Building Better Contractor Businesses: Systems, Team Building, Workflow, Profitability, Lead Generation

18. Why Profitability Is Actually a Systems Problem for Contractors

Are you working harder but making less money? Do you feel like you're constantly putting out fires in your business? Wondering why profitability seems harder than it should be, even when you're busy? In this episode of the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast, Shaytoya sits down with Brent Garrett, owner of a successful residential plumbing and HVAC company, business coach, and author of 30 Days to a Better Business. Brent shares the powerful story of walking into his office one day only to discover the power had been shut off because the company hadn't paid the electric bill. That moment led him to uncover over $1 million in debt and forced him to completely rethink leadership, systems, culture, and financial management in his business. During this conversation, Brent shares practical lessons contractors can use immediately to improve profitability, strengthen company culture, build better business systems, understand their numbers, and create a more predictable contractor business. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: * The $1 million wake-up call that changed Brent's business forever * Why every contractor must know their numbers * The financial KPIs contractors should review regularly * How company culture impacts profitability and growth * Why many contractors struggle with sales * The power of offering Good, Better, and Best options * How to stop underpricing your services * The biggest mistakes contractors make when hiring * What the "messy middle" looks like when growing a business * Why systems and delegation are critical for scaling * Lessons from Brent's book, 30 Days to a Better Business * How natural law and doing the right thing can impact long-term business success RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED 📘 Connect with Brent Garrett: https://brentgarrett.com [https://brentgarrett.com] 📘 Get Brent's Book: 30 Days to a Better Business https://amzn.to/4xs9fgb [ https://amzn.to/4xs9fgb] 🎙 Join the Building Better Contractor Businesses Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/ [ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/] ABOUT THE HOST Shaytoya Brown is the host of the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast and leads business development for K&B Communications, a commercial low-voltage contractor serving Nevada and Arizona. Through candid conversations with industry experts and lessons learned from real-world experience, she helps contractors build stronger systems, improve profitability, generate better leads, and create more predictable businesses. 🌐 www.kandbcom.com [http://www.kandbcom.com] NEXT STEPS STEP 1: Join the Building Better Contractor Businesses Facebook Group and connect with other contractors working to build more predictable and profitable businesses. STEP 2: Share this episode with another contractor who needs help improving profitability, leadership, and business systems. STEP 3: Listen to more episodes of the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast for practical strategies to help you grow a predictable, profitable contractor business. DISCLAIMER Everything shared on this podcast is based on real-world experience, lessons learned, and conversations with industry professionals. Every business is different, and what works for one contractor may not work for another. The information shared is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Always evaluate strategies, systems, and decisions based on your specific business, market, and goals. Affiliate Disclosure: Some links mentioned in this episode may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

17. Why Contractors Undervalue Themselves (And How It Impacts Their Business)

ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH PRICING CONFIDENCE? * Do you find yourself discounting jobs just to win work? * Have you ever felt like other contractors are charging more for the same services? * Are you undervaluing yourself, your team, or your business without even realizing it? EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS In this episode, I'm sharing why your perception of value may be one of the biggest factors impacting your contractor business. From pricing confidence and profitability to the clients you work with and the opportunities you pursue, it all begins with how you see yourself and what you offer. I also share some personal challenges we've faced recently, lessons learned during slower seasons, and five practical ways contractors can increase their value, improve confidence, and continue building a better business. If you've been struggling with confidence, pricing, growth, or simply wondering what's holding you back, this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: * Why slow seasons do not determine your value * How pricing confidence impacts profitability * The importance of investing in yourself through books, podcasts, and education * Why the people you surround yourself with matter * How raising your standards improves your business * Why contractors often undervalue themselves * The connection between mindset and business growth * How to stop accepting projects that don't align with your goals * Simple ways to increase your perception of value starting today NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION (NAWIC) https://www.nawic.org [https://www.nawic.org] TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL https://www.toastmasters.org [https://www.toastmasters.org] THE CONTRACTOR FIGHT https://thecontractorfight.com [https://thecontractorfight.com] JOIN THE BUILDING BETTER CONTRACTOR BUSINESSES FACEBOOK GROUP https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/] CONNECT WITH K&B COMMUNICATIONS https://www.kandbcom.com [https://www.kandbcom.com] ABOUT THE HOST About the Host Shaytoya Marie is the host of the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast and a leader at K&B Communications, a commercial low-voltage contractor serving Nevada and Arizona. Through her work at K&B Communications, Shaytoya has spent more than a decade helping to grow a contracting business while navigating the real challenges of entrepreneurship, leadership, sales, marketing, systems, and team development. The stories, lessons, successes, and mistakes shared on this podcast come from real-world experience inside K&B Communications and from conversations with contractors across the industry. The goal is simple: help contractors build predictable, profitable businesses while creating a better life for themselves and their families. Learn more at: www.kandbcom.com [http://www.kandbcom.com] NEXT STEPS Step 1: Join the Building Better Contractor Businesses Facebook Group and share one area where you may be undervaluing yourself. Step 2: Pick one way to invest in yourself this week, whether that's reading a book, attending an event, listening to a podcast, or learning a new skill. Step 3: Review your pricing, standards, and the customers you accept. Ask yourself: Am I operating at the level of value I know I bring to the table?

