Plumbing & HVAC Hustle Podcast

Guest: Peter Roth – Founder, Scalify (Call Centers for Home Services)Guest Links: Website: https://scalifyco.comThis episode breaks down how call centers can become one of the most scalable and cost-effective growth channels for HVAC, plumbing, and roofing companies—when built correctly. It explains what call centers actually are (and what they are not), why forcing VAs into cold calling fails, and why professional, career call-center agents dramatically outperform improvised in-house setups. The episode walks through the real economics behind nearshore call centers, including labor arbitrage, agent quality, predictive dialers, and why management—not agents—is the hardest part to get right. It dives deep into list quality, homeowner targeting by age and home data, scripting mistakes that instantly kill calls, and why short, pain-focused scripts outperform long introductions. The episode also unpacks real HVAC math around $39 tune-ups, appointment volume, cancellation rates, system replacement conversions, blended ticket averages, and how properly trained sales teams can generate six figures in monthly revenue from a small three-agent call center. It addresses the most common objections contractors have, including lead quality concerns, no-shows, culture clashes between inbound-only teams and outbound appointments, and why confirmation systems can protect morale. Finally, the episode outlines the true requirements for success—strong sales training, deep CRM mastery, aggressive recapture systems for no-shows and “not now” leads, realistic runway expectations, and why call centers should never be treated as emergency CPR for a struggling business.

Guest: Mike Venidis – Co-Owner, Good Golly Garage Doors & Former Partner at Rhino Digital MarketingGuest Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mvenidis/ Good Golly Garage Doors: https://goodgollygaragedoors.com MikeVenidis.com: https://mikevenidis.comThis episode explores how Mike Venidis, after 15 years building one of the most respected digital marketing agencies in the home service space, is now applying that expertise to launch Good Golly Garage Doors with a level of strategic precision rarely seen in this industry. The episode dives into his data-driven market planning, Census Bureau research, demographic and home-value mapping, neighborhood selection psychology, pricing and margin modeling, supplier negotiations, and the mindset required when transitioning from marketer to operator. It also unpacks how AI is reshaping search behavior, why reputation platforms heavily influence AI recommendations, how AEO and GEO play into the future of local SEO, the emerging importance of Reddit and Quora authority, the role of wearables in reshaping search, and how zero-click search will change the traffic landscape. The episode highlights his views on building brand affinity long before launch, the power of word-of-mouth compounding, the surprising resurgence of lead aggregators, and why customer experience is becoming the most defensible asset in home services. It also touches on the personal events that pushed Mike into entrepreneurship, the balance of working with his spouse, and how he is building a modern home service brand from scratch with intention rather than improvisation.

Guest: Andrew Dobbins – Founder & CEO, Intelligent Design Air Conditioning & Heating (Tucson, AZ)Guest Links: Company Website: https://www.idesignac.com Podcast & Content: Sales Wars with Andrew Dobbins (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook)This episode explores the real inflection point many home service owners face: when stepping out of sales and sales leadership becomes necessary for scale rather than a liability. Using Andrew Dobbins’ journey building Intelligent Design into a multi-trade operation across HVAC, plumbing, roofing, and electrical, the episode breaks down why top closers often become bottlenecks, how sales performance can mask deeper operational issues, and why replacing yourself requires far more than hiring another “good salesperson.” The episode dives into the discipline required to reinvest profits instead of “acting rich,” the long-term advantage of living below your means, and why significance, not money, becomes the real driver at higher levels of success. It unpacks how call-by-call management radically multiplied revenue, why A-level leaders require giving up equity or upside, and how bringing in elite operators and sales leadership unlocked exponential growth without constant owner involvement. Additional themes include adding new trades the hard way, the leadership mistakes that make new departments fail, the psychology behind premium pricing and belief-based selling, and why conviction in being truly better—not cheaper—is the cornerstone of elite sales teams. The episode ultimately lays out a roadmap for founders transitioning from sales warrior to strategic CEO while preserving culture, profitability, and long-term stability. 

Guest: Bob Beall – Founder, Bob Is The Plumber / Master Plumber licensed in 5 statesGuest Links: Website & Training Programs: https://bobistheplumber.com YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Bobistheplumber This episode explores how Bob Beall built one of the fastest-scaling plumbing companies in his region, growing from a single truck to more than 40 by implementing systems, disciplined hiring processes, strong field management, and a training-first culture. The episode covers his early breakthrough after plateauing at five trucks, the moment he realized he had to release control to grow, and how he built leadership layers to support scaling. It also dives into Bob’s personal story of entering the trade legally blind, how “plumbing by feel” shaped his credibility with his team, and the unique challenges and advantages that came with operating in the field. The conversation moves through major operational pillars—adding management layers at the right time, balancing systems with smart decision-making, creating accountability through checklists, building an industry-leading onboarding pipeline, and maintaining 25 years without layoffs. Bob explains the realities of hiring today’s workforce, the creativity behind recruiting on Facebook Marketplace and TV commercials, and why culture built on working with people instead of above them drives retention. The episode also examines scaling decisions, methodical truck-adding strategies, KPIs for leadership evaluation, remote-office management lessons, fast termination frameworks, and why owners harm the entire team when they avoid tough decisions. Finally, Bob shares advice for young plumbing business owners navigating hard seasons—emphasizing perseverance, cash-flow discipline, reinvestment, and the systems he teaches through Service MVP as a certified partner. 

