What’s your best “DIY hack” you’ve used to run your business?
When I first started my business over 19 years ago, estimates meant pen, paper, and carbon copies—rip the top page for the customer, keep the yellow one for myself. That was just the way it was back then, and it worked. Trips to Staples were the norm! But as I think about it, over the years I’ve also come up with plenty of little “DIY hacks” to keep things running when resources were tight or when I didn’t have the systems I do now. Some of those scrappy fixes actually held up surprisingly well! I bet most of you have similar stories— What’s the best “DIY hack” you’ve used to run your business? Maybe it was how you scheduled jobs, tracked expenses, did marketing, or just stayed organized before you had tools like Jobber. Sometimes those old-school solutions are just as clever as the technology we use today. Can’t wait to hear yours!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.
Home Services Assessment Fee
Hi everyone, I'm looking for advice on how to clearly and professionally communicate to potential clients that I charge an onsite assessment fee before moving forward with an assessment scheduling. For those of you who charge a similar fee, how do you usually bring it up in conversation? Do you include it in your Jobber quote or send it separately? Are there any tips on wording or timing that can help set the right expectations without scaring off potential leads? I appreciate any insights; thank you in advance!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??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?We’re In Q3 — How Are Your 2025 Goals Holding Up?
Now that we’ve officially entered Q3… I’m checking in: • Are you where you thought you’d be by this point in the year? • What worked well in the first half? • And what needs to be tweaked so you don’t coast through summer? For us, we’re doubling down on and been using this visual from our Blueprint Series to stay focused each quarter: Would love to hear from others: What’s one change you’re making to finish Q3 strong?
First Key Employee
Hey everyone, we have a remodeling company and made my first big hire and I don't think he's the right fit. this employee is very expensive and does not produce enough for the company. What are some questions I should ask to my next hire that would help weed out the good from bad. Thanks!
