The Tradie Show

You can be the best tradie in town, do an incredible job and STILL lose customers to your competitors. Why? Because customers don't just remember the work you did. They remember how you made them feel. In this episode of The Tradie Show, Andy and Ange sit down with Justin Herald, entrepreneur, speaker and author of Service Rebellion: The Wolfpack Standard , to unpack why good trade businesses...

In this episode, Andy and Angela Smith sit down together for an honest conversation about what it's really like to run a business as a couple for 22 years. They answer questions most tradie couples avoid - from the $297 newspaper ad that nearly ended it all in the first few months, to the communication curfew that saved their marriage, to whether they'd choose to do it all over again. Ke...

In this episode, Andy and Angela Smith sit down with Jayde Whelan, owner of JD Painting Co. in regional Victoria. Jayde shares her journey from working 70–80 hour weeks, carrying the entire business in her head, to cutting her hours almost in half and building a team-driven company that doesn't need her for everything. Key takeaways: Working harder isn't the answer - Jayde was financiall...

In this episode, Andy and Angela Smith break down three seemingly harmless daily decisions that quietly eat away at your gross profit - and why fixing them is faster (and cheaper) than chasing more revenue. Key takeaways: A 10% discount on a 30% margin job wipes out a third of your profit, not 10% Labour leaks - overtime, poor scheduling, callbacks, and waiting for materials are profit killers hid...

Why do great tradies leave, even when you’re paying them well? Most trade business owners assume it’s money, the labour market or a better offer somewhere else. But often, a good tradie has mentally checked out months before they actually hand in their resignation. In this episode of The Tradie Show , Andy and Angela unpack the business problems that quietly wear great employees down and what you...

What does it really take to build an award-winning trade business? In this episode of The Tradie Show , Andy and Angela sit down with Michael Swan from Swan’s Professional Plumbing in Perth, Western Australia, after his win in the Plumbing category at the Australian Small Business Champion Awards. But this isn’t just a conversation about the trophy. Michael shares the real story behind the win, fr...

Homeowners are changing the way they search for tradies. They’re not just Googling “builder near me” or asking the neighbour over the fence anymore.  They’re asking AI who they should trust. And if AI can’t clearly verify your trade business, you may not make the shortlist, even if you’re better than the competitor who does. In this episode of The Tradie Show, Andy and Angela unpack why AI is chan...

The World Cup might be over, but there are some serious business lessons still sitting on the field. In this episode of The Tradie Show , Andy and Angela unpack what one of the biggest sporting events in the world can teach trade business owners about building a business that performs under pressure. Because no team wins the World Cup by accident. And no trade business becomes profitable, systemis...

Another financial year is done. But before you roll straight into the next one, it’s worth asking a blunt question: Is your business actually giving you what you want? In this episode, Andy and Angela unpack why so many trade business owners stay stuck in the same cycle year after year; busy, stressed, saying yes to everything, but not necessarily making better profit or creating a better life. Th...

Running a trade business has a funny way of teaching you lessons, usually when things are messy, stressful, or not going to plan. In this episode of The Tradie Show, Andy and Angela share some of the best pieces of advice from guests and members of the Lifestyle Tradie community. Real trade business owners. Real lessons. Real wisdom from people who’ve made mistakes, figured things out, and passed...

What would you do differently in your business if you knew your kids were going to inherit it? For Michelle, Jono and Sophie from Revive Timber & Decking in Queensland, that question became very real. After years in business, they were busy, working hard, and getting the jobs done. But behind the scenes, the business lacked structure, systems, clear numbers, and direction. Then Sophie stepped...

Ever looked at your bank account and thought, “Hang on… we’re making money… so where the hell is it?” In this episode, Andy and Ange unpack one of the biggest financial misunderstandings in trade business — the difference between profit and cash flow. Because being busy doesn’t always mean you’re financially healthy… and relying on your bank balance alone can send you on a complete emotional rolle...

Most tradies think they’ve got a staff problem… but according to former Army officer and business leader Daimien Patterson, the real issue is leadership. In this powerful no-BS episode of The Tradie Show, Daimien shares the brutal truths about leadership, accountability, systems, and building a business that doesn’t rely on you for everything. From lessons learned at Duntroon and deployments overs...

