Bonus Episode: The Truth About Business Partnerships: Do Ships Really Sink? (with Dan Wheeler)

Bonus Episode: The Truth About Business Partnerships: Do Ships Really Sink? (with Dan Wheeler)

Welcome back to Fence Guy Podcast! In this special Friday bonus episode, Craig isn't entirely solo. He is joined by a true blue-collar podcast legend: Dan Wheeler from River City Fence and The Fence Industry Podcast. Today, the guys are getting down and dirty on one of the biggest, scariest moves you can make as a business owner: Partnerships. Statistics show that 65% of startups fail due to co-founder conflict, yet successful partnerships see a 30% higher chance of a lucrative exit. So, how do you find the "Yin to your Yang" without sinking the ship? Craig and Dan break it all down from a raw, blue-collar perspective. In this episode, we discuss: * The Front End vs. Back End Split: Why a growing brick-and-mortar company needs an field operator and a numbers chaser. * The Million-Dollar Question: When do you offer equity ownership, and when should you just hire a high-level General Manager (GM)? * Real-World Recruitment: Why Facebook is a dead lead for hiring operators and why you need to build out your Indeed and LinkedIn presence. * Incentive-Based Equity: How to properly structure a buy-in so a new partner "earns their keep" without threatening your majority ownership. * The Ultimate Litmus Test: Why vetting a potential partner is like dating—and why you need to "hibernate" on the decision before hopping into business together. Whether you're a solo truck-and-trailer operator or running multiple residential and commercial crews, this episode is packed with hard-earned truths about roles, alignment, and communication. Connect with us! Have thoughts on partnerships? Dropping your own two cents? Reach out to Craig on Fence Guy Podcast or tune into Dan's show, The Fence Industry Podcast. Don't forget to rate, review, share with a friend, and go out there and be a good human! THANKYOU TO OUR SPONSORS We couldn't bring you Fence Guy Podcast without the incredible support of these industry leaders: Titan Post Drivers | Fencetrac Fence System | Brand Builders | FenceGPT | LiveSwitch | MySalesman | ZND Temporary Fence Solutions | Contractor Accelerator | J.C. Gury | Orlando Hinge Company

101. Why Fencing For Livestock Can Cost You $100,000 If It Fails! (w/ Drew Rasmussen)

Welcome back to another Taco Tuesday on Fence Guy Podcast! 🌮✨ In this episode, we are diving deep into the grueling, high-stakes world of agricultural fencing with special guest Drew Rasmussen, owner of Pawnee Fence Company . Operating out of a high-desert Colorado homestead, Drew and his crew cover a massive service area spanning Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska—frequently driving over 120 miles one way just to reach a job site Drew shares his incredible journey from being a "habitual job jumper" to rewiring his 1935 family shack via YouTube, survival trucking, and eventually falling headfirst into the ag fencing business out of sheer necessity In this episode, we discuss: * The Logistics of Ag Fencing: Managing extreme drive times and hiring the right personalities for close-quarters travel . * The $100K Risk: Why a bad livestock fence isn't just an eyesore—it can result in "garage sale bulls" ruining decades of selective breeding . * Ag vs. Residential Fencing: Breaking down the subtle tension and distinct differences between city residential jobs and 17-mile barbed wire runs in the middle of nowhere . * The Kiwi-Style Phenomenon: Competing at the Fall Fence Forum and why competition standards are so brutal . * Future Tech: Why Drew is eyeing remote-control skid steers and heavy-duty post pounders to battle the 3-hour daily commute loss . Whether you are a city fencer dealing with property lines or an ag guy pounding posts into limestone, this episode is packed with industry insights, laughs, and pure grit . Connect with Drew & Pawnee Fence Company: Facebook / Socials: Look up Pawnee Fence Company for spicy fence memes and educational ag content ! Support the Show: 👉 Shout out to our sponsor Z&D Tent Fence Solutions ! 🎧 Catch our audio-only solo podcast dropping this Friday featuring our first guest, Dan Wheeler ! 🙌 Remember to go out there this week and be a good human . THANKYOU TO OUR SPONSORS We couldn't bring you Fence Guy Podcast without the incredible support of these industry leaders: Titan Post Drivers | Fencetrac Fence System | Brand Builders | FenceGPT | LiveSwitch | MySalesman | ZND Temporary Fence Solutions | Contractor Accelerator | J.C. Gury | Orlando Hinge Company

Bonus Episode: The Hustle Trap: Is Your Drive Costing You Everything?

