Milwaukee 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 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.Do you utilize battery-powered tools?
Handheld battery-powered tools have come a long way from their first iterations, especially over the past few years. I've started making the switch away from gas-powered equipment throughout the last few seasons for my business and have found the switch to be positive for my workflow and bottom line. This is a trend I believe will continue as batteries become more powerful and long-lasting. Are you utilizing any battery-powered equipment and, if so, do you have any favorites you'd like to share??
Direct Call Leads
We only pay per qualified conversation with homeowners. After a few years of hunting down bad contacts, getting ghosted and wasting money on ads and ad managers we internally built out a system that only costs money when a homeowner directly calls us looking for our services. It’s been a gamechanger and we even started selling these calls to other roofers and other industries/home service companies because there’s no real risk. Either you talk to a homeowner who wants you to come out, or you don’t pay. They can be kind of expensive but our ROI is at about 3.4x for a while now using it so I’m never going back to our old methods…unless someone has a lower risk option that doesn’t consume a ton of time.
Sales Marketing
Need More Leads & a Website That Works as Hard as You Do?If you're a contractor offering services like remodeling, roofing, painting, or renovations, having a strong online presence isn’t optional anymore it’s essential. I specialize in building professional, mobile friendly websites that help contractors: Book more jobs Show off past work with photo galleries & testimonials Get found on Google with local SEO Look legit and stand out from the competition Whether you're just starting out or ready to take your business to the next level, I offer free consultations to see how we can upgrade your online presence and bring in more clients.How to recruit to a rural location
I have tried the Canada job board, the BC job board, LinkedIn, my companies Facebook page, our local Trades Show, Word of Mouth and Community Contractors Facebook page with a paid incentive for a successful referral. I get many applicants from the Middle East and other international places that require new certifications, immigration, housing and more. I am a very small start up company and I can't hire without knowing it is a match that will work out. What are your tips?Sticker SHOCK! 😲
I have been doing my office's annual purge and came across some old invoices from the earliest power equipment my business purchased. Believe it or not, some of the equipment I use has doubled in price for the replacement model at today's cost. Since it is our responsibility as owners to be profitable enough to replace/repair equipment as needed, I find myself adjusting my equipment cost recovery number upward almost monthly in my budget. How often are you adjusting your cost recovery upward to adjust for the ongoing inflation?Has sending photos after a job ever saved you from a complaint?
In this episode of the Masters of Home Service (around the 24-minute mark), Adam and guests Erica Krupin and Marco Radocaj share how photos of a closed gate or job completed have saved them more than once. Do you take photos of completed work for records or to share with your clients? Has it saved you from a customer complaint? Tune into the full episode below to see how project transparency matters now more than ever. Never miss an episode of Masters of Home Service. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
