The Wealthy Contractor

EPISODE 222: Many contractors find themselves taking on too much work because they don’t want to give up control. They’d rather work long hours in the business than hire the people to do it. 

But this isn’t the way to run a successful company, no matter how talented you might be.

If you’re incredible at what you do, but find that your ego and need for control are holding you back from delegating and hiring the people you need to do the work, then you definitely want to give this week’s episode of The Wealthy Contractor podcast a listen. 

In it, I sit down with my friend Charles Surber from Surber’s Windows & Doors, a family-owned home remodeling business with a 44-year history. 

Since joining in 1994, Charles was able to successfully scale the business while also increasing his profit margins; but he wasn’t able to do so until he let go of certain responsibilities, hired and trained a great sales team, implemented a structured selling system, and found ways to remove the fear from making certain decisions

Make sure to listen in as Charles and I discuss his company’s phenomenal success, why he adopted the Profit First method, and the importance of letting go of control (even when you really can do it best).

He and I will also be talking about how he’s hacked customer loyalty, why the company is focusing on community engagement as much as profit, the importance of face-to-face marketing, his incredible open house strategy, and more.

Are you ready?

Let’s dive in. 

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

Meet Charles (01:24)

How the need for control is holding you back (09:25)

Stop chasing revenue! (16:05)

Why financial discipline matters (19:42)

How high profitability allows you to make mistakes (23:55)

Why you should be engineering your success (36:57)

The importance of community engagement (41:57)

Why you need customer appreciation events (45:06)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Save your seats for Accelerate LIVE! 2025: https://www.AccelerateEvent.com/ 

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!

EPISODE 221: Are you having trouble finding great people and building a winning team for your home improvement business?

You’re not the only one.

But there IS a secret many top organizations use to find incredible people, hire them, and keep them around. And if you want to find out what that is, then you definitely don’t want to miss this week’s episode of The Wealthy Contractor podcast.

In it, I sat down with Brad Yoho to discuss exactly how you can hire the right talent for your organization and avoid the BAD hires.

Coming to us from the renowned Dave Yoho Associates, Brad is an expert in the home improvement industry and DISC profiling.

He and I discuss the ins and outs of hiring, why DISC profiles matter so much, and how bad hires can cost you $19,000 or more.

We also touch on the common challenges that come with hiring and training (and how to overcome them), why you can never find the right salespeople for your company, and more.

Are you ready to find and hire top talent?

Then tune in now!

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

What’s going on in the home improvement industry? (02:06)

What successful contractors do (05:18)

Let’s talk about DISC (10:53)

What a salesperson looks like (18:18)

Building a team around the owner (24:22)

Behavior vs personality (30:58)

Why you need to stop reinventing the wheel (37:43)

Why you need the right people for your business (45:05)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Get Your Complimentary DISC Profile at: https://form.jotform.com/233104888317156

⚡ Learn more about the DISC Analysis at: https://www.daveyoho.com/disc 

⚡ More information on The Growth Mastery Summit 2024: https://www.hipsummit.com/ 

⚡ Save your seats for Accelerate LIVE! 2025:

https://www.AccelerateEvent.com/ 

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!

EPISODE 220: A business is all about its people, and if you’re struggling to build a winning team for yours, then this is the episode for you!

In it, I sit down with my friend and fellow home improvement business owner, Brian Gottlieb. 

Brian is here to discuss his latest book, Beyond the Hammer, which he’s been working on for the last two years. 

Brian’s book offers actionable leadership tips for everyone in the home improvement and home services industry.

Listen in as Brian and I discuss how to build strong aligned teams, the beauty of mentorship, and his big reveal of the five foundational pillars of leadership. 

We’ll also be speaking on how to go from being a struggling contractor to a successful business owner (and leader), why “a shepherd should smell like the sheep”, and why Brian and I both love using parables when writing.  

Are you ready to find out how to build a winning team that will transform your business? 

Then make sure to tune in!

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

Why Brian wrote Beyond the Hammer (02:41)

Why mentorship is satisfying (to mentors) (11:09)

Belief is transferable (14:16)

What shapes a business’ culture? (17:28)

Let’s talk about the book (26:29)

How leaders model their business as a training organization (30:04)

Why managers need a checklist (34:46)

The secret to growing a big business (42:02)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Get Brian’s book, Beyond the Hammer: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Hammer-Approach-Leadership-Performance/dp/B0D53GL23L 

⚡ Save your seats for Accelerate LIVE! 2025: https://www.AccelerateEvent.com/ 

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!

EPISODE 219: Have you ever wondered if something is holding you back as a business owner or leader? You’re doing everything right (or so you think) but something is missing, and you’re not sure what it is.

