The Graffs of Daryl’s A/C & Heating started their company with $250 and a truck. Jenn shares how community involvement made growing their business as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. Small, inexpensive marketing strategies can have a big impact. She also highlights the significance of standing in customers’ shoes and understanding their needs and preferences. Sometimes you have to go above and beyond for customers and employees. Housecall Pro has helped their HVAC business scale to the point of setting the lofty goal of hitting $4 million this year. 

Sara Anderson, co-owner of Drain Daddy, shares the struggle of starting a plumbing business in January 2020, right at the onset of the pandemic. From branding and website design to pricing and customer service, Sara provides valuable insights for small-business owners in the trades industry. And she would know—Drain Daddy has a perfect 5-star rating. She also highlights the importance of patience and leveraging tools like Housecall Pro for business growth, more reviews, and credibility.

Brandon Brown, founder of Brown's Heating and Air, shares his inspiring journey in the home service industry. He highlights the importance of a supportive partner and community involvement in building a successful business. Brandon discusses innovative strategies for attracting top talent, such as partnerships with trade schools and unique employee benefits. He also emphasizes exceptional customer service and the value of structured membership plans to enhance customer loyalty. Finally, he talks about adapting to consumer preferences in service bookings and the significance of financial literacy.

Chad Hopkins, owner of Hopkins Air Conditioning recently joined Roland on the podcast. Chad shares the experience of scaling his business and the importance of choosing the right software. They faced big challenges the old way, and he touches on why Hopkins made the switch to Housecall Pro, including the need for documentation and processes, the importance of sound hiring practices, the value of community, and the benefits of tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) through dashboards.

Brett Conklin, co-owner of Chimney Monkey in Chicago, breaks down the operational side of the business. This includes the ever-important hiring and training of employees. He also talks about the advancements in the fireplace and chimney industry and the marketing strategies he’s used to reach more customers. Brett highlights underrated features of Housecall Pro’s software, like Service Plans, and offers advice for other business owners.

Roland Ligtenberg interviews Brandon Glines, co-owner and president of I Know a Guy HVAC. The conversation covers topics like starting a business, hiring and valuing the employees, learning from mistakes, automation, and implementing systems for business growth. Brandon also shares the importance of participating in a supportive community of like-minded professionals when it comes to business growth to learn, network, and find support.

Grant Schoenberger, Conquer Coach and co-owner of Core Plumbing, is one of the first Pros we had the honor of serving more than a decade ago. He emphasizes the importance of humility, the ongoing need for continuous learning and mentorship, and the benefit of evolving business strategies. Grant and Roland explore the impact of self-limiting beliefs, the value of offering multiple options to customers, the significance of automation in customer communication, and the benefits of online booking and financing.

Roland interviews Chris Plunkett, owner of Tailored Mechanical in Tucson, Arizona. Chris hits topics like the need for owners to take time off and how to inject core values into the culture of the company. He shares his experience from the AHR Expo and the benefits of investing in employees, even if they leave. Chris also discusses the value of Housecall Pro, highlighting the features for tracking employee hours and building service agreements, which provide passive income and keeps techs busy. Chris explains why he’s active in giving back to the community and helping other industry pros.

Dan Huck of Next Level Chimneys joins Roland on the podcast. After serving in the Army, Dan entered the world of chimney cleaning in 1999 and started his own business ten years later. He shares the importance of humility and continual improvement, overcoming mistakes, what he looks for in a quality hire, and how to keep quality team members. People overprofit. Dan and Roland also hit on trusting the daily grind to the team and focusing more on high-value tasks and how meaningful Expense Cards have been to his business.

Will Hardwick, owner and CEO of A-1 Cleaning Service, shares insights from three decades of experience. Along with his origin story, Will discusses the importance of leveraging technology and systems to streamline operations, why reviews are such a big deal, and how he finds employees who align with the company’s culture and values. And speaking of culture, Will lays out the challenges of maintaining a positive work environment through respect, communication, and appreciation, and the need to address toxic behavior.