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What Does a Strong Q4 2026 Look Like for Your Business?
We are heading into the final quarter of 2026, and I am curious how everyone is approaching it. For some businesses, Q4 is the busiest time of year. For others, it is a chance to slow down, catch up, and start planning for 2027. What is your biggest business goal for Q4 2026? Does your business usually get busier or slower during the fourth quarter? Are you focused more on increasing revenue or preparing for next year? What would make you look back on Q4 2026 and say it was a strong finish to the year?Is your busy season coming or is it coming to an end?
I think we are all reeling at the thought of summer coming to an end, and the inevitable onslaught of fall and winter. I think about all the businesses that thrive in these transitional times, but would love to hear about some of the businesses that most people wouldn't think have a either a busy time or slow time in these times. Locksmiths, cleaners, reno companies, pooper scoopers... Also would love to hear why. Is your season picking up or slowing down?How Can Small Businesses and Shops Compete with Private Equity?
The consolidated shops in most markets are running a real playbook now. Phones covered every hour. Leads worked in minutes. Estimate in the customer's hands before the van leaves the job. Photos of the panel and the attic feeding next year's upsell. Published price book so nobody has to negotiate. From outside it looks intimidating and there's been enough money behind it that PitchBook counts north of 800 HVAC, plumbing and electrical acquisitions since 2022. One roll-up went from nothing to 75 brands and 13,000 employees in seven years. But almost every one of those things used to require a six-figure back office, and now costs a few hundred a month. The systems gap is closing fast, and it's closing in the small operator's favor. Meanwhile the thing the big shops are genuinely short on is people. ServiceTitan puts electrical turnover around 21% and median tech tenure at three years. A lot of good techs have no interest in being on a leaderboard with a required close rate attached. So the way I read it: the consolidators are winning on operations and losing on talent. The operations is the half that just got cheap. What do others think?Looking to Connect With California-Based Contractors & Businesses Needing Window Film Installation
I’m the owner/operator of Structured Film, a licensed and insured window film installation business serving Mendocino County and surrounding areas. I specialize in commercial, residential, and flat-glass window film installations, including storefronts, offices, schools, and other commercial properties. I’m currently looking to connect with: General contractors Glass & glazing companies Commercial property managers Construction companies Other home-service businesses Businesses that need a reliable window film subcontractor I’m willing to travel for the right projects and am interested in building long-term contractor relationships, not just one-off jobs. If you regularly come across projects where window film is needed, I’d be happy to connect and discuss subcontracting or referral opportunities. Structured Film Commercial & Residential Window Film Licensed • Insured • W-9 AvailableBuilt in Edmonton: our first local Edmonton event
Jobber is investing in putting real people on the ground in cities across North America who are focused on building a community of service pros and creating something genuinely useful in each city - hosting events, collecting feedback and supporting local business owners. I'm your local Edmonton Jobber gal and this week we had our first big Jobber event here in the city - Built in Edmonton, a networking happy hour for service pros at Fox Burger rooftop. Great food, drinks on us, prizes, a networking game and some amazing community building. Congrats to Ryan Hauer from Hauer Power Electrical who won the free year of Jobber giveaway contest! Huge thank you to everyone who came out - tickets went fast, the energy was electric and valuable connections were made. If you missed it, there will be more local events happening in Edmonton and other cities! Full photo album here.To Everyone Who Didnt Win The Jobber Grant
I jus got the email of the winners... I know I’m not the only one who was hoping to hear our name called. Being told you didn’t make the cut can definitely sting, especially when you’ve put your heart, time, and energy into building your business. But not being selected doesn’t mean your business isn’t worthy. It doesn’t erase the work you’ve already put in, the customers you’ve helped, or the dreams you’re chasing. Congratulations to the 9 who were selected you earned it. 👏 And to everyone who didn’t, keep going. Our story doesn’t end with one “no.” Sometimes the setback is just another chapter before the breakthrough. Keep building. Keep learning. Keep showing up. We may not have won the grant, but we’re not done winning. 💪🚀
When Was the Last Time You Checked In With Yourself?
Someone recently asked me a very simple question: "How are you doing?" It made me realize how rarely we seem to ask entrepreneurs that question. We're constantly checking on the business. Revenue, leads, clients, schedules, marketing, employees, expenses, growth. There's always another task, another problem to solve, another person to connect with, or something new to create. But how often do we pause long enough to check in on the person building the business? Not just whether we're tired or stressed, but whether we're still enjoying what we're building. Whether we're proud of how far we've come. What's working for us personally, what's wearing us down, and whether the business we're creating still aligns with why we started it in the first place. Sometimes I think we get so focused on where we're trying to go that we forget to acknowledge where we are. So I'm curious: How are you doing? Not your revenue. Not your pipeline. Not your team. You. And when was the last time you actually stopped long enough to answer that question?
