The Successful Contractor Podcast

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Brian and Janal Reid, owners of Serveway Heating and Air Conditioning, to explore their journey of building a thriving HVAC business. Learn how this dynamic husband-and-wife team went from working out of a pickup truck to running a successful company that’s smashing growth goals year after year. They reveal their secret to success, including:   ·       ...

In this value-packed episode, Bob Houchin sits down with Chris Vance, a marketing expert and coach at CertainPath, to discuss the key strategies every home service contractor needs to scale their business. Chris dives deep into actionable marketing insights for the HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing trades, covering everything from branding basics to advanced digital marketing tactics. Whethe...

Listen as we uncover the secrets behind Kline Electrical Services' astonishing growth. 18 months ago, Matt Kline started Kline Electrical Services in Hagerstown, MD, with nothing more than a dream.  Fast forward to 2024, and Kline Electrical Services is on track to hit $1.6MM in sales with impressive profit margins. Discover how Matt transformed his start-up into a thriving business by leveraging...

From losing money and frustration to everything changed in 18 months.  From $2.7MM in sales to $6.5MM in 18 months… and making money.  And now the company is on target to do $10MM at the end of 2024.  This is the story of Ron Frame of Champion Exteriors in Hainesport, NJ.    Ron is a fourth-generation roofer.  He knew there must be a better way to run a roofing business.  He found CertainPath and...

In this episode, Bob Houchin sits down with CertainPath’s Brandon Marshall to discuss the importance of building a strong legacy in the home service industry. They explore the challenges faced by today's contractors and the critical role of leadership in overcoming them. Discover how emotional intelligence, team development, and a focus on personal growth can transform your business. Learn about B...

In the morning, Juan Carlos Conchas is an electrical service & install manager, as well as sales trainer, for Pacific Coast Home Services in San Jose, CA. In the afternoon, he straps on his tools, takes a call or two, and sells close to $1MM in residential electrical every year. (In 2023, he sold $860K.) Yes, Juan Carlos is a CertainPath Electrical Sales Crown Champion… by selling part-time! J...

Kaleb Thompson is a service technician and roof replacement technician for Good’s Roofing in Burton, MI.  He sold an impressive $2.4MM in residential repairs and replacements last year. Kaleb has been in the roofing industry since he was 23.  He began running his own sub crew, installing new roofs for Good’s Roofing.  Eventually, Kaleb accepted a position as a repair technician for Good’s Roofing,...

Kevin Braun is an electrician for Amps & Volts Electric in Valparaiso, IN.  Kevin is an absolute superstar, as he sold AND installed $850K in residential electrical work in a small, largely rural market.  (And the year before, he sold and installed $750K!)  In this interview, Kevin shares his entire service call process.  Kevin does a masterful job of educating and closing homeowners, while no...

Jeff Payne is a selling technician for Rescue Air & Plumbing in Dallas, TX.  Jeff has been a long-time high sales producer in the HVAC industry.  The last two years, he’s taken his performance to another level, selling $4MM in 2022 and $3.6MM in 2023.  In this interview, Jeff outlines meticulously how he approaches a maintenance call, how he converts it to a sales opportunity, and then how he...

James Chenault is a (plumbing) field advisor for Griffin Plumbing in Santa Maria, CA.  James sold (and did some installation) of more than $1.8MM in residential plumbing, drain, and sewer work. How does he do it?  James genuinely cares for his clients.  It comes across in this interview.  He doesn’t see them as dollar signs; he sees them as friends who he wants to help.  Of course, James has an ai...

Vredevoogd Plumbing, Heating, & A/C doubled from $20MM to $40+MM highly profitably in just three years. The company has multiple branches across central and western Michigan. This this interview, we interviewed Operations Manager Scott Van Druen & Branch Managers Andy Martinus, Derek Trier, & Tim Floate. The four gentlemen detail the “Vredevoogd Model.” They explain how the company suc...

Anthony Romelli is a field supervisor for Ongaro & Sons in Santa Rosa, CA. As a field supervisor, he sells replacement HVAC replacement systems.  And Anthony does that extraordinarily well.  Since starting in sales in 2020, he’s been named a CertainPath Sales Crown Champion—that’s 3 years in a row.  In 2023, he sold an incredible $4.5 million, an impressive number given that he’s still wearing...

