fix a broken piece of equipment. In this episode of The Tradepreneur Show, Patrick Somers explains why the rapid growth of artificial intelligence could create a massive new opportunity for the skilled trades. From electricians and HVAC technicians to plumbers, welders, pipefitters, mechanics, and equipment operators, the people who build and maintain America's physical infrastructure could be at the center of an emerging "blue collar gold rush."

With data center electricity demand expected to surge, an aging skilled-trades workforce, and trillions of dollars in infrastructure investment needed across the United States, Patrick breaks down why the demand for skilled labor could grow dramatically in the coming years. Whether you're a young person choosing a career, a tradesperson looking to build a business, or an entrepreneur searching for the next big opportunity, this episode explains why AI, infrastructure, and the skilled trades may be more connected than you think—and why the next generation of trade professionals could be positioned for tremendous opportunity.

Is college still the best path to a successful career? On this episode of The Tradepreneur Show, Patrick Somers sits down with three young tradespeople to talk about why they chose HVAC and plumbing, what they're earning while they learn, and what life is really like in the skilled trades. From apprenticeships and trade school to getting paid on the job, they share their experiences, challenges, early paychecks, and why the trades can offer a debt-free path to a six-figure career.

You'll hear firsthand stories about working in HVAC and plumbing, dealing with difficult jobs, learning from experienced technicians, and building the skills needed to eventually start your own business. If you're a young person deciding between college and a trade, a parent helping your child choose a career, or someone looking for a high-paying career without student debt, this episode offers an honest look at the opportunities available in the skilled trades.

Patrick Somers shares the unfiltered story of how he went from making $10 an hour in an entry-level HVAC job to co-owning a multi-million-dollar HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company. From working hospitals, warehouses, and roadside truck repair to owning a dry-cleaning business, surviving the 2008 recession, and starting over in the trades, Patrick explains why chasing opportunity instead of money changed the trajectory of his career. He breaks down the mindset, work ethic, perseverance, and ownership mentality that helped him move from employee to entrepreneur.

Patrick also reveals the realities of buying and scaling a trade business, including personal guarantees, massive payroll pressure, cash-flow challenges, and the importance of having a supportive partner when you're risking everything to build a business. If you're a contractor, tradesperson, entrepreneur, or aspiring business owner, this episode is packed with practical lessons on leadership, business ownership, HVAC entrepreneurship, financial risk, resilience, and building a successful trades business from the ground up.

Patrick Somers breaks down one of the most powerful communication and sales techniques borrowed from improv: the "Yes, And" mindset. Learn how this simple approach can transform sales objections, customer service, leadership, difficult conversations, and personal relationships by acknowledging what someone is saying and building on it instead of becoming defensive. Patrick explains how "Yes, And" can help tradespeople uncover the real objection, build trust, improve communication, and create better outcomes in HVAC, home services, and other trade businesses.

Patrick also shares a real customer service story where a one-star Yelp complaint became an $8,000 sale and a five-star review—all by taking responsibility, listening to the customer, and finding a way forward. If you're a contractor, business owner, salesperson, or tradepreneur looking to improve sales, objection handling, customer relationships, leadership, and communication skills, this episode gives you practical scripts and strategies you can start using immediately. Learn why saying "Yes, And" could completely change the way you handle difficult customers and close more business.

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_🎵 Original theme song: Blue Collar Working Man. Lyrics by Patrick Somers. Music created using Suno AI._

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