Freedom Blueprint for Home Services | HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Leadership, Business Growth 122 | From One Truck to 120+: How Scott Irwin Built a Multi-Trade Machine (and Why You Must Raise Your Prices)
Show Information
Episode Number: 122
Date: December 8, 2026
Duration: 36:19
Host Contact Information
Host: Justin Deese
Website: JustinDeese.com
Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com
Guest Contact Information
Guest: Scott Irwin
Company: Network Plumbing, Electrical and Air Conditioning
Email: scott@blueskynetwork.com.au
Guest Website: https://networkplumbing.com.au/
Summary
In this episode, Justin sits down with Australian trade veteran Scott Irwin, who has grown his company from one truck in 1987 to more than 120 trucks and 100+ team members across Sydney and Melbourne. Scott shares how the business evolved from single trade to multi-trade (plumbing, air conditioning, electrical, and handyman), and why leveraging an existing customer database is the fastest way to expand services without exploding marketing costs.
They unpack the real impact of AI on the trades, the shift from pagers and Yellow Pages to iPhones and ServiceTitan, and how software has completely changed dispatching, reporting, and scalability. Scott also tells the story of how he helped bring ServiceTitan to Australia, what that rollout looked like, and why software is a “Ferrari” that only works if you know how to drive it and actually implement.
Scott closes with hard-earned advice for owners 3–5 years into business: stop procrastinating, believe in your worth, and charge properly. He’s bought multiple businesses where owners underpriced themselves into a broke retirement, and he’s on a mission to change that mindset. You’ll also hear how he’s built a culture where young techs are lined up at 5:45 a.m. with a smile, why your team is more important than your customers, and how to create customers “for life” by first taking care of your people.
Takeaways
- Procrastination kills growth – pick one thing, implement it, and move; stagnation is the silent business killer.
- Believe in your worth and price accordingly – many trade owners undercharge for decades and have nothing to show when it’s time to sell.
- Your existing database is your gold mine – adding trades (like electrical or aircon) to current customers is far cheaper than acquiring new ones.
- Repeat business is everything – Scott’s company runs on ~72% repeat clientele, dramatically lowering marketing costs and boosting profitability.
- Software isn’t a magic bullet – ServiceTitan (or any platform) only works if you already have solid processes and a commitment to implementation.
- AI will hit white-collar first, not the trades – but tech-enabled trades will win; the human relationship still matters most.
- Take care of your team so they take care of your customers – culture, belief, and genuine care create a place people love to work.
- Surround yourself with winners, not whiners – top operators in the trades are usually happy to help… if you actually execute on their advice.
Chapters
- 00:02 – Meet Scott Irwin: From “Down Under” to the Freedom Blueprint
- 01:02 – Starting in 1987: One Truck, Pagers, and Public Pay Phones
- 02:39 – Growing to 80+ Trucks in Sydney and 40 in Melbourne
- 03:25 – Single-Trade vs Multi-Trade: Why Aussies Are Finally Combining Trades
- 04:44 – Customer Acquisition Costs and the Power of Repeat Clients
- 05:31 – AI, White-Collar Risk, and Why Trades Are Safer (for Now)
- 07:49 – From Yellow Pages to iPhones: How Tech Changed Everything
- 10:06 – ServiceTitan, Reporting, and Letting Data (Not Emotion) Drive Dispatch
- 16:08 – How Scott Helped Bring ServiceTitan to Australia
- 20:22 – Building Community: The Rise of ServiceTitan Events in Australia
- 23:29 – Scott’s Advice to 3–5 Year Owners: Stop Procrastinating & Charge More
- 31:18 – 72% Repeat Clients and Educating Customers for Life
- 32:19 – Culture, Young Techs, and Why Scott Loves Coming to Work
- 35:05 – Empty Nesters, Travel, and an Open Invitation to Australia
Keywords
#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #PlumbingBusiness #HVACBusiness #ElectricalContractor #HomeServices #TradeBusiness #ServiceTitan #FieldServiceSoftware #BusinessGrowth #PricingStrategy #HomeServiceEntrepreneur #AustralianTrades #PlumbingCompany #HVACCompany #DispatchOptimization #CustomerExperience #RepeatBusiness #BlueCollarBusiness #TradeBusinessOwner #SmallBusinessGrowth
Mentioned in this episode:
SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026
WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM