PowerTips Unscripted

Today on Power Tips Unscripted, Arlin Sorensen, the CEO of Oak Road Consulting joins the show. Understanding the art of creating value within your business is pivotal, especially in the context of planning your exit strategy. It’s all about setting clear goals for your personal wealth and translating that into a business value target that can drive your success. Arlin is here to share invaluable insights on how you can craft a robust value-creation strategy and harmonize it with your long-term financial goals.Arlin Sorenson is a simple Iowa farm boy who fell in love with technology and has spent the past 40 years in the IT industry. His passion is helping business owners and leaders achieve their definitions of success.Arlin, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:How to create a value-creation strategyLegacy/succession planningWhat things can derail value?And more… Ready to Turn Strategy into Action? Arlin Sorensen dives into building value in your business and planning for what’s next—but conversations like these are just the beginning.In Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, you’ll join a community of smart, growth-minded remodelers who don’t just talk about value—they build it, every single quarter. With expert facilitation, peer accountability, and real-world strategy sharing, you’ll transform insights like Arlin’s into measurable results.Don’t just plan your legacy—build it with Roundtables. Learn More About Roundtables The post Creating Value: A Guide to Maximizing Your Company’s Worth with Arlin Sorensen – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Victoria and Mark are joined by Pete McDowell to discuss succession planning and how business owners can exit their company. According to Pete, there are four primary ways for a business owner to leave their company: selling the company, transferring the company to family or employees, or ESOP. He also highlights some of the basics of a succession plan, regardless of the option the business owner chooses.Pete McDowell is a Partner at ActionCOACH Columbus. Pete, alongside his partner, Peg Buehrle are a part of Remodelers Advantage as Consultants. They help people evaluate each of these options and select the best path. Along the way, they assist their clients to work less and build the value of their business. In this way, you can enjoy life NOW and look forward to a comfortable next chapter!Pete, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:Preparing the team for succession planningExamples of well executed succession plansAnd more… Thinking About Life After Remodeling? Whether you’re planning to sell, pass it on, or explore an ESOP, Pete McDowell and Peg Buehrle—part of the Remodelers Advantage Consulting Team—are here to guide you every step of the way. With a proven process to help you work less, grow your business value, and prepare for a smooth transition, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Schedule a Consultation with Pete The post Preparing Your Business For Your Departure with Pete McDowell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

