The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber - podcast cover

The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

Stop stressing out about your contracting business and take back control. The Contractor Fight is bringing respect and dignity back to the trades one contractor at a time. Discover how to market, sell, and consistently produce your projects at a profit with industry expert and powerful motivator Tom Reber. Stop stealing from your family. Earn what you're worth. Build a business that serves you.
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Episodes

TCF1122: The Truth About Starting a Trade Business in 2026

Most of you guys start your business because you’re good at the trade, but you’re absolute trash at the business side. You quit your job, paint a few houses for family, and then panic when the phone stops ringing. This episode is the down-and-dirty reality of what it actually takes to build a sustainable, profitable company that doesn't torpedo your life. We’re breaking down the plan, the protection, and the promotion you need to stop acting like a handyman and start being a CEO. ===============...

May 04, 202611 min

TCF1121: Is Your Team Brave Enough to Tell the Truth?

Stop acting like a handyman and start leading like a pro. In this episode, Derek shares a nightmare story where an irrigation guy literally took a razor knife to a brand-new $75,000 pond liner. Most contractors would lose their minds, but Derek’s team used Shin-Fu communication to turn a potential lawsuit into a lifelong VIP client. We’re breaking down why your team’s character is your biggest asset and how to handle massive jobsite "fires" without burning your reputation to the ground. ========...

Apr 30, 202621 min

TCF1120: 5 Old Ways to Sell vs. The Contractor Fight Way

You’re stealing time and money from your family because you’re still selling like it’s 1995. Stop chasing every tire-kicker with a pulse and start commanding your calendar. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 5 old ways of selling that act like friendly fire to your business and showing you The Contractor Fight way to win. ============================================================ Ready to stop being everyone's little b h? * Grab "The Contractor's Code to Finally Cracking $1M" and learn to ...

Apr 27, 202625 min

TCF1119: The Pilot Doesn't Pass Out Peanuts

You’re frustrated because your team isn’t following instructions, but the truth is, you haven’t given them a map. In this episode, Derek and Uncle Tim tear down the "Groundhog Day" cycle that keeps contractors broke, tired, and stuck in the field. We dive deep into why fancy binders don't work without accountability and how a simple "flight plan" can save your business from crashing. Stop stealing from your future by being too "busy" to build systems. ================================== Ready to ...

Apr 23, 202628 min

TCF1118: The Contractor Wife's Survival Guide

Stop being the silent partner in a business that’s consuming your life. Most contractors aren't actually making money; they're just moving it from one hand to the other while the family gets the leftovers. If you’re tired of managing a household on a budget that doesn't match how hard your husband works, this episode is for you. We’re breaking down the exact language and the three non-negotiable questions you can give him to stop the theft of his time and your family’s future. ==================...

Apr 20, 20269 min

TCF1117: Stop Selling Projects. Start Finding Motive.

You aren't a contractor; you’re a professional problem solver, but you can't solve a problem you don't understand. Most of you lose jobs because you talk too much and listen too little. In this episode, Tim and Derek break down "Motive" (the engine of the Shinfu sales process) and how to use open-ended questions to make your prospects feel heard. Stop guessing what they want and start extracting the truth so you can charge what you’re worth. ================================== Ready to stop grind...

Apr 16, 202617 min

TCF1116: Commitment is the Only Way to Win

Stop lying to yourself that your "good intentions" are going to pay the mortgage. In this episode, I’m calling out the guys who know exactly what they need to do, (raise prices, fire that s******d, or fix their numbers0, but keep choosing comfort over growth. Execution is the only thing that builds a business, and honoring the commitments you make to yourself is the only way to find your swagger again. ============================================================ Stop being a handyman and start b...

Apr 13, 202617 min

TCF1115: Your Customer Experience is a Dumpster Fire

Stop acting like a typical contractor and start acting like a world-class brand. In this episode, Tim shares how a trip on a Virgin Voyages cruise completely shifted his perspective on what it means to actually care for a customer. We’re breaking down why your "sales process" is failing, how your team’s happiness dictates your profit, and why trying to "exceed expectations" might actually be killing your referrals. It’s time to stop making excuses and start building a business people actually wa...