Well, spoiler alert: It’s your mindset.

So many successful leaders have learned that to succeed in business (and not just in the home improvement industry), knowing your craft isn’t enough; you also need to cultivate the right mindset.

And we’re all about to get schooled on this by this week’s guest on the podcast, the amazing Patrick Readyhough.

Patrick is a roofing and exterior contractor, and in this episode, he’ll be sharing just how much a change in his mindset transformed his business (and HOW).

He and I will be discussing how he’s implemented the strategies in my book “The 7 Secrets to Becoming a Wealthy Contractor” and how that’s helped him grow his business, the benefits of a consistent morning routine, and how his role in the business has changed over time.

We will also be touching on the incredible powers of delegation, why achieving success requires willingness to take massive action, and how “the gap and the “gain” is a battle most entrepreneurs have to fight.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Well then, what are you waiting for?

Run, don’t walk, and listen to the episode now!

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

The 7 Secrets book (03:46)

How can you achieve your dream life? (07:41)

Don’t let outside forces affect you! (11:28)

Building a great business starts with… (17:13)

You must think of yourself as a business builder, not owner (22:58)

How to measure your success (29:18)

Why EOS is a game-changer (36:14)

Confidence is everything (41:16)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!

EPISODE 218: What does it take to grow a small “family business” into a large, multi-state operation? 

Many would maybe say luck, but as I’ve said in the last episode, there is no such thing as luck in business; as entrepreneurs, we must rely on hard work, dedication, and a whole lot of strong processes.

And no one knows this better than this week’s guest on the podcast, the brilliant Vince Nardo. 

Vince is the president of Reborn Cabinets, which has now evolved to become Reborn Home Solutions.

In this episode, Vince will be discussing how he and his family transformed their small cabinet refacing business in California (first started in 1983) to a successful enterprise with over 700 employees and an expanded product lineup. 

He’ll also be touching on the importance of having standardized systems and processes in your business (and when to start doing that), why marketing and sales are everything, how the company’s business strategy shifted during and after the pandemic, why you have to make sure you’re not a quote “family business”, and much more.

Are you ready?

Let’s dive in.

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

Reborn Cabinets’ backstory (01:13)

Why you need marketing and sales knowledge (05:53)

Always work on your business (11:52)

Lead generation after the pandemic (16:43)

The effect of COVID on the business (25:37)

Why we love mastermind groups (30:31)

Your business doesn’t define your family (34:44)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Register for The Profit Workshop 2024: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/Profit

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!

EPISODE 217: So many contractors focus on just one or two lead sources to bring in most of their business and completely disregard lead diversification as a goal.

And while this strategy might have worked during the Covid boom, it’s definitely not working today. In the 2024 market, lead source diversification is a must, and no one knows this more than this week’s guest on the podcast, Ken Baer.

Before the pandemic, Ken’s home improvement business brought in most of its leads from their partner, Home Depot. However, after 2020, they decided to diversify lead sources and establish their own brand, K&P Remodeling. 

In this week’s episode of The Wealthy Contractor podcast, Ken explains how they succeeded implementing other lead sources, why he loves in-store promoters for lead generation, the importance of constant innovation to bring in better leads with lower costs, why platforms such as YouTube and Amazon Prime are now very accessible for home improvement ads, the best time slots for commercials during an election year, and so much more.

Are you ready to learn more?

Tune in now!

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

In-store sales strategies for contractors (03:41)

Don’t rely on others to generate your leads! (11:01)

How to use profit to build your business (25:12)

Why you need to maintain your relationship with customers (33:49)

Making the decision to do better (39:37)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Register for The Profit Workshop 2024: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/Profit

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!

EPISODE 216: Back in 2020, home improvement was all the rage as everyone started spending vacation money on their houses; and that meant that many contractors found themselves positively drowning in leads.

Today, as lead volume is normalizing and competition is making lead prices increase, it’s time for you to get rid of some dead weight and focus on more quality leads. And to do so, there are a few key things you’ll need to overhaul in both your digital marketing and your lead generation strategies.

To discuss this in more depth, I’ve invited not one but two experts on the topic in this week’s episode of The Wealthy Contractor podcast, Chris Behan and Natalie Russo.

Natalie is an expert in PPC paid search strategies, with over ten years of experience in the field, and Chris is the founder of the largest and most successful internet marketing company in the home improvement industry.

Together, they will be discussing the importance of moving from high volume, low-cost leads to focusing on lead quality and online conversion efficiency, which data is the best tool for a great return on your marketing dollars, why your website’s speed now matters more than you might think, and everything that’s changing today in digital marketing.

Are you ready?

Let’s dive in.

