Do You Train Your Team to Think or Just Work?
Every Monday, we hold a short training session with our team. We train on communication. leadership. & mindset. The reason being most tradespeople aren’t struggling because they can’t do the work. They’re struggling because they were never taught how to: Speak with clarity Handle conflict Lead a crew Represent the business professionally These tend to be the issues I see bottling up, either from our exit interviews or customer feed back or when things are misunderstood. Thats why I'm curious: Do you train soft skills with your crew?How To Track Commission Plans in Your Business for Jobber
Hi Everyone, I run a lawncare/landscaping business and more recently started Crew Insight (A Jobber marketplace App). Right now, the app is focused on KPI's and metrics but many of our users have asked about commission tracking. We've built out a small MVP and a waitlist to see how we can prioritize features and the roll out. I'd love to hear what types of commission plans people have right now, and how they're tracking it. We want to make it simple to build out your commission plan, track the calculations, and give your employees a real time view into their performance. If anyone's interested in chatting or signing up for the beta, you can do so here: https://crew-insight.com/waitlistMilwaukee vs DeWalt Tools, which one?
We’re Lock Nerds Locksmith, a Buffalo, NY-based company that’s always relied on Milwaukee tools. But we’re curious—what tools do other pros trust? We're looking for honest pros and cons between Milwaukee and DeWalt to see if it's time for us to reconsider our setup.
How to generate revenue during the slow winter season?
Hey everyone! I work for a fence installation company in Michigan. We typically have to layoff our workers from around January to March, not solely due to a lack of work as we have the ability to install all year round, but due to a lack of cash flow as the work is typically slower and smaller, less profitable jobs. This year I'm trying to be proactive (my first year GM'ing here) by establishing a savings account but we're looking at other possible sources of revenue through the winter that may help us stay busy and lessen the chance of layoff. Plowing is off the table because there's too many other companies around here doing that as well as our trucks not being able to handle the wear and tear. We've considered dock building, making signs, or powder coating but we're just not sure that those would actually help bring in cash through the winter. I was just wondering if anyone else has some ideas that worked for them or might work for a fence company? Thank you! :)Upsides and downsides of hiring a summer helper?
I am thinking about hiring someone to help me in the busy season and the idea of a high school kid as a summer job sounds like a promising idea. I wouldn't have to pay them a crazy salary, they are like sponges with information and they are typically more physically full of energy. I wouldn't be able to send them on their own, but they could help me get a few more jobs done in a day. I am wondering if anyone has tried this and what would be the pros and cons of doing it?
Transitioning from Landscape Maintenance to Higher Earning / Project Work
For those who started in maintenance, how did you transition into larger projects like hardscaping and design? Did you train your existing crew or build a separate team? I’m trying to figure out the best path forward without disrupting our current operations. Any advice from those who’ve made that shift would be really helpful.When is it time to hire an accountant?
I am wondering at what point some of you guys have hired an accountant? Did you hire one to grow? To maintain what you have? Or are you simply using one to file taxes at the end of the year? I am thinking about hiring an accountant to manage my finances for me and see where things go, but wondering when is the right time.What Should Home Service Businesses Automate First to Save Time?
Small manual tasks start stacking up, catching up on follow-ups, re-adjusting scheduling, invoicing, review requests, the list goes on and on. Sound familiar? What’s one task you’re still doing manually that you know could be automated? What’s stopping you from setting it up?How Much Should You Really Be Charging?
The number one question I receive is tied directly to the fact, most contractors are still guessing when it comes to pricing. Overhead. Profit. Labor rate. Trip fees. They think just because they throw a number they hear their competitors use, thats all that they need. It may work, but how and what do you divide these funds is just as important for your business health. If you don’t know how to do the math, you’re not building a business. You’re surviving check to check and think you need more work, when you do not. So here’s the plan: This Tuesday & Thursday on IG, I’m walking you through our Contractor Price Builder Worksheet FREE on instagram live. We will cover: - How to calculate your real hourly rate - The difference between markup and margin - Why profit is a non-negotiable - And how to price with confidence Join the session. Bring your numbers.