Are you building a legacy or just running because you're afraid to stop? On this episode of Fence Guy Podcast, Craig dives deep into the unspoken reality of hustle culture. While hard work is the engine of success and the foundation of every great business, there is a hidden cost to the "never stop" mentality that most people aren't honest about. In this episode, we discuss: The Difference Between Ambition and Fear: Why slowing down feels like failing and how to tell if you're chasing a goal or just avoiding stillness. The Data on Burnout: Why working over 60 hours a week doubles your risk of burnout—and why business owners are the hardest to protect. The Hidden Price Tag: How "the grind" can quietly take from your spouse, your kids, and your mental health while you call it "dedication." Finding Your "Reason Behind the Reason": How to ensure your hustle has a direction so you don't wake up years from now wondering what it was all for. Hustle isn't toxic—but hustling without a purpose is. Join us for a candid conversation about working hard, staying human, and building a life you actually have time to enjoy. Are you running towards something real, or just running?

100. The Leader's Choice: From Digging Holes to Ohio Chapter AFA President: Johnny Meyers | Fence Guy Podcast

Did you really think there wouldn't be an episode today? Or were you just waiting for the boss guest to come in? The wait is officially over! In this episode of the Fence Guy Podcast, we are joined by Johnny Meyers, owner of Meyers Fence Company and the President of the American Fence Association (AFA) Ohio Chapter . Johnny is a "Rookie Chapter President of the Year" winner who balances running a high-volume fence company with leading one of the most active AFA chapters in the country . We dive into Johnny's journey from the restaurant industry to "geeking out" over fence , the reality of working alongside his wife , and why he believes good competition is the best thing that can happen to your market . In this episode, we discuss: * 🛠️ The Transition: How Johnny went from bar-backing to owning a successful fence company . * 🏛️ AFA Leadership: What it's like being the President of the AFA Ohio Chapter and the push for younger members to get involved . * 🤝 The Power of Networking: Why calling a "competitor" for advice is actually a secret weapon for success . * ⚾ Coaching Life: Balancing business with coaching baseball and softball (and why accountability starts at home) . * 🚀 Future of the Trade: Why "Myers Fence to the moon" is the motto for creating long-term careers for his team . 🎖️ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Johnny Meyers is the President of the AFA Ohio Chapter and owner of Meyers Fence Company in Northeast Ohio . He is a dedicated advocate for the fencing trade and was awarded Rookie Chapter President of the Year at Fence Tech . Don't forget to: ✅ Subscribe for more industry-leading interviews! 🔔 Hit the Bell to get notified every time we go live. 💬 Comment below: What is your biggest takeaway from Johnny's leadership style? We couldn't do this without the companies pushing the fencing industry forward. Please support those who support the trade: 🏗️ Titan Post Drivers – Newest Member of the Family! 🧱 Fencetrac Fence System – fencetrac.com 🔥 Brand Builders – gobrandbuilders.com 🚀 Contractor Accelerator – (Use Code: FGF for 50% Off your 1st month!) 🤖 FenceGPT – fencegpt.com (Use Code: FGF for 10% Off!) 🔩 J.C. Gury – (Mention the Podcast for 5% Off your first order!) 📱 LiveSwitch – join.liveswitch.com/FenceGuyPodcast 💼 MySalesman – mysalesman.com 🏗️ ZND Temporary Fence Solutions – znd.com 🔗 Orlando Hinge Company – (Use Code: FGF for 10% Off!) #FenceGuyPodcast #AFA #OhioFencing #JohnnyMeyers #FencingIndustry #AmericanFenceAssociation #ContractorLife #BlueCollarSuccess #MyersFence #FencePro

Bonus Episode: The Margin Gap: Why You're Working Harder for Less Money

Are you staying busy but still struggling to see the profits you expected? In this episode, Craig Eubanks breaks down the "Margin Gap" and why some fence companies are pulling 60–70% margins while others barely hit 30% . We dive deep into the reality of competitive markets, the common math mistake that costs contractors hundreds of thousands of dollars, and why a high close rate might actually be a warning sign that your prices are too low . Stop competing for the bottom and learn how to build a business that prioritizes profit over just staying busy In this episode, we cover: * The Power of Zero Competition: How location dictates pricing leverage * Markup vs. Margin: The simple math error that could be "disappearing" over $200,000 from your bottom line . * The Close Rate Metric: Why closing 60% of your leads means you're leaving money on the table . * Winning the Price-Driven Customer: Accepting the reality that 8 or 9 out of 10 customers lead with cost—and how to build your strategy around it .