Cabinet Maker Profit System Podcast

In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Justin Dews (Founder & CEO of PathOpt) about how AI is being used right now inside cabinet shops and trade businesses to reduce interruptions, protect institutional knowledge, and save time. This episode is for construction and contracting business owners who: • Feel stuck answering the same questions • Struggle with onboarding and training • Worry about...

Family businesses don't fail because of bad numbers, they fail because tough conversations never happen. In this episode, Dominic Rubino breaks down how to talk to your family about the business without a fight, using real-world experience from construction, contracting, and trades-based family companies. If you're a contractor, shop owner, or trades business owner dealing with: • Succession plann...

What if 2026 wasn't just "busy"… but actually healthy, profitable, and calm? In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with coach and business owner Ryan Hindmarsh to talk about how real contractors are building better lives and better businesses at the same time. You'll hear real stories from cabinet shops, millwork shops, and trades businesses who: • Delegated low-value work and finally had time...

In this episode, Dominic Rubino breaks down what Dave Ramsey and Robert Kiyosaki would tell every shop owner, contractor, and builder about going from cashflow headaches to true profit power. Whether you run a cabinet shop, millwork shop, HVAC company, electrical crew, or remodeling business, this is a simple roadmap for taking control of your money — instead of letting money control you. ⭐ What...

In this episode, Dominic Rubino breaks down a powerful question: What would your business look like if your foreman used the same simple, repeatable systems taught in Atomic Habits? Whether you run a cabinet shop, HVAC team, millwork shop, plumbing crew, or any construction trades business, this conversation will help you build a more organized, less chaotic operation. ⭐ Episode Highlights • Why...

Passing your construction or trades business to your kids sounds simple — until the emotions, money, and expectations get involved. In this episode, Dominic Rubino shares real stories from HVAC, cabinet, and millwork companies about what really happens when the next generation takes over. These stories are taken directly from and show exactly what goes wrong and how smart trades owners avoid these...

If you've ever said, "I know something has to change in my business… but I don't even know where to begin," this episode is for you. In this episode, Dominic Rubino breaks down the real first steps shop owners should take when they feel overwhelmed, stuck, or pushed to the limit. You'll learn: 1. Why more effort isn't the answer 2. How to find the real bottleneck in your shop 3. Why foremen strugg...

If OSHA walked into your shop today… would you be ready? In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Eric Wick, founder of Safety Team Technologies, about what really triggers an OSHA audit — and how to protect your shop. You'll learn: 1. What OSHA looks for the moment they walk in 2. How a single angry worker can start an inspection 3. The "3-Headed Dragon" that kills small shops 4. Why your forem...

You can't scale chaos — and most shop owners try to anyway! In this episode, Dominic Rubino from Cabinet Maker Profit System shares why growing your construction or contracting business without fixing your systems is like stepping on the gas with a broken engine. Learn how to slow down, find the root cause of your biggest problems, and build a business that runs smoothly — not one that just runs y...

Most shop owners look at revenue… Great shop owners look at Labor Efficiency Rate (LER). In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Greg Crabtree, author of Simple Numbers and Scaling Up contributor, about the most important number big shops track. You'll learn: 1. What the Labor Efficiency Rate is 2. Why the magic number is 2:1 3. How to know if your team is working efficiently 4. Why backlog can...

Think Lean is just for big factories? Think again. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Lukas Holland from FastCap — the shop built on culture, systems, and fun. You'll learn how FastCap built a team where everyone takes ownership — and how that same approach can turn your cabinet or millwork shop into a smooth, calm, profitable operation. What you'll learn in this episode: How to build...

Running a family business isn't for the faint of heart — especially when your kids are part of the team. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Brad Klingman, and his daughters Hannah Klingman and Kalli Klingman from RiseUp Labels to talk about what it really takes to pass the torch without losing your sanity (or your kids). What you'll learn in this episode: 1. How to invite your kids int...

How do you rebuild after losing everything? In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Sebastien Nault of Black Tie Property Services about turning failure into focus — and building a business that gives you freedom, not burnout. What You'll Learn: 1. How Sebastien went bankrupt at 22 and came back stronger. 2. The mindset and systems that took him from 1 truck to 90 employees. 3. Using EOS/Tracti...