16. Why Your Lead Generation Isn’t Working and 3 Easy Ways to Attract Better Contractor Leads

TIRED OF SPENDING MONEY ON MARKETING WITH LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT? * Wondering why your lead generation feels inconsistent? * Are you getting leads that aren't the right fit for your business? * Frustrated because your marketing seems busy but isn't producing profitable jobs? EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: In this episode of the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast, Shaytoya Brown sits down with Thaddeus Tondu, founder of On Purpose Media, to discuss what actually works in contractor marketing and lead generation. If you're a contractor who relies heavily on referrals, struggles with inconsistent leads, or feels overwhelmed by marketing, this episode breaks down practical strategies you can start using right away. We discuss contractor lead generation, Google Business Profiles, websites, reviews, SEO, paid advertising, and the key numbers every contractor should understand before investing more money into marketing. This conversation offers simple, actionable advice to help contractors build better marketing systems, generate higher-quality leads, and create a more predictable business. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: * Why do many contractor marketing efforts fail * The difference between leads and qualified leads * How Google searches drive buying decisions * Why your website matters more than you think * The importance of a complete Google Business Profile * How reviews impact trust and conversions * SEO vs. Google Ads and when to use each * Understanding customer acquisition costs * The numbers every contractor should track * Building marketing systems that create predictable work RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED On Purpose Media * Website: https://onpurposemedia.com [https://onpurposemedia.com] * Free Marketing Audit: https://onpurposemedia.com/audit [https://onpurposemedia.com/audit] Building Better Contractor Businesses Facebook Group * https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/] ABOUT THE GUEST Thaddeus Tondu founded On Purpose Media [https://onpurposemedia.com], a digital marketing agency focused on helping contractors and home service businesses generate better leads through websites, SEO, and Google Ads. He specializes in helping contractors create marketing systems that drive consistent growth and measurable results. ABOUT THE HOST Shaytoya Brown is the host of the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast, where she shares real-world lessons, wins, challenges, and strategies to help contractors build predictable, profitable businesses. With more than a decade of experience working in the construction industry, Shaytoya brings practical insights on lead generation, business systems, workflow, profitability, and team building. Through honest conversations with industry experts and lessons learned in the field, she helps contractors reduce chaos, create consistency, and build businesses that support both their goals and their families. Learn more about K&B Communications: www.kandbcom.com [ www.kandbcom.com] NEXT STEPS STEP 1: Join the Building Better Contractor Businesses Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14kTpWeAwGF/] https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14kTpWeAwGF/and connect with other contractors working to build predictable, profitable businesses. STEP 2: Get a free marketing audit from On Purpose Media [https://onpurposemedia.com/audit] to identify opportunities to improve your website, Google Business Profile, SEO, and lead generation. STEP 3: Create your 30-day marketing plan and share it inside the Building Better Contractor Businesses Facebook Group. Let us know what you're committing to and how it's going so the community can support you.