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

What does enterprise mean? (03:51)

Let’s talk about efficiency (06:15)

How to compete with bigger companies (13:56)

Why your website is so important (21:43)

Let’s discuss lead aggregators (29:07)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Learn more about Truvolv: https://www.truvolv.com/

⚡ Register for The Profit Workshop 2024: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/Profit

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!

EPISODE 215: Many home improvement businesses manage to achieve high revenue but the owners are still not reaping the benefits. This happens because, more often than not, they make much lower profit margins than they COULD be making.

In an attempt to compensate for this, we end up working endless hours FOR our business each week, often sacrificing our health, mental wellbeing, and time with our family.

I know this because I’ve made these same mistakes before, and only by changing the way I worked and thought about my business was I able to turn things around.

And in this week’s episode of The Wealthy Contractor podcast, I’ve decided to share with you my 7-step guide to do the same for your business.

Tune in as I discuss how you can reverse-engineer a business model that generates wealth and freedom for you, the importance of setting up clear personal and professional goals as a business owner, the concept of “who not how”, and why you should focus on profit margins over top-line revenue.

I’ll also be talking about the importance of accountability in business, why you should work on your mindset more, and why you have to always begin with the end in mind.

Are you ready for this?

Tune in now to learn more.

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

The industry’s dirty secret (04:16)

The seven steps to become profitable (05:41)

Clarity of outcome (06:55)

“Profitability instead of revenue” is a must! (10:30)

Convert your plan into a scorecard (14:35)

Why accountability matters (16:45)

Don’t allow others to dictate your schedule (20:48)

Focus on progress (24:57)

Eliminate roadblocks (26:36)

Never stop working on yourself (28:41)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Register for The Profit Workshop 2024: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/Profit

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!

EPISODE 214: After working with hundreds and hundreds of home improvement businesses, from the very best to those that have struggled and failed, you realize there are a few things all the successful ones do, no matter what market they are in.

And no one knows this more than this week’s guest on The Wealthy Contractor Podcast, Dave Crowell.

Dave has a unique (and extensive) experience in the home improvement industry, having worked in dealer development, support, and training for some of the largest and most successful networks (I guarantee you’ll know them).

In this episode, I sit down with Dave to discuss why building a successful home improvement company always starts with good people, a strong culture, and effective leadership and how the people you surround yourself with can provide you with invaluable insights and support – if you’re willing to let go of some things and empower them.

We’ll also be talking about why the most successful owners leverage a network, the importance of adapting your marketing strategies to today’s market, how much effort you should put behind regular training sessions for your sales team, emerging technologies that provide opportunities unheard of a decade ago, and more.

Are you ready for this episode?

Tune in now!

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

Why you need good people in your company (03:52)

The importance of being part of a community (07:53)

Is your marketing strategy good enough? (09:39)

Let’s talk about differentiation (15:39)

Why you should keep training your salespeople (19:25)

What makes a multi-million dollar business? (25:49)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Register for The Profit Workshop 2024: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/Profit

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!

EPISODE 213: Are you working hard but finding yourself not making the profit you deserve? Then you might want to give this episode a listen.

No matter how much revenue you generate as a home improvement company, it might not be enough for you to really thrive in the current market.

One way to change that is to get your financial management in check and start focusing on better profitability. And that means structuring your books correctly, using your P&L to make decisions, and maintaining high gross and contribution margins.

To discuss this in more detail, I’ve invited an expert on the podcast, the brilliant Mark Curry. 

Mark is from Revelare Home and he is a seasoned expert with nearly four decades of experience in the home improvement industry. 

Today, Mark and I will be discussing the importance of accurate financial tracking and how high profit margins are attainable in our industry, which can provide a better life for you and your family.

We’ll also be touching on why so many P&L statements are inaccurate, the difference working smart (compared to working hard) can make in a business, the three types of decision-makers, which car we’d pick in a cross country race, and more.

Are you ready for this?

Then run, don’t walk, and listen to this episode now!

Key Takeaways: 

Introduction (00:00)

Key indicators of a successful business (03:30)

How to make the right decisions (08:10)

Balance sheet vs P&L (10:29)

Is your P&L broken? (18:23)

Is your business able to survive the worst? (27:52)

P&L and margins (31:51)

Why you’re not actually making money (36:23)

Every day you’re buying your business (42:00)

Additional Resources:

⚡ Register for The Profit Workshop 2024: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/Profit

⚡ Learn more about The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/SuccessSociety

⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).

⚡ Follow us on social media:

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheWealthyContractor/

--

The Wealthy Contractor is a podcast for home improvement professionals who want to grow their business, work less, and make more money. Follow us for more!