Louis Herbert is a selling electrician for Kanon Electric in Milton, WA. Last year, Louis sold a sensational $1.4 million—all residential service work.  He managed to post such impressive numbers after only his second full year selling residential work.  Louis had spent most of his career in new construction, after a short stint in law enforcement.    In this interview, Louis will walk you through...

Kaylee Rumley is a salesperson for Three Mountain Roofing in Jeffersonville, VT.  For much of her career, you could find Kaylee on the slopes; she was a ski instructor for 15 years.  It’s through that job she met her good friend, Alisa Anderson, who owns Three Mountain Roofing, along with her husband, Lee.  It was Alisa who convinced Kaylee to change careers and give the roof industry a try… And s...

Alex Citkowicz is a (plumbing) field advisor for Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter in San Jose, CA. In his first eight months with Mike Counsil, Alex sold $3MM, and in the last two years, he’s sold over $4MM. In 2024, Alex is on track to sell another $4MM year. This is ALL residential service work. NO big new construction, industrial, or commercial jobs. Alex takes care of regular homeowners. How...

David Wilson is a technician for Baker Brothers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  In each of the last three years, David has sold over $6+MM in residential HVAC equipment!  David closes over 90% of his demand calls and 70% of flipped leads. Those are stunning numbers for a technician who still works with his tools, sweating it out in attics. In this interview, you will get David’s entire sales proce...

Episode Show Notes / Description Patrick Riley found himself frustrated.  His company Riley Heating & Cooling in the little, 200-person town of Lucas, IA, had been in business since 2007. No matter what he did, Patrick couldn’t push the company past the $700K revenue mark.  That’s not all that bothered him… Patrick longed to provide his team with the proper benefits he knew they deserved.  Pat...

Drain Cleaning and mainline sewer replacements are lucrative businesses when you understand how to structure the pricing and have a strong selling system. It provides a critical service to customers, can generate massive profits, and creates exceptional earning potential for technicians—and they don’t need licensing. However, technicians and contractors do need training, which is why CertainPath d...

Episode Show Notes / Description Luke Strange exudes positivity and passion.  It’s no surprise that his two-year-old business, Cool Hand Electric, in Red Oak, TX, has already profitably grown to $1.2MM with two trucks and another soon added.  Along with his wife and business partner, Kristen, this young couple has been working hard to put good people and good processes in place. They know that’s w...

There’s an exciting group of young contractors making their names in our industry, and Thomas Munn is certainly one of them.  He started his plumbing company, Full Spectrum Plumbing, in 2018.  The Rock Hill, SC, contractor didn’t take an unplanned leap into entrepreneurship; instead, Thomas planned for years, seeking out information everywhere. Eventually Thomas found the pathway he’d been searchi...

The contracting industry is an interesting place these days if you’re in the social media world.  The bro culture is here.  It’s filled with silver-tongued “gurus” driving exotic cars and taking private jets. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying success, but it gives others the wrong impression. It celebrates the individual when it takes so much more than ONE person to build a big, profi...

“Coach Aaron” Behunin works with CertainPath contractors on improving their businesses when he’s not traveling the country, training electricians on the advanced communications and sales strategies required to deliver a 5-star residential electrical service call every time.  Coach Aaron’s understanding of that process is rooted in his nearly 20 years in residential electrical service, as a Master...

Estee Jaacovi has spent more than 16 years in the HVAC world, filling numerous different roles. It’s in sales where she shined, having been a 3x HVAC Sales Crown Champion.  Today, Estee is a coach for CertainPath and a trainer to hundreds of multi-million-dollar producers, including some of the highest performers in the industry today.      In this show, Estee shares insights on how senior service...

Bill Witty grew up knowing he wanted more out of life. He started as a maintenance man right out of school; rather than play on the weekends, Bill would flip houses. A friend told him about the earning potential as an electrician. He took a pay cut and leapt at an opportunity to be an apprentice at Milestone Home Services. After seven years, Bill earned his masters license and started his entrepre...

A year ago, Joe Martel found himself in a rut. His company, Advanced Air Conditioning and Heating in Cedar Park, TX, was doing well, but Joe knew it could be doing better. Personally, he was feeling unfulfilled, as well. He called his CertainPath coach to leave the organization. That one, simple conversation changed the trajectory of the business and rekindled Joe’s personal ambition. During this...