Nick Elliot: Corporate Construction to Solo Contractor

Nick Elliot: Corporate Construction to Solo Contractor

On the On Site Podcast, host Brandon interviews Nick Elliott, owner/project manager of Sun Builders, a general contracting and construction management company in Greater Cincinnati doing residential remodeling and commercial tenant fit-out work for small businesses. Nick shares personal background (married with two kids) and explains how his wife, a freelance graphic designer, created Sun Builders’ vibrant brand to differentiate from “millennial gray” styling. He discusses adopting JobTread after using QuickBooks to improve estimating and cost control. Nick recounts his construction path from HVAC summers with his uncle to welding, a construction management degree, an internship in Iowa, and five years at Messer Construction, then starting Sun Builders about a year ago. He outlines a long-term vision of a “mini Messer” targeting $5–$10M ground-up commercial builds (medical, nonprofit, office) with self-perform capabilities, and mentions current work including a deck estimate and a design-build cafe fit-out. Nick highlights proud experiences like rehabilitating the George Washington Bridge and healthcare renovations, reflects on learning humility early in his career, and thanks Brandon’s coaching and community support while sharing his Instagram handle @sun_builders__ and promoting Elite Builder Society membership. Chapters * 00:00 Podcast Kickoff * 00:14 Meet Nick Elliott * 01:06 Sun Builders Overview * 01:43 Family Life and Names * 02:58 Finding JobTread * 04:00 Branding and Website * 06:40 Construction Origin Story * 09:48 Going Solo with SunBuilders * 12:00 Vision Mini Messer * 15:21 Target Projects Ahead * 15:36 Target Project Types * 16:25 Door Knocking Strategy * 17:07 Value Proposition Pricing * 18:01 Connection Glitch Reset * 19:19 Current Pipeline Update * 20:39 Cafe Fit Out Story * 22:53 Career Highlights Bridge * 26:04 Healthcare Renovations * 27:17 Learning From Mistakes * 31:42 Coaching Thanks Wrap * 32:54 Where To Find Nick * 35:48 Final Outro And CTA Connect with Nick Elliott - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sun__builders/ [https://www.instagram.com/sun__builders/] Website: https://www.sunbuilders.net/ [https://www.sunbuilders.net/] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Jacob Urrea: Faith, Growth, and Remodeling Lessons

On-Site Podcast episode 50 features Jacob, a renovation contractor from Rochester, Minnesota and owner of Inner Magic Kitchen and Bath, discussing his construction-family background, his faith journey that began around age 11 amid family addiction and abuse, and how it helped him build resilience. Jacob and his wife are expecting their first child, a baby girl, due at the end of July. He shares current work focused on bathroom remodels, plans to grow carefully before taking on larger projects, and how implementing JobTread and shifting to a sub model has helped, with subs and even an 82-year-old client adapting easily. Jacob describes a discouraging one-star review from a tenant that he later removed through Renew Local, and a first LLC project where he overreached on custom cabinetry but maintained the client relationship. The host promotes Jacob’s Instagram and the Elite Builder Society membership. Chapters * 00:00 Welcome to On Site * 00:14 Meet Jacob Inner Magic * 00:45 Construction Family Roots * 02:30 Faith and Recovery Talk * 05:22 Jacob Faith Journey * 07:53 Baby Girl Reveal * 11:06 Branding Purple Cow * 11:52 Inner Magic Overview * 12:31 Current Bathroom Projects * 16:00 Handling Bad Reviews * 19:21 Early Mistakes Lessons * 24:32 Future Plans JobTread * 29:45 Coaching Second Wind * 32:40 Wrap Up and Outro Connect with Jacob Urrea: Website - https://www.callinnermagic.com/ [https://www.callinnermagic.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/innermagickitchenandbath [https://www.instagram.com/innermagickitchenandbath] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Manja Horner: Passing the Torch Before It's Too Late

