The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

You just lost a big job and you’re acting like your whole business is cooked. Knock it off. Some of the best money you’ll ever make is the job you don’t take. In this episode, Tim and Derek break down how a $50,000 “sure thing” blew up, and what to do when a client flips the script mid-job and tries to drag you down with it. =================================================== Stop letting one bad...

Most contractors are just guessing and praying when they send a bid, and that’s why they’re broke. In this episode, Tom Reber breaks down the massive gap between "guessers" and the pros who actually stack cash. Learn the three non-negotiable pricing rules that allow you to charge premium prices, attract better clients, and finally stop stealing from your family. Stop racing to the bottom and start...

Most contractors are just reactive, waiting for the next fire to put out. You aren't running a business; you’ve got a stressful hobby that pays occasionally. In this episode, Tim and Derek break down how to stop being the "emergency contact" for every jobsite disaster. Learn why your lack of systems is stealing time from your family and how to fall back on your training when chaos hits. ==========...

You think you’re paying a guy $25 an hour, but your bank account is paying for two people and the second one doesn't even work for you. Most contractors are stressed and underpaid because they price jobs based on wages instead of the true labor burden. In this episode, I’m stripping away the "fantasy math" and showing you how taxes, insurance, and unbillable time are choking your profit. It’s time...

Most contractors treat their team like a revolving door because they refuse to build a foundation of safety and standards. Tim and Derek break down why your "shit show" operation is scaring off good talent and how an employee handbook is actually your best leadership weapon. If you're tired of being a "fog the mirror" recruiter, it’s time to stop making excuses and start building a culture that pe...

Most contractors don’t fail because they’re lazy. They fail because they quietly drift and tolerate chaos. In this episode, Tom breaks down the 5-step checklist to ensure 2026 isn't just a repeat of the stress and "should've been further along" bullshit of last year. From deciding your profit numbers to enforcing non-negotiable standards, it’s time to stop acting like a handyman and start leading...

You repeated the same year 19 times because you were afraid of your numbers. In this episode, Tim and Derek break down why "feeling" like you’re doing okay is a trap that keeps you stuck in a hobby instead of a business. Learn how tracking your daily operating expenses and job costing isn't just about math, it’s about the confidence to charge what you’re worth. Stop swinging the hammer like a hand...

Most contractors are low-key freaking out right now because they’ve got zero control over what’s coming next. In this episode, Tom breaks down how living in uncertainty is bleeding your business dry — and how real numbers give you your backbone back. You’ll learn the only three things you actually control in this game: your cash, your inputs, and your standards. Stop reacting to problems. Start le...

You hit the million-dollar mark. You went viral on the internet. You think you’re a big deal now? Check your ego at the door. It’s lying to you. Revenue doesn't mean crap if you’re a toxic boss. If you treat your team and your clients like garbage, you aren't a pro. You’re a liability. On the show today, Tim and Derek are calling you out. They’re breaking down why "being a human" is your most tact...

You're wondering why you're not more profitable? It's not just a mindset problem; you're running the wrong damn plays. Tom sits down with Eric Fortenberry, CEO of JobTread, to lay out the contractor business playbook —starting with the non-negotiable step of defining a specific mission and vision. Then, they break down why delaying your first hire is costing you cash, how to build a team of A-play...

You're looking at the schedule and there’s a gap. The crew is looking at you, wondering: What do we do now? Most contractors panic and start trading dollars for hours, clinging to the rat race. That stops here. Tim and Derek break down why an off-season isn't a crisis, but an opportunity to build a war chest and solidify trust with your team. If you're stressed about winter, you didn't charge enou...

You don't have an income problem, you have an identity problem. Stop seeing yourself as a struggling tradesman and start acting like the million-dollar CEO you need to become. In this episode, Tom breaks down the hard truth: you don’t rise to your goals, you fall to your identity. He shows you how your current beliefs were formed, the three massive identity upgra...

Your bank account is a direct reflection of the value you’re bringing—but what if you have the money and still feel empty? This week, we tear down the lie that money solves your purpose problem. We dig into why contractors who chase the "end game" of wealth wind up struggling more than the guy fighting for his first profitable job. The struggle isn't a problem, it's the pilgrimage. You need to sto...

