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Valuing a Trades Business — What's Your Experience?
I've been having some conversations lately about what a small trades company is actually worth — and I'm getting different answers depending on who I talk to. Some people say 1x annual gross revenue is the standard for a well-run trades business. Others say it's more like 2–4x EBITDA (net operating profit). And for a breakeven company with good employees and solid clients but no retained earnings, both methods produce very different numbers. A few questions for the group: Has anyone here bought or sold a trades business — or seriously explored it? What valuation method did you actually end up using? How much does systemization affect the number in your opinion? Does a business running on Jobber with SOPs, long-term employees, and documented processes command a premium over an owner-operated shop where everything lives in the owner's head? If you were bringing a friend or colleague into your business as a part-owner — someone who brings clients, crew, and vehicles — how would you structure that deal fairly for both sides? Would love to hear from anyone who's been through this — buyers, sellers, or people who've taken on a partner. This stuff doesn't get talked about enough in the trades.
When “Competitive Pricing” Depends on the Market
How do you account for the value of your experience and problem-solving beyond simply adding up materials and hours, while still keeping your work competitively priced? For me, “competitive” changes depending on the event or market I am selling in. I have a bad habit of underpricing both my work and my labor just to make the sale and keep the boat floating. My smaller pieces usually do well at public-facing events, but at many of those shows I am also directly competing with Mee-maw selling $4 dog scarves made from copyrighted character fabric. There is nothing wrong with selling an inexpensive product, but it creates a market where customers are often comparing everything by price instead of considering the skill, equipment, originality, time, and experience that went into making it. This is not limited to custom work. It affects everything I make. I can calculate the materials, consumables, equipment costs, and hours, but that still does not fully account for the years spent developing the skills or the problem-solving required to turn an idea into a finished piece. Sometimes the hardest part is not figuring out what the work is worth. It is finding the market where people understand why it is worth it. I do not like turning away work or walking away from a possible sale, especially when every sale helps keep the business moving. At the same time, constantly lowering prices to fit the wrong market can leave you working nonstop without actually getting ahead. I typically bring a variety of my work to each event, hoping to make enough sales to cover the cost of the day while also connecting with people who may become future commission clients. How do you decide whether to adjust your pricing, change the mix of products you bring based on the event or demographic, or accept that a particular market simply is not the right fit for your work?🎙️ Podcast Discussion: A Simple Audit that Costs $0, and Makes you Money
If you could audit one part of your business today, what would it be and why? Earlier this week, Jobber launched another great episode of Masters of Home Service, featuring Community member glistenacademy Tuned into the episode? Let's jump into the comments below about your key takeaways and your personal experiences!👇Has anyone here been a Jobber Grant recipient? I’d love to learn from your experience.
Good morning, everyone! I recently completed my Jobber Grant application, and regardless of the outcome, I’m grateful for the opportunity and everything I’ve already learned through this community. I was curious if anyone here has been selected as a Jobber Grant recipient in previous years. If so, I’d love to hear about your experience. How did receiving the grant impact your business? What investments made the biggest difference? Were there any lessons you learned after receiving the funding that you wish you had known beforehand? I believe hearing real success stories can help all of us prepare for future growth, whether we’re selected this year or not. Thank you in advance for sharing your journey!
What do you do when a customer goes radio silence when their bill is due?
Does anyone have any advice on how to handle a customer who has gone radio silent without paying their bill? We finished the project and had a few punch list items to finish. The homeowner is not returning my calls to schedule the return date and they have an outstanding balance. This is a new issue for us so we feel a little unsure how to proceed. We'd love some ideas!Payment Nightmare: Should Contractors Require a Deposit Before Starting a Job?
I recently had a job where the customer tried to pay in various formats and payment was never able to go through. I ended up leaving and hoping they would pay at a later date. Thankfully they did pay a few days later. How do others go about this potential issue? I have thought it may be a good idea to require a small deposit to make sure payment is able to be made before the job is started.
