Recent Discussions
Hey guys I am curious about business plans for landscape business.
I just don't know where to begin with building a business plan. I have been in business for 5 years without having one. Now I see why they are so important. I need some advice on where I can go cost-effective is important. I need help building out the plan. Anyone willing to connect and see if you can help me in he right direction.What Podcasts Are You Hooked On Right Now?
Let’s be honest—when you’re driving between jobs, grinding away solo, or just trying to unwind after a long day, podcasts are clutch. I’ve been on the hunt for something new lately, and figured I’d throw it out there—what podcasts are you listening to that actually fire you up, teach you something, or just help you zone out and reset? Could be trades-related, mindset, money, business, or even total random entertainment. I don’t care if it’s about tools or true crime—if it’s good, drop it. Always looking to stack the playlist. What’s in your rotation?Pigheaded Discipline and Determination
As a home improvement veteran, I know how crucial it is to focus on the right strategies to grow a business. That’s why I’m a huge fan of Chet Holmes’ The Ultimate Sales Machine. His concept of “pigheaded discipline and determination”resonates with me—success isn’t about doing a million things, but about doing the right things consistently. One of Holmes’ best strategies is the Dream 100, where you target ideal clients and build strong, lasting relationships. For home improvement pros, this means nurturing connections with homeowners, contractors, and suppliers who bring in steady work. Another game-changer? Education-based marketing—instead of hard selling, provide value. Sharing insights through blog posts, workshops, or social media makes you the go-to expert. If you haven’t read The Ultimate Sales Machine yet, it’s time to dive in—it’s a total game-changer for anyone serious about growing their business. What books have been game-changers for you? Drop a comment...
Seeking Advice: Building a Pricing Strategy and Ideal Customer Avatar for MTAC Plumbing
Hi Everyone, This is Markus from MTAC Plumbing, based in Kitchener, Ontario. After 2.5 years in business, I’m reaching out to fellow plumbing companies for advice and insights. As a relatively new business, we’ve been saying "yes" to all types of customers and work. We’ve worked with small general contractors on home renovations, direct service calls with homeowners, small commercial fit-outs, reworks, and even a few custom new construction homes. One challenge I’m facing is narrowing down my ideal customer avatar. Without that focus, I’ve struggled to create a solid pricing strategy and price book tailored to specific types of work. I’ve consumed a lot of content—coaching programs, podcasts, and even paid for some trades business coaching—but I’m constantly torn between different approaches. Should I stick to flat rate/lump sum pricing, or go with time and materials transparency? Overhead recovery is another area I need to lock down, along with deciding whether to lean into truck/service charges or a higher hourly rate with minimum-hour strategies. Currently, my price book in Jobber feels clunky and difficult to use. It’s challenging to organize by service types (e.g., Service, Renovation, Commercial), and there’s no way to create subfolders, making navigation harder. From my experience, homeowners in my area often see flat-rate pricing as a dealbreaker. I’ve trained our admin to explain that a plumber needs to assess the job on-site because of plumbing’s many variables. For common issues, I’m considering building out flat-rate pricing for simplicity, but most clients still want an upfront range or at least a disclosed hourly rate before scheduling. I’m looking for advice from this community: How do you structure your pricing and organize your price books? Do you use flat rate, lump sum, or time and materials strategies, and how do they work for you? What’s the best way to build confidence and efficiency in pricing to ramp up billables while keeping processes streamlined? I appreciate any insights or feedback! Best regards, Markus MTAC PlumbingEntrepreneurs in #Chicago... let's connect!
Hey everyone! I live in the west suburbs of Chicago and run a handyman business. Would love to connect with others in the area that use Jobber for their businesses, perhaps share some best practices, build some referrals between one another, chat about business, etc. I'm also an Army veteran, so if there are other veterans and first responders outside of Chicago that want to connect and share some of our unique entrepreneurial challenges, I'm here for that as well! Drop a comment if you're interested in connecting... perhaps we can start a Slack/Discord channel or meet up for coffee if you're in the #Chicago area. Thanks! -Justin (Owner, Handy Miller Man, LLC dba Home Fixers)Virtual vs In-Person Events
Thinking back on my entrepreneurial journey, I used to attend numerous in-person events for personal and professional development every year. More recently, in the post-COVID era and beyond, virtual events (like Jobber Summit next month!) have up-ticked in popularity. I've grown to like virtual events as they allow me to attend and participate in opportunities I would never be able to travel to logistically. Do you prefer in-person or virtual events and why? (No right or wrong answers!!)