Is that new machine really worth the money? Just because the salesman says it'll pay for itself doesn't mean it will. In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Kolin Veldman from K&S Woodworks about the real ROI of large purchases in a cabinet/millwork shop. What you'll learn in this episode: 1. How to decide when your shop is ready for a CNC 2. Why "buy what you need today, not what you dream of...

Are you taking on the wrong jobs? Just because your shop is busy doesn't mean you're profitable. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Jillian Klinar from INNERGY to talk about why choosing the right deals can make or break your millwork or cabinetry business. What you'll learn in this episode: 1. Why the average shop wins only 20% of bids — and what to do about it 2. How to grade custome...

Every profitable project starts with one thing: estimating. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Ben Hudachek of BH Estimating to talk about why estimating is the heartbeat of your cabinetry or millwork business—and how to finally take control of it. What You'll Learn: 1. Why most estimating systems stall business growth 2. How to hand off estimating with confidence 3. The power of check...

What's really causing delays, rework, and frustration in your shop? After surveying 126 companies, we uncovered the truth: it's not the people—it's the lack of leadership systems. In this episode, Dominic Rubino shares insights that every construction and contracting business owner needs to hear: What you'll learn: 1. The top shop-floor problems that derail production (and why communication is the...

In this episode, Dominic Rubino chats with Ashley Stuckless—civil contractor, engineer, and founder of High BC Hunting—about how to balance construction business ownership, family life, and high-performance backcountry adventures. If you're a contractor who wants time for family, hunting, or just peace of mind, this episode is for you. 🔑 What We Cover: 1. Why work-life balance is a discipline, no...

If you've ever wondered why you're working harder but not keeping more money, this episode is for you. Dominic Rubino sits down with Adam Sylvester (Charlottesville Gutter Pros & Charlottesville Lawn Care) to break down the 'Go Back Report'—a tool that uncovers the true cost of rework, callbacks, and discounts in a contracting business. In this episode, we cover: 1. How to calculate the true cost...

What happens when your project gets damaged and the insurance company lowballs the claim? In this episode of the Cabinet Maker Profit System Podcast, Dominic Rubino sits down with insurance expert Galen Hair from Insurance Claim HQ to reveal strategies contractors can use to get paid fairly. You'll Learn: 1. Why insurance companies benchmark against big-box store cabinets instead of custom work 2....

If you've ever been frustrated with Cabinet Vision, this episode is for you. Dominic Rubino sits down with David Buchsbaum of Beacon Solutions LLC — a former shop owner turned software consultant — to explore how smart shops use Cabinet Vision to boost productivity, reduce errors, and make more money. What you'll learn in this episode: 1. How to identify and remove "bloat" from your Cabinet Vision...

You work hard. You make good money. But if you're not keeping it — you're not really winning. In this episode of Cabinet Maker Profit System, Dominic Rubino sits down with Chad Hufford, Financial Planner and Owner of Veritas Wealth Management, to talk about how trades business owners can start planning like the millionaires they are. 🔑 What You'll Learn: 1. The difference between making money vs....

Promoting your tradesmen doesn't automatically create a great foreman. In this episode of the Cabinet Maker Profit System, Dominic Rubino shares the hard truth: most foremen are set up to fail—and it's costing you growth, time, and peace of mind. 💡 Based on exit interviews, industry forums, and leadership data from 26 companies currently in training, Dominic walks through: 🔹 Why foremen get burn...

In this episode of Cabinet Maker Profit System, Dominic Rubino sits down with Fyfe Barraclough—entrepreneur, coach, and former painting contractor—to explore the truth behind overwork in the trades. Too many contractors wear busyness like a badge. But behind the hustle is often fear, poor delegation, and lack of systems. 🔍 In this episode: 👉 Why "I never take a day off" is a red flag 👉 How ment...

In this episode of the Cabinet Maker Profit System, Dominic Rubino shares insights from coaching $3–10M cabinet and millwork shop owners. If you're stuck at $4M, wearing too many hats, or unsure how to scale without burning out — this episode is for you. 📌 You'll learn: ▶️ What top-performing owners do differently (hint: it's not tools) ▶️ The 11 key focus areas of a $4M+ shop owner ▶️ How to cal...