💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops In this episode, Dave Sheridan from Ascension Tree Care reveals the challenges and triumphs of growing his tree service business from $290K to $550K in just two years. Dave dives deep into his equipment investments, B2B partnerships, and how he successfully navigated marketing through Google Ads and reviews. Dave discusses: His $130K initial equipment investment How mini skids became a game-cha...
Oct 03, 2025•1 hr 4 min
💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops How do you hire employees who actually stick around? Austin Gray sits down with Patrick Murphy, founder of Cascade Home Cleaning , to unpack why recruiting is the single biggest bottleneck in service businesses—and how to fix it. Patrick reveals: Why every great hire adds $130K in annual revenue His proven recruiting funnel modeled after sales & marketing How to use Indeed, a...
Sep 26, 2025•46 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops What does it take to buy a 103-year-old business and scale it in today’s competitive home services market? In this episode, Austin Gray talks with Hardy Farrow, entrepreneur and owner of Longacre Company, a full-service plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and remodeling business. Hardy previously built and exited multiple companies—and now applies those lessons to operating and growing a multi-division...
Sep 19, 2025•1 hr 28 min
📈Access my free Blue Collar Growth Training: https://start.ownrops.com 🎓 Join OWNR OPS Skool Group: skool.com/ownrops In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast , I’m sharing an important decision we just made inside Bear Claw Land Services that I believe will change the future of our business. Over the past three years, we’ve said “yes” to a lot of different work—trees, dirt, foundations, driveways. But after tracking the numbers, analyzing the systems, and watching what’s actually working, we f...
Sep 17, 2025•49 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops How a residential cleaning company hit a $1M+ run rate with production pay. Owner David Loria (Squeakies Cleaning) explains the exact changes that unlocked growth: moving from 2-person crews to solo cleaners , adopting production pay , targeting 35–40% labor on each job, and pricing toward ~$60/hr effective. He also walks through the Made Central stack (and why ~$1,000/mo is a steal) plus the c...
Sep 13, 2025•48 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops AI is revolutionizing sales, customer service, and business operations. In this episode, Austin Gray talks with Nikolas Hulewsky about the latest advancements and how he’s implementing AI in his businesses. From automating sales follow-up with AI chatbots to optimizing lead qualification with CRM tools like Go High Level, Nik reveals how small businesses can use AI to save time and increase eff...
Sep 05, 2025•44 min
What’s holding you back from scaling your service business? In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast , Austin Gray interviews Steven Nash —private equity operator and partner to dozens of HVAC businesses. Steven shares how he helps business owners go from $800K to $100M+ by solving one bottleneck at a time. You’ll learn: Why small businesses stay small—and how to break through How to calculate your exact growth targets using simple math The difference between working on vs. in your business How s...
Aug 29, 2025•46 min
What happens when a college dropout takes massive action—twice a year? In this episode, Austin Gray talks with Andrew Rampulla, the founder of two seasonal service businesses: a softwash company in New York and a Christmas lights company in Florida. Andrew shares: How he got his first client from a Facebook post Why he alternates between NY and FL to maximize revenue How he hires and builds systems for repeatable success His content & review strategy to attract local leads The key mindset sh...
Aug 22, 2025•50 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, I sit down with Spencer Claeys, an exterior home service business owner and YouTube creator with over 264,000 subscribers and viral TikTok success. Spencer shares his journey from starting a roof washing business in Washington to building a loyal online following, all while staying true to what excites him most. We dive deep into content creation, entrep...
Aug 15, 2025•1 hr 7 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops Austin Gray speaks with Hector Resendez , the mastermind behind Trade School Secrets , a unique platform that helps businesses solve their staffing problems by leveraging trade schools. Hector reveals how virtual reality is revolutionizing the traditional trade school model, making it faster and more accessible for people to gain certifications. Hector discusses: The benefits of building a virt...
