Toolbox for the Trades

Jawad Olabi was riding high in a lucrative corporate finance career. But after COVID forced devastating layoffs at his global firm, he started searching for new opportunities.That’s when he found an underserved market that was ripe for much-needed accounting services — the trades. Now a Managing Partner at ServicePro CFO, Jawad uses his expertise to help contractors get their books in order so they can negotiate their services from a healthy financial position. He stops by to share his thoughts on accounting, private equity, and economic trends heading into 2024 and beyond.Join us as we discuss:- [11:35] The good, the bad, and the ugly of private equity- [22:06] Economic projections for the 2024 market- [29:07] How contractors can get ahead of financial trends- [36:00] If private equity will still be viable in the near future Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - 3 Strategies to Unlock Success During Shoulder Months - 50X Podcast (TransDigm) - ServiceTitan Masterminds Facebook Group You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Facilities management often isn’t top of mind in the day-to-day bustle of contractors and business owners. But Sid Shetty, Chief Business Development Officer at ServiceChannel, believes it’s a pillar of the customer experience.Not only does proactive facilities management delight customers, but it can take your company’s workflows to the next level. Sid shares how he’s been using his breakout podcast, Elevating Brick & Mortar, to empower managers, contractors, and technicians to get proactive and maximize their assets.Join us as we discuss:- (2:40) Using podcasts to spread awareness around the trades- (9:04) Challenging the brick-and-mortar industry narrative- (20:20) Elevating the customer experience in facilities management- (33:57) How commercial contractors can better serve facilities managersCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Elevating Brick & Mortar Podcast - ServiceTitan x ServiceChannel Integration - ConnexFM - SmartAC.com  You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Depending on the municipality, inspections and permits can be the bane of contractors. While construction giants often have the luxury of an engineering firm on-site, small to mid-sized owner-operators usually have to wait for a local inspector to certify their work. And time is money. It was a constant struggle for Anthony Perera, Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Air Pros USA, and his team. So they set out to solve the problem. Tune in to hear the practical solutions Anthony and his colleagues created for speeding up the inspection and permit process, all while driving incredible growth for his business.      Join us as we discuss: - (7:22) Retaining equity by raising debt capital to accelerate growth - (17:59) Smoothing out the home inspection and permit process - (29:00) Why new entrepreneurs shouldn’t be afraid to work in the business Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Inspected.com  - Permit Hub  - Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman  - Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't by Jim Collins  - The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen  You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Angie Snow and Chris Hunter, Principal Industry Advisors at ServiceTitan, share their expertise in industry trends and data-driven strategies. They dive into the latest Residential Contractor Report, revealing surprising insights about word-of-mouth referrals and emphasizing the value of data for making people-centric decisions. They also discuss the enduring significance of membership programs and how adapting to changes can drive business growth, providing actionable insights for contractors navigating today's challenges.

Siblings Khadija J. Head and Odari Head, Co-Owners of Head’s Plumbing Sales and Service, are proud to succeed their parents in running the oldest black-owned plumbing company in Atlanta, Georgia. So when the time came to kick off a rebrand for the third-generation business, they wanted to honor their family’s legacy while keeping an open mind. Khadija and Odari share their family’s story of resilience and talk about the lack of minority representation in an industry that is starving for talent.   Join us as we discuss: - (8:51) The burden of entrepreneurship and their company’s origin story - (17:40) Why they pride themselves as “the plumber’s plumbers” - (25:19) Making the bold decision to rebrand the family business logo - (33:08) How owners can attract more young people to the trades You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

ServiceTitan is loaded with solutions for contractors’ pain points. But a common hurdle to maximizing its potential is these entrepreneurs are spending most of their day… well, trying to run a business. Time is money, and it takes time to learn everything the platform has to offer. But it takes a hell of a lot less time if you’ve got a ServiceTitan Professional Service Partner (PSP) helping you through it. ServiceTitan’s PSPs and Cofounders of Powerhouse Consulting Group, Jenny Benbrook and Pam Duffy, talk about how these certified partners can help you utilize ServiceTitan to the fullest.              Join us as we discuss: - (19:47) 3 types of contractors who need Professional Service Partners  - (27:00) What sets PSPs apart from other ServiceTitan consultants - (41:31) How PSPs can help you discover missed opportunities - (51:16) Key indicators that your data sets are broken Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:   - Society of Women Engineers (SWE) - ServiceTitan Professional Service Partners: Powerhouse Consulting Group - Nexstar Super Meeting 2023 You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

For many contractors experiencing growth, inventory management is often the elephant in the room. No one likes dealing with it, but as Jeremy Wickenhauser, Certified ServiceTitan Coach with Go Time Success Group, said, it’s an integral part of every technician’s workflow. We caught up with Jeremy at Pantheon 2023 so he could tell us how he and his fellow coaches are helping contractors and their teams implement ServiceTitan’s integrations smoother and faster. Jeremy also demystifies some common inventory issues and explains why part-hunting is one of the trades’ biggest money sinks.    Join us as we discuss: - (4:22) Why coaching is an important part of customer implementation - (11:41) How poor inventory management erodes trust in a business - (18:46) Advice for contractors considering a coaching collaboration Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - ServiceTitan Professional Service Partners You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Brothers David and Michael Katz came to America in 2015 with only a killer work ethic and a dream. In July 2021, they figured they would try their hands at HVAC. Their hard work certainly paid off. In 2023, their business, TRIO Heating and Air Conditioning, will clear $10 million in revenue. David and Michael spared some of their time at Pantheon 2023 to talk about what they’ve learned about implementing new business processes, employee relations, and why environmental care is a staple of their brand. Join us as we discuss: - (6:24) Unpacking and implementing new practices from Pantheon  - (16:10) How an internal survey spurred a dramatic rebrand - (23:27) Why shop tours are worth every second of your time Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Home Service Millionaire by Tommy Mello You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.  Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Everyone in the trades knows we’ve needed a spotlight on the need to grow the next generation of technicians, plumbers, and other vital services.That’s why Scott Caron is proud to be an analyst and technical advisor for the 7th Annual Elite Trades Championship Series. He thinks a nationally televised competition like the ETCS, where the finest in their fields compete for clout and cash, is just the shot in the arm our industries need.    In the second half of our conversation with Scott, we chatted about attracting younger workers into the trades through “edutainment,” school partnerships… and, of course, the 7th ETCS, which begins airing Fridays on CBS Sports starting December 8th.   Join us as we discuss:- (2:46) Designing balanced competitions with impartial outcomes - (17:34) Why “edutainment” is vital to attracting new talent to the trades- (35:25) Educating people about niche trade opportunities- (51:22) Setting the table for Round One of the ETCSCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Elite Trades Championship Series - Scott Caron - When Hard Work Pays Off: The ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship 2022 with Mack ShwertYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?  Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

As a New England native, Scott Caron, Owner of Caron Electric in Lexington, Massachusetts, grew up a fan of the local home improvement TV show This Old House. So when his sister called him about an opportunity with its spinoff, Ask This Old House, he jumped at the chance. Little did he know his on-air talents would take him to the 2023 Elite Trades Championship Series, airing on CBS Sports this December! In our exclusive interview, Scott tells us how his childhood fascination with tinkering grew into a media career in multiple trades-focused productions, including color commentator for the ETCS.    Join us as we discuss: - (3:18) How a love for hands-on projects blossomed into a trades career - (17:56) Mentorship and what to look for in good tech candidates - (28:53) Pivoting from fan to cast member on Ask This Old House - (40:03) Why it’s important to show up authentically, on and off-camera Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Elite Trades Championship Series  You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?  Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.