15. Why Profitable Contractor Businesses Still Struggle to Sell and What Buyers Actually Want

Does your contracting business rely entirely on you to keep things running? Ever wonder if your business could actually sell one day? Are you making money but still feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or struggling to step away from the business? HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE In this episode of the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast, Shaytoya sits down with Muriel Touati from Exit3D Studio to discuss something many contractors never think about until it’s too late: building a business that can actually run without the owner. Muriel shares what she learned from working on the buyer side of business and why so many profitable contracting businesses still struggle to sell. This conversation dives into contractor systems, workflow, leadership, team building, profitability, and what buyers are really looking for when they evaluate a business. If you are a contractor trying to create predictable work, improve your operations systems, build stronger business workflows, and stop your business from depending on you for everything, this episode is for you. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: * Why profitable businesses can still struggle to sell * What owner dependency really means for contractors * Why contractor systems matter more than most owners realize * How workflow and operations systems impact business value * What buyers look for before purchasing a business * Why leadership, team building, and documentation matter * How to build a scalable contractor business with stronger systems * Why stepping away from the business is harder without clear SOPs and workflows CONNECT WITH US AND NEXT STEPS ABOUT THE HOST Shaytoya works alongside her husband Kevin at K&B Communications, a commercial low-voltage contractor serving Nevada. Through real experiences within their businesses, the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast shares honest conversations about systems, marketing, hiring, leadership, workflow, profitability, and building a predictable contractor business. Website: www.kandbcom.com [www.kandbcom.com] CONNECT WITH US * Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/] * Website: www.kandbcom.com [www.kandbcom.com] NEXT STEPS Step 1: Join the Building Better Contractor Businesses Facebook group to connect with other contractors looking to build predictable and profitable businesses. Step 2: Share this episode with another contractor who wants better systems, smoother workflow, and a business that does not fully depend on them. Step 3: Subscribe to the podcast for more real conversations around contractor systems, lead generation, profitability, team building, and business growth. PART 3: RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED CONNECT WITH MURIEL TOUATI * Download the first chapter of Muriel’s book The Valuation Gap: https://exit3dstudio.com/the-valuation-gap [https://exit3dstudio.com/the-valuation-gap] * Connect on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/murieltouati [https://linkedin.com/in/murieltouati] * Exit 3D Studio [https://exit3dstudio.com] CONNECT WITH US AND NEXT STEPS ABOUT THE HOST Shaytoya works alongside her husband Kevin at K&B Communication [www.kandbcom.com]s, a commercial low-voltage contractor serving Nevada and Arizona. Through real-world experiences within their businesses, the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast shares honest conversations about systems, marketing, hiring, leadership, workflow, profitability, and building a predictable contractor business. CONNECT WITH US * Podcast: https://kandbcom.com/building-better-contractor-business-podcast/ [https://kandbcom.com/building-better-contractor-business-podcast/] * Join the Building Better Contractor Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/] * Website: https://buildingbettercontractorbusinesses.com [https://buildingbettercontractorbusinesses.com/] * Email: sbrown@kandbcom.com [sbrown@kandbcom.com] NEXT STEPS Step 1: Join the Building Better Contractor Businesses Facebook group to connect with other contractors looking to build predictable and profitable businesses. Step 2: Share this episode with another contractor who wants better systems, smoother workflow, and a business that does not fully depend on them. Step 3: Subscribe to the podcast for more real conversations around contractor systems, lead generation, profitability, team building, and business growth.

14. Sick of Chasing Construction Leads? Try This Marketing System Instead

Are you posting on social media but still not getting quality contractor leads? Wondering why other contractors keep showing up on Google while your business feels invisible? Are you tired of inconsistent marketing that starts strong and then falls off? HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE In this episode, I’m sharing how we’ve recently started getting more quality phone calls and contractor leads by doing something simple that most businesses refuse to stay consistent with. This episode is all about contractor marketing, Google Business Profile optimization, branding, and lead generation. I talk about what we changed inside K&B Communications, why consistency matters more than having a storefront, and how posting daily on your Google Business Profile can help you build trust with Google and your audience over time. If you’re a contractor struggling with marketing that isn’t working, inconsistent leads, or wondering how to actually get found online locally, this episode will help you understand what matters most. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: * Why consistency matters more than expensive marketing * How contractor lead generation starts with branding and visibility * Why Google Business Profile activity impacts your rankings * The difference between posting photos and posting updates * How local keywords help contractors get found online * Why reviews matter more than most contractors think * Why you do NOT need a storefront to compete on Google * How to build simple marketing systems that actually work EPISODE CLARIFICATION During this episode, Shaytoya mentions that “people don’t go to Google to buy.” What she meant was social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Google is absolutely where people go to search for services and make purchasing decisions. The point being made is that social media is more for branding and visibility, while Google Business Profile is where contractor businesses can capture high-intent local leads. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED Join the Building Better Contractor Businesses Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K64LtaA33/] Metricool Scheduling Tool Mentioned in Episode: https://f.mtr.cool/OYKXYC [https://f.mtr.cool/OYKXYC] The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/ [https://thecontractorfight.com/] Learn more about K&B Communications www.kandbcom.com [www.kandbcom.com] About the Host Shaytoya is the CMO of K&B Communications, a commercial low-voltage contractor serving Nevada and Arizona. Over the years, she has worked in many different roles within the business, including admin, recruiting, accounting, marketing, operations, relationship-building, and leadership development. Working side by side with her husband, Kevin, Shaytoya has experienced the real ups and downs of growing a contracting business from the inside out. Through the Building Better Contractor Businesses Podcast, she shares real lessons, struggles, systems, leadership conversations, marketing strategies, and behind-the-scenes experiences to help contractors build more predictable, profitable businesses without burnout. Learn more at www.kandbcom.com [www.kandbcom.com] DISCLOSURE Every contractor's business is different. The strategies, systems, and experiences shared on this podcast are based on our personal experience in our own business and what has worked for us. Results will always vary depending on your market, team, leadership, consistency, and execution. Please use your judgment when making business decisions and understand that what works for one contractor may not work the exact same way for another. Some links, tools, resources, or recommendations mentioned in our episodes and show notes may also be affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase through those links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only share tools, services, and resources that we personally use, believe in, or feel could genuinely help contractors build better businesses.