Apr 09, 202621 min

TCF1114: Set Boundaries Now, or Summer Will Crush You

Stop being a slave to your cell phone and your "pain-in-the-ass" customers. If you don't draw a line in the sand right now, your busy season isn't going to make you rich, it’s going to burn you out and steal your life. In this episode, we’re talking about the five non-negotiable boundaries you need to set today so you can actually enjoy your summer and keep your sanity. ============================== Ready to stop the bleeding? Stop stealing from your family and start building a business that se...

Apr 06, 202610 min

TCF1113: High Profits, or Busy Work?

Stop booking every "whimsical" spring lead that breathes on your phone. Most contractors are terrified that if they don't say yes to everything, the work will dry up. That’s a lie that keeps you broke. In this episode, Tim and Derek break down why you need to sell unafraid and wait for the high-margin jobs that actually move the needle. Stop being a "handyman" and start being a business owner who values his time and his crew’s skill. If you’re ready to stop the grind and start stacking cash, it’...

Apr 02, 202618 min

TCF1112: Google Business Profile: Your #1 Lead Weapon

Stop flushing ad money down the toilet while ignoring the goldmine sitting right in front of you. Your Google Business Profile isn't junk mail; it’s a digital job sign planted where your hottest buyers are looking right now. In this episode, I’m breaking down the exact "Dominator System" we used to stack over $100k in sales this quarter without spending a dime on ads. If you’re ready to stop being invisible in your own town, it’s time to own your profile and feed the beast. =====================...

Mar 30, 202610 min

TCF1111: The "Meat Guy" Lesson for Contractors

Most contractors think they’re in the business of building things, but they’re actually in the business of managing fear. In this episode, Tim and Derek break down the "Shin-Fu" process to help you stop wasting time with "suspects" and start qualifying real clients. We’re diving deep into the psychology of the homeowner, from the "meat guy" story to the silent arguments happening before you even knock on the door. Stop stealing from your family by chasing dead-end leads. ========================...

Mar 26, 202624 min

TCF1110: The 3 Diseases Killing Your Contracting Business

You’re living on a crazy cycle: you get slow, you panic-market, you get busy, and then you quit doing the very things that brought in the work. That’s not a leads problem; it’s a total lack of discipline. In this episode, I’m punching the "Complacency Coma" and the "Tactical Tourist" in the throat so you can finally build a business that doesn't toss you around like a ragdoll. Stop making gut decisions and start commanding your market. ============================= Stop stealing from your family...

Mar 23, 20268 min

TCF1109: Revenue is Noise, Profit is Oxygen

Stop beating your chest about how much money you "did" last year. If you’re running a $10M company but only pocketing $45k, you don't have a business—you have a high-stress hobby that's slowly killing you. In this episode, Tim and Derek tear down the ego-driven obsession with top-line revenue and show you why profit is the only number that actually keeps your lights on. Stop stealing from your family by chasing "busyness" and start targeting the net profit you actually deserve. =================...

Mar 19, 202626 min

TCF1108: How to Build Trust Before You Ever Show Up

If you’re walking into a sales appointment and the homeowner is still wondering if you’re a hack, you’ve already lost the job. Most contractors think they win the job in the living room. They’re wrong. In this episode, Tom breaks down the 10 ways to build bulletproof trust before you ever show up at the property. From weaponizing your Google Business Profile to using a pre-qualification process that repels tire-kickers, learn how to show up with the job already won. Stop selling like a desperate...

Mar 16, 202612 min

TCF1107: Busy is No Excuse to Stop Marketing

If you stop marketing the second you get busy, you're setting yourself up for a massive crash in six months. In this episode, Derek and Tim break down why "showing your work" is the difference between a high-profit business and a hobby that leaves you exhausted. Stop letting your team hide behind the excavator—if you don't film it, it didn't happen, and you aren't getting paid what you're worth. ================================= Ready to stop playing small? Get "The Contractor's Code to Finally ...

Mar 12, 202624 min

TCF1106: The Simple Local Strategy Nobody is Using

You don’t have a leads problem, you have a local authority problem. Most contractors are burning cash on generic SEO while their neighbors don't even know they exist. In this episode, Tom breaks down the "Documentation Strategy" to dominate your market in under a year for next to zero cost. Learn how to become the most recognized name in your zip code by educating instead of advertising. ============================= Ready to start running a real business? Check out "The Contractor's Code to Fin...

Mar 09, 202610 min

TCF1105: Stop Letting Clients Run Your Life

Stop letting entitled clients push you around like a handyman with no options. In this episode, Tim and