Guests: Dustin Mitchell – Co-Owner, Half Moon Plumbing Tiffany Mitchell – Co-Owner, Half Moon PlumbingGuest Links: Dustin Mitchell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-mitchell-364310250/ Half Moon Plumbing Website: https://HalfMoonPlumbing.comIn this episode of The HVAC & Plumbing Hustle, Tim talks with Dustin & Tiffany Mitchell from Half Moon Plumbing in the Tulsa Metro. After years of steady but stagnant growth, they recently hit $10M+ in plumbing-only revenue, placing them in rare company. They break down the mindset shift, business acumen, leadership development, and operational changes that made it possible.What We CoverHow Half Moon Plumbing went from stagnant to scalingThe mindset shift behind their $3M → $10M breakthroughThe marketing leap that changed everythingWhy technical excellence became a growth limiterBuilding leaders internally as they scaledTheir in-house technician training universityCulture challenges at $10M vs. $3MWhy strategy + intention beats relying on skill aloneThe personal growth required to grow a company👉 Subscribe for more home service growth episodes 👉 Learn more about Hook Agency: https://HookAgency.com

19-year-old phenom Jason Melendez Jr. (Legend Air, Dallas) breaks down the five-step sales system that drove $2M in his first year—and how he’s gunning for $5M next year. He talks service-first selling, the “pullback/takeaway,” momentum resets, and making HVAC fixes understandable with kid-level analogies. Guest links: Legend Air (legendairtx.com) and Jason’s LinkedIn (see profile below). Guest: Jason Melendez Jr., Legend Air — LinkedIn profile (search “Jason Melendez – Aubrey, TX”) and company site: legendairtx.com. (Company pages corroborate Legend Air ownership/family business.) LinkedIn+1What you’ll learnThe 5 steps: identify problem → make customer aware → stimulate pain → present options → ask for the sale (without sounding salesy). The “pullback/takeaway” that lowers resistance and increases trust. Service-first mindset (and faith/family anchor) that keeps ethics front and center—even on commission. Turning tough weeks around with momentum “resets” you can do in the truck. Explaining HVAC like a 5-year-old could get it—so customers decide fast and feel good. Shoutouts: Sales mentor Devon Murphy (Reignite Sales)—on-site coaching & call-by-call support. (Industry refs: Reignite Sales & author page) LinkedIn+1Subscribe for more no-BS growth tactics for home service pros.

From $0 to a market leader in an ~80k city: Brandon Brown (Brown’s Heating, Air, Plumbing & Electrical) breaks down winning in tight markets, getting out of the truck after 12 years, retaining techs with culture (paid birthday off, real appreciation days), and building community ties that compound referrals. We dig into pricing discipline, adding trades the right way, and recruiting from trade schools & farm kids for grit. Guest: Brandon Brown — Brown’s Heating, Air, Plumbing & Electrical (Lynchburg, VA): brownsheatingair.com Brown's Heating Air Plumbing Electrical | Book: Cool Success: Navigating the Highs and Lows of HVAC & Life (Amazon)  If you’re a home-service owner with real wins (not just theory), apply to be on the show at Hook Agency.What you’ll learn:Why 80k–100k “cluster markets” beat mega-metros for brand diffusion and CAC efficiency The moment Brandon left the field (family > phone ringing 24/7) and how he scaled ops with a 30-day trial ramp Culture moves that keep techs from jumping for +$5/hr (paid birthday off, shut-down appreciation days, Dirty Santa) Community flywheel: giveaways, trade-school pipelines, nonprofit visibility that drives membership wins

Homeowners push on price. Pros protect position. In this Plumbing Hustle episode, Jeff Cronin who sold $8.8M in one year breaks down how to neutralize price objections without discounting, anchor with commitments, and close with financing like a pro. We cover: qualifying for trust, future pacing timelines, dismantling “3 bids,” and the Duck-Duck-Goose mindset for breaking a slump. Guest: Jeff Cronin — Prime Time Consulting → https://primetimeconsulting.net Why watch: Protect your price, present with commitments + financing, and stop selling from your own wallet.

From gutter company exit to building a high-performance plumbing team, Mike Braun (Plumbing Director at Randy’s Electric & Plumbing) breaks down the mindset, routines, and processes that turn techs into top producers and salespeople into effective managers. We cover confidence on the call, re-engagement tactics, feedback loops, and leading with consistency.