You don’t need more leads. You need to get more out of the jobs you’re already winning. In this final episode of the 3-part series, Andy and Angela break down what they call The Profit Multiplier, how to turn one job into more work, more referrals, and more profit… without chasing more leads or working longer hours. Because here’s the truth… Most tradies are sitting on a goldmine of opportunity, t...

Most tradies assume they lose jobs because they were too expensive. But in reality, that’s not usually the problem. In Part 2 of this 3-part series, Andy and Angela unpack what’s really going on when a customer says no at the quote stage. This episode dives into the psychology behind buying decisions, why trust is built before the quote is ever sent, and how the way you show up on site can make or...

Most tradies think they’ve got a marketing problem. They don’t. They’ve got a clarity problem . In this first episode of our 3-part series, Andy and Angela break down why most trade businesses are attracting the wrong jobs, the wrong customers, and wasting time on work that doesn’t actually make them money. Before you spend another dollar on marketing… you need to get this right. In this episode,...

What if the problem isn’t your team… it’s the way your business is set up to reward them? In this episode of The Tradie Show, Andy and Ange sit down with Brigid and Richard Pare from REPARE Electrical and Air-conditioning in Queensland, longtime Lifestyle Tradie members who’ve built a solid, established trade business with a team of nine. After running a commission structure for three years, they...

Ever had one of those weeks where you and the team are flat out… jobs flying out the door… and then you check the bank account Friday arvo and think, how is there nothing in here? Here’s the truth most tradies learn the hard way: Being busy doesn’t mean you’re getting paid. In this episode of The Tradie Show, Andy and Angela break down why cashflow stress keeps following you home and what you can...

This one hits different. Joanna and Josh Cassidy aren’t just running a brick and block laying company in Brisbane, they’re building a legacy grounded in family, resilience, professionalism and purpose. Joanna’s journey from government compliance roles to becoming a qualified bricklayer (and QBCC Nominee Supervisor) was sparked by grief, courage and a refusal to live a life that didn’t light her up...

Most tradies hit a point where the business looks successful from the outside… but behind the scenes, they’re absolutely cooked. In this episode of The Tradie Show, Andy and Angela call out the hard truth: You don’t need better staff. You need better systems. If you feel like you’re still involved in every decision, constantly answering questions, and carrying the whole business in your head, this...

Most tradies don’t struggle because they’re bad on the tools. They struggle because their marketing has no plan. In this episode of The Tradie Show , Andy and Angela chat with Allan Dib , author of The 1‑Page Marketing Plan , to unpack how trade business owners can stop guessing, stop dabbling, and start marketing like pros - without adding more to their already full plate. Allan shares the real e...

If you’ve ever said, “This year will be different”… only to blink and suddenly it’s February and nothing’s changed, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Tradie Show, Andy and Angela break down the exact process smart tradies use to take control of their year before the year takes control of them. This isn’t about working harder. It’s about planning properly so you get more profit, more...

If you’re flat out, burnt out, and wondering why the money never seems to stick, this special bonus episode pulls back the curtain on what Lifestyle Tradie actually is and why it exists. Andy and Angela share the raw story behind Dr. DRiP Plumbing. From rapid growth and big turnover to cash flow stress, chaos, and near collapse. You’ll hear how fixing the business properly saved not just the compa...

You can count every screw and metre of pipe, but what about your time? In this episode of The Tradie Show , Andy and Angela expose the sneaky “Time Thieves” that silently drain profit from your trade business. From unplanned supplier runs to messy vans and missing systems, they break down where your hours really go... and how to get them back. This episode is packed with practical, real-world stra...

You can be the best at your trade and still be flat-out broke. Sound familiar?  In this episode of The Tradie Show , Andy and Angela Smith share the hard truths no one teaches tradies about running a business, the stuff that separates six-figure tradies from seven-figure business owners. Drawing from The $1M+ Trade Business Playbook , Andy and Angela reveal the raw lessons they learned from growin...