For many remodelers, digital marketing is the “voodoo” magic. With so many options, where do you begin? Well, Spencer Powell has the answer.In this episode, Spencer dives into his book, The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint. He talks about everything that you need to know about being found online, successfully.Spencer is the CEO of Builder Funnel and founder of Builder Funnel Academy, author, and radio host. Spencer has been a longtime guest and sponsor of the show, and gives listeners even more knowledge about marketing in the remodeling world in this episode.Victoria, Mark and Spencer talk more about:How this journey began.How marketing has changed over the years.What the marketing blueprint looks like for remodelers.The biggest mistakes remodelers are making today.And more…  Join the #1 Peer Group for Remodeling Business Owners Imagine having a trusted group of fellow remodelers—people who get it—to help you solve challenges, grow profits, and keep you accountable.That’s the power of Roundtables by Remodelers Advantage. Learn from industry leaders Get real-world advice—not theory Grow your business and your leadership skillsReady to stop going it alone? Apply today The post The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint with Spencer Powell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The thought of showing your financials to your employees may be unsettling. We’ve known remodelers who are so leery of sharing their numbers, their field crews don’t even know their project budgets.But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Ken Kirsch, a proponent and practitioner of Open Book Management. In this episode, Ken tells Victoria and Mark that showing your numbers will engage and motivate your team — while helping your bottom line.Ken is the president of MAK Design+Build Inc. in Davis, CA. Drawing on his experience as a carpenter and an artist, he and his wife Ellen started MAK Design+Build in 2003, out of an Airstream Trailer in their driveway. Ken’s a member of Roundtables group Krypton, and was introduced to the concept of Open Book Management at his very first RA meeting.Victoria and Mark talk with Ken about the positives, and one surprising negative, he’s experienced since embracing Open Book Management. They discuss:What to show and what to avoidFocusing on the Big Picture The importance of your team being financially literateWhen and how to discuss your numbersEngaging your employees for lower turnoverAnd a whole lot more… Loved Ken Kirsch’s insights on open-book management?Ready to take your remodeling business to the next level?Learn how Remodelers Advantage can help you implement strategies like this—and more.Start your journey here. The post Open Book Management with Ken Kirsch – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The latest statistics on fraud should be a wake-up call for every small business owner. According to a survey by HISCOX, a specialty insurance company, 80 percent of embezzlements occurred at small businesses and 30 percent involved a loss of more than $500,000.With more work is being done remotely, including paying vendors and processing payroll, you must have controls and processes in place to avoid this happening to you.In this episode, we welcome Vicki Suiter, who shares simple practices and processes to help you avoid accounting fraud and stealing in your business.Since starting Suiter Business Builders in 1990, Vicki has helped hundreds of contractors and designers build solid foundations for their businesses, run operations more efficiently, and achieve the kind of success they never dreamed possible.Vicki’s articles and opinions have been widely shared in print and across the web. She is also the author of book “The Profit Bleed” – How managing margin can save your contracting business.Victoria, Mark and Vicki talk more about:Why small businesses are targets in 80% of all embezzlement cases.The most common place where people “steal” money.Other ways employees and contacts embezzle funds from a company that are less obvious.Recommended controls and practices a contractor should have in place to avoid this happening to them.“10 Ways to Spot Accounting Fraud”Here is the link to the resource mentioned, “How to Spot Accounting Fraud”https://suiterbusinessbuilders.com/how-to-spot-accounting-fraud/ The post Are Your Employees Stealing From You? With Vicki Suiter – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In a low-unemployment economy, recruiting and retaining the best talent is a continuous effort. You need a powerful competitive advantage — one that’s nearly impossible for anyone else to copy. It’s your company culture.In this episode, Steve Anderson tells Victoria and Mark why that is, and how you can develop a successful culture — or turn around a faltering one. Steve’s an author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He’s worked with tens of thousands of professionals to grow and expand their businesses. Steve has spoken at our Remodeler’s Summit and worked with our Roundtables members in the past.Your company culture is a combination of priorities and processes, and how your team acts on them, that results in how people feel about your company, inside and out. It can happen by default or by definition, but almost all successful cultures happen by design. He tells you how to look at your culture critically, and the steps to take to improve it, including:Building on natural laws Defining your prioritiesDesigning your culture intentionallyThe law of emotionWhat the 10 Commandments can teach you about changing your cultureDefining your culture in a written documentSetting expectationsReinforcing acceptable behaviorWhy the customer shouldn’t come firstUsing your culture in recruiting and hiringThe culture mistakes you may be makingAnd more …There’s a copy of Steve’s first written culture guide in his book, The Culture of Success: 10 Natural Laws for Creating a Place Where Everyone Wants to Work. He invites everyone to use that culture guide to create your own — just click the link and make your purchase. The post The Most Powerful Competitive Advantage with Steve Anderson – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