On the On Site Podcast, host Brandon interviews educator and HR/training professional Manja Horner, who just hit #1 bestseller status with her new book, "Pass the Torch," a rallying call about the trades labor crisis and the need for leaders and business owners to invest in apprentices and inexperienced workers. Horner shares where to buy the book (Amazon and other retailers), upcoming audiobook plans, and her social profiles, then discusses the book’s themes including retention, company culture, knowledge capture from retiring experts, and generational strengths and weaknesses. She also recounts her background growing up in Ontario around her father’s heritage restoration construction business, her path through music and corporate training into building a training/HR services company, and the visibility and mental-health challenges of publishing, including using EMDR therapy. Chapters * 00:00 Podcast Intro * 00:14 Meet Manya Horner * 01:21 Pass the Torch Launch * 03:29 Trades Crisis Message * 04:23 Personal Torch Stories * 06:28 Imposter Syndrome Writing * 07:37 Family Legacy Culture * 13:41 Generations And Gen Z * 14:58 Her Journey Background * 15:20 Homeschool Music Roots * 16:53 Construction Family Business * 18:44 Corporate Training Career * 23:51 Knowledge Capture Mentorship * 25:48 Teaching Kids Content * 27:24 Audiobook Studio Recording * 28:11 Audiobook Recording Tips * 29:44 Launching Audible and Sales * 30:23 Learning to Self Celebrate * 34:50 Celebrating Wins and Kids * 38:37 Who the Book Serves * 40:06 How the Book Was Written * 43:16 EMDR and Visibility Fears * 48:33 Where to Find the Book * 50:01 Give Apprentices a Chance * 50:44 Wrap Up and Community Plug * 52:58 Elite Builder Society CTA Connect with Manja Horner: Website - http://www.passthetorchbook.com/ [http://www.passthetorchbook.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/manja_horner/ [https://www.instagram.com/manja_horner/] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Sam Alibabai: How to Stand Out When Every Contractor Looks the Same

Episode 48 of the On Site Podcast welcomes back Sam to share updates on Coronation Construction’s growth, including stepping back from hands-on work into admin, sales, and estimating, and investing in Google/Meta ads and higher-production content to increase visibility. Sam outlines current projects (bathrooms, basements, and a medical office build-out) and discusses gaining confidence by taking action on challenging details like a tiled arched shower entry. He explains his push toward new construction for better pay, focus, and a bigger “wow factor” to showcase skills in one home. They discuss business volatility in Ontario, differentiating from low-quality competitors through consistency and client experience, and Sam details Coronation’s process: fast follow-up, 48–72 hour estimates, in-person proposals, JobTread client portal updates, and strong jobsite protection and respect. Sam plugs Coronation Construction in London, Ontario and shares where to find the company online. Chapters * 00:00 Podcast Cold Open * 00:15 Sam Returns Update * 00:59 Marketing Like Influencers * 02:56 Current Projects Pipeline * 03:41 Confidence Taking Action * 06:29 Why New Construction * 08:31 Dad Life Kids Talk * 12:14 Business Challenges Ontario * 15:44 Coronation Experience Process * 17:08 Fast Quote Turnaround * 17:40 JobTread Client Portal * 18:55 In Person Proposals * 19:23 Protecting The Home * 23:50 Why Quality Costs * 25:42 Drywaller Honda Civic Story * 28:21 Journey And Growth Mindset * 29:01 Where To Find Coronation * 29:49 Podcast Wrap Up Connect with Sam Alibabai: Website: https://www.coronationconstruction.com/ [https://www.coronationconstruction.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coronationconstruction [https://www.instagram.com/coronationconstruction] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Chris Mackey: The Marketing Shift Most Contractors Are Missing

On episode 47 of the Onsite Podcast, Brandon welcomes returning guest Chris Mackey from Blue Collar Marketing, a full-service digital marketing agency focused on trades, now grown to about 18–19 people. They discuss how contractors can use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini, emphasizing choosing what fits a workflow and noting Gemini’s integration with Google Workspace. Chris explains that AI can speed up agency work but doesn’t replace the nuance needed to build performance-focused, Google-friendly contractor websites that deliver outcomes, not just visuals. They cover shifts in search behavior and the importance of making sites crawlable for AI (including adding an LLM.txt file). Chris also outlines current ad trends: Google for intent-driven leads and Meta for awareness, where recent changes make ad success more dependent on high-quality creative volume than targeting. Brandon promotes Blue Collar Marketing audits and the Elite Builders Society membership at EBSworks.com for $49/month. Chapters * 00:00 Podcast Welcome Intro * 00:15 Chris Returns Update * 01:19 Blue Collar Marketing Growth * 02:47 Chuck In A Truck Bit * 04:21 Working Together Tools * 06:16 AI Stack For Contractors * 06:56 Choosing Models Workflow * 11:50 AI Websites Value Debate * 14:48 Outcomes Over Commodities * 18:12 Adapting Or Getting Kodakd * 19:14 AI In Schools Controversy * 20:33 School Tools Debate * 21:59 Marketing Trends Now * 23:44 AI Search Website Setup * 27:49 Find Blue Collar Marketing * 28:36 Website Walkthrough * 30:02 Paid Ads Google vs Meta * 32:50 Meta Andromeda Creative Shift * 35:53 Tech Overwhelm Future Sales * 39:47 Final Advice and Wrap Connect with Chris Mackey: Website - https://bluecollarmarketing.ca/ [https://bluecollarmarketing.ca/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluecollarmarketing.ca/ [https://www.instagram.com/bluecollarmarketing.ca/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmarketingcanada [https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmarketingcanada] Connect with Brandon Fuchs Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach Join the Elite Builder Society Website: https://ebsworks.com/