Next Level Podcast with Jeremy Miner Profit Over Revenue: The Scaling Reality Most Founders Ignore with Tommy Mello
Jan 14, 2026
Tommy Mello, CEO of A1 Garage Door Service, shares insights from scaling his business to 700 employees and nearly $220M in revenue. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing profit over mere revenue and discusses three key mistakes founders often make. Tommy also highlights the significance of having strong systems, effective delegation, and hiring talented individuals. His thoughts on building a lasting company culture and aligning teams through equity incentives provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurs seeking sustainable growth.
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Humble Garage Door Beginning
- Tommy started A1 by painting garage doors after a roommate connected him to work and he called every company in the yellow pages.
- He and a roommate split the business three years in and Tommy took the debt to continue growing the company.
Match Scale With Training
- Don't try to scale faster than you can effectively train people and systems.
- Embrace failing forward but match growth with intentional training and support.
Profit Over Revenue
- Revenue is vanity; profit is sanity and what sustains a business long-term.
- Tommy learned he needed the right CFO earlier to drive EBITDA growth rather than just chase top-line sales.