Aug 08, 2025•43 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops What happens when a $30M company replaces consultants with AI chatbots? Or when a snow plow business owner uses GoPros, Descript, and ChatGPT to build scalable SOPs? In this no-theory, boots-on-the-ground episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, Nik of Nikonomics walks through: Real-world AI use cases in manufacturing, sales, and onboarding How to document your processes and train AI like an employee U...
Aug 01, 2025•48 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops Can you really scale a handyman business to $1M in under 12 months? Tim Leary did—and he breaks down exactly how. Tim shares how he transitioned from real estate to handyman services and turned a few small jobs into a thriving local business in Salt Lake City. From TV mounting and fencing to automated follow-ups , learn how he used Google LSA, a VA, and simple SOPs to unlock scale. You’ll hear:...
Jul 25, 2025•44 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops How do you turn one viral auction post into a thriving $5 mastermind, multiple digital products, and high-ticket coaching? Shannon Jean —serial entrepreneur and liquidation pro—breaks down his entire Whistle → Workhorse → Whale system: The “auction whistle” that rocketed him from 500 → 39K followers Crafting a simple PDF lead magnet that captured 1,000+ emails Pricing (& repurposing) digita...
Jul 18, 2025•52 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops Trades businesses often believe branding is just a logo or a truck wrap—but what if your brand could become your biggest growth driver? Austin Gray interviews Brian Sooy, a certified brand architect, StoryBrand consultant, and 30-year branding veteran who has helped hundreds of blue-collar businesses build brands that stand out, scale, and sell. Together, they explore: The biggest branding mist...
Jul 11, 2025•49 min
💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz: ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops In this episode of OWNR OPS Podcast , Austin Gray sits down with Asa Hunt, the founder of Big Horn Painting , who transformed a layoff from his tech sales job into a thriving local business. From growing his revenue to over $300K in his first year to scaling with a mix of Facebook Ads, networking, and smart referrals, Asa opens up about the early struggles and key strategies that led to success...
Jul 04, 2025•55 min
In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, Austin Gray talks with Tanner Mullen—a founder who helped build and sell a business for a jaw-dropping 9-figure exit. Now on his next mission, Tanner is building a startup in public and sharing everything he’s learned about hiring, delegation, scaling, and letting go of ego. This episode is packed with real-world founder lessons—from how Tanner built culture at scale, to why he let people quit, to the questions he asks in every final interview. Whether yo...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 5 min
In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, Austin Gray sits down with Tyler Griffin, founder of Swift Pro, a service-based business specializing in HVAC and plumbing. Tyler shares his journey of launching Swift Pro after a successful exit from another business, offering insights on business strategy, values, and the hard work behind entrepreneurship in a competitive market. If you’re starting or scaling a blue-collar business, this episode is packed with tactical tips and personal lessons. HIGHLIG...
Jun 19, 2025•53 min
In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, Mike Compton of SWVA Stump Co. joins Austin Gray to discuss the journey of starting a stump grinding business from scratch. Mike shares how he transitioned from a W2 job to becoming an owner-operator, his approach to pricing jobs, and the ups and downs he encountered in his first five weeks of business. They also talk about the importance of taking fast action, learning from mistakes, and building credibility in a local market. Mike’s journey is a perfect...
Jun 13, 2025•57 min
In this solo episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, I’m sharing some powerful insights I’ve been learning about how to scale a service-based business the right way. From mastering paid ads to building systems that actually work for growth, I break down the key strategies I’m using to grow my business, Bearclaw, and how you can apply them to your own local service business. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to optimize what you’ve already got, these actionable tips will help you level up a...
Jun 05, 2025•17 min
This week on the OWNR OPS Podcast, Austin Gray speaks with Marlena , the co-founder of G&M Outdoor Services , who has played a crucial role in scaling the business to $6M in revenue. Marlena and her brothers provide year-round services, including snow removal, excavation, and landscaping, and they’ve perfected how to manage seasonal challenges and business overhead. 💰Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz In this episode, Marlena shares: How to navigate employ...