We are all so busy running our businesses that we often don’t realize that there are other potential revenue-generating investments that align with our present and future business needs.Chris Landis thinks you should consider helping businesses that lease their office space as an added revenue stream.In this episode, Victoria, Mark and Chris talk more about this innovative revenue source.Chris is a Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board of Landis Architects/Builders in Washington, DC and is a member of the AIA, with 28 years of experience in residential architecture. Landis Architects/Builders is one of the top Washington, DC renovation and remodeling firms and is co-founded by Chris and his brother, Ethan Landis.In this episode, Victoria, Mark and Chris cover:The benefits, opportunities and challenges of owning your own building.Offering space in your building to other business.What is involved in becoming a landlord.How these deals are structured financially and timelines involved.How you can pass this knowledge onto other business owners.  The post Discovering New Revenue Streams With Chris Landis – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Is your company struggling to attract top-tier employees? Joining us today on PowerTips Unscripted is Erin Longmoon, the founder of Zephyr Connect. Erin will share some valuable insights into how to hire people who align with your company’s culture. She will discuss the strategies and tactics that have played a pivotal role in Zephyr’s 98% placement rate for their Residential Remodeling clients. Erin Longmoon is the founder of Zephyr Connects. After a number of years as an Interior Designer, then turned business coach, Erin designed Zephyr Connects to solve the grueling hiring challenges of the Residential Remodeling industry. Zephyr is also an RA Preferred Member Benefit Partner. Erin, Victoria, and Mark talk more about: Why hiring for culture fit so important? Can we really hire carpenters and laborers for culture fit? Interview tips And more… The post Tips For Hiring People Who Fit Your Culture with Erin Longmoon – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

While Cost Plus Remodeling isn’t for everyone, it can be an enjoyable and profitable way of doing business.  If it is done well, it can be very rewarding and reduce the uncertainty of a market.Guest David Crane joins this episode to share why cost plus remodeling has proven to be successful for his business and his clients, and why remodelers should adapt this form of a remodeling contract.David is the CEO and President of Crane Builders in Nashville, Tennessee and has spent the past 34 years meeting clients’ needs with the highest standards in the remodeling and construction industry.  He graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Construction and after spending 10 years in his hometown of New Orleans remodeling homes, he moved his business to Nashville where the company has been delighting clients since.  Victoria, Mark and David talk more about:Some of the keys to successfully doing Cost Plus RemodelingThe differences in Cost Plus Remodeling vs. Fixed Price RemodelingHow to make a profit when you have to show the client your markupWhat to do with your labor and Project Manager costs on a Cost Plus ProjectAnd more… Join The Waitlist For The 2025 Remodelers Summit You’re Either On the List—Or You’re Out.This isn’t just a waitlist. It’s your only shot at scoring 60% off your ticket to the most impactful, business-shifting event in the remodeling industry: The Remodelers Summit.We’re talking about a one-day window to unlock unprecedented access to the event that industry leaders never miss. No second chances. No extensions. No exceptions. One Day One Link One ChanceOnce it’s gone—it’s gone.Getting on the list is 100% free.Missing this opportunity? That could cost you thousands in missed insights, missed connections, and missed growth.Join the insiders who move fast, think big, and always stay ahead.Are you in? Or are you out? Get On The List The post Making Money in Cost Plus Remodeling with David Crane – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

“The high cost of replacing employees means it’s important to find ways to retain the best performers, and studies show that transparency from the top can be a solution, boosting employee engagement and motivation.One way to achieve that transparency is to show employees the company’s numbers and teach them the business. Why not get them in the same game as the owner?The strategy is to create a business of business people. Then and only then will they begin to make a connection to the numbers that measure their performance and talk intelligently about improving the business.”– Steve Baker Steve Baker joins Victoria and Mark to talk more about the benefits and advantages of open book management, as well as some of the challenges that business owners face.Steve is Vice President of The Great Game of Business, Inc. and co-authored Get in the Game as well as the update of the number one bestseller, The Great Game of Business—20th Anniversary Edition.Known for his engaging and irreverent style, Steve is a top-rated, sought-after speaker and coach on open-book management, strategy and execution, leadership, and employee engagement.Victoria, Mark and Steve talk more about:The best reasons that a business owner should teach their people businessCommon perceptions that employees have of ownership when there isn’t open-book transparencyHow employees can benefit from an open-book policyHow you can get startedAnd more…Resources mentioned in this Episode:The Great Game of BusinessDownload the Get in the Game AudiobookR/A Lumber Yard Run Calculator  The post Creating Rapid Financial Results and Lasting Cultural Change with Steve Baker – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.