What’s keeping your business from breaking the next revenue ceiling? It’s not your team, your leads, or even your systems — it’s clarity. In this raw and insightful episode, Derek Johnson and Tim Cutroni talk about how laser focus can completely transform your business. Derek shares the story of how a simple walk turned into a $1M plan for his maintenance division — and how clarity around vision,...

You're clinging to the lie that your business has to slow down for the holidays. That's self-talk bullshit. While your competition is pulling back on ads, letting the team coast, and drinking eggnog, you're being handed the biggest opportunity of the year: Separation Season . Tom Reber breaks down the four pillars you must execute right now—Marketing, Systems, Recruiting, and Planning—to build an...

When you stop doing the little things that built your business — the follow-ups, the calls, the care — you start losing trust. In this raw conversation, Tim and Derek break down why coasting kills both relationships and client retention. They talk about why every service visit is an audition for the next one, and why “dating your customers” is the secret to long-term success. If your repeat client...

The path to stacking cash and getting your life back is right here: https://thecontractorfight.com/code You're grinding your ass off and you're still stuck under a million bucks. Let me shoot you straight: it’s not your skill, it’s not the market—it’s a broken code you haven't fixed yet. In this short course, I’m giving you the five core lessons to fix your mindset, price for PROFIT, stop selling...

You think your crew knows your standards? You’re dead wrong, and it’s costing you profit and headaches. Stop being a vague, nebulous leader who makes assumptions. Your team, your tribe, needs to understand the direction and the non-negotiable values that drive your business. Tim and Derek break down why you need to stop letting your employees guess what you stand for and how to...

You don't have a marketing problem. You have an attention problem. Period. It's time to stop thinking your quality work is enough - the best contractor doesn't win, the best known one does. Joey Yak of Content 4 Contractors breaks down the mindset you need to dominate your local market with video, including his "Zone Method" (Personal, Experience, Expert) and the C4 strategy (Creativity, Consisten...

You're talking about scaling but all you've got is chaos—and you’re afraid to admit it. Derek Johnson and Tim Cutroni get real on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): the secret weapon that makes your company sellable and non-owner-dependent. They break down why just talking about draws and deposits is costing you cash, and how to start building your "flight plan" when you're in the heat of battl...

You’re busting your ass every day, but your bank account doesn’t show it. Here’s the hard truth: you don’t need more jobs to make more money. You need discipline. You need to take control of your numbers. Stop playing contractor charity work. Know your gross profit. Cut the fat. Eliminate the waste that’s bleeding your business dry. Your bank account is a scoreboard. It tells the truth about how m...

☎️ Book a free 15-minute Growth Call and see how BATTLEGROUND helps you finally move forward. → Book here: https://go.thecontractorfight.com/15min-free-call You thought your communication was bulletproof, but your customers are walking away because of it. If 90% of medical lawsuits are from bad communication, what’s it costing your contracting business?. Derek Johnson and Tim Cutroni expose the ma...

Book your free 15-minute Growth Call → https://go.thecontractorfight.com/15min-free-call You don’t have a leads problem. You have a you problem. ============================================================ You’ve heard me talk about Shin-Fu. You know the system. But you’re still not using it. Still letting tire-kickers steal your time? That’s not a business issue — that’s a guts issue. BATTLEGROUN...

Who’s really making the buying decision? Spoiler: it’s not always the one you think. In this episode of The Contractor Fight Sales Podcast , Tim and Derek break down the critical Influencer step of the Shin-Fu sales process. They share real stories of when contractors thought they were talking to the right person—only to find out later that the real driver of the project was someone else entirely....

Book a free 15-minute Growth Call here: https://go.thecontractorfight.com/15min-free-call When the government shuts down and projects freeze, how do you keep your business alive? Tom sits down with Kortney B. Farhat , a veteran in contracting and finance, to talk about how to stay in control when the economy gets messy. From cashflow survival tactics to Section 179 tax strategy and real-world lend...