May 30, 2025•58 min
How do you build a $50M+ portfolio without VC money or a tech background? Nick Huber—founder of Sweaty Startup—did just that. In this episode, Nick shares how he went from scraping sidewalks and hiring Walmart employees to raising $52M for real estate and growing a remote team of 325+. We cover: His “Sweaty Startup” mindset (and why he avoids the tech trap) The first hire every service business should make How to delegate, hire, and fire with confidence Why decision-making and selling are the tw...
May 23, 2025•48 min
In today’s episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, Austin Gray talks with John Diekel , the owner of Master Plumbing and Heating in Vermont. From his time in the military to owning a plumbing business, John shares his journey of building a successful service business by focusing on community engagement, modern systems, and creating a company culture based on care and mentorship. 💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz The Importance of Community Engagement for Busine...
May 15, 2025•58 min
In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, we dive into customer acquisition, local marketing strategies, and how you can maximize your ROI with data-driven remarketing. Austin is joined by Thomas Rudy, co-founder & CMO of Data Shopper, a software company revolutionizing remarketing for local businesses. 💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz 🔥 What You’ll Learn: Fast Customer Acquisition Tactics Overcoming Fear in Sales The Power of Local SEO Remarketin...
May 09, 2025•53 min
In this week’s episode of The OWNR OPS Podcast, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Tyler Mumford , owner of GrindTime Stump Grinding. Tyler’s story is nothing short of inspiring. He built his stump grinding business from scratch and hit $100,000 in revenue in just 7.5 months —and he did it all solo, with no debt and no outside investment . Tyler shares how he took the leap from a tech sales job to the world of stump grinding , how he built B2B relationships that generate consistent revenue...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 18 min
🚨 This week on OWNR OPS, I sit down with Daryna Kulya , co-founder of OpenPhone , to talk about their game-changing integration with Jobber —and why it’s about to streamline operations for thousands of contractors. 💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz 🔧 They break down: Why personal phones are killing your team’s efficiency How OpenPhone’s shared numbers + AI call tagging help you delegate smarter What the Jobber integration means for CRM syncing, j...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 1 min
How do you build a recognizable brand in the home service space—from scratch? Alex Lathery shares his journey from zero clients and free projects to co-founding the now-thriving Cincinnati Painting Co. 💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz This episode is a must-listen if you're building in the local service space and want real talk on: How to pick a business name that helps you rank on Google Balancing bold branding with simple clarity Why your webs...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In this episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast, we speak with Sam Allsopp , the managing partner of Neal Roofing, who’s successfully scaled his business to $25.7M in 2024. Sam reveals his formula for success and shares how he plans to double his revenue in 2025 by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), optimizing marketing spend, and building a robust operational framework. Whether you're a roofing business owner, entrepreneur, or simply looking to grow your business, Sam’s insights will help you ...
Apr 11, 2025•55 min
Welcome to another episode of the OWNR OPS Podcast! In today's episode, I sit down again with Kriss Bergethon, a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder of SMB Uni, to discuss all things entrepreneurship, business growth, and practical advice for those starting out in the home services industry. Kriss has built multiple successful businesses, and in this conversation, we dive deep into the strategies that helped him grow his ventures—from starting in the trenches to scaling rapidly. Whether you're...
Apr 04, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Join me as I share my journey of launching a land-clearing business. With years of experience as an entrepreneur, I'll take you step-by-step through my approach to starting a home service business—from identifying my ideal customer to creating a solid plan for operations, sales and marketing, and finance. 💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to grow your local service biz 📙 Free Service Startup Playbook To Generate Your First $100k: https://www.ownrops.com/playbook 🔑 Here’s w...
Mar 31, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 66
In this episode, Simon Turner, who is a very seasoned and savvy entrepreneur. He has built and sold two companies over the last two decades, and he's the type of person who, whenever he commits to something, sees it through and does it. Simon also shares the theme of building company culture, his thoughts on creating a positive and productive work environment, and how to foster a sense of community and teamwork within an organization. 💰 Join our Free OWNR OPS Skool Community to gro...
Mar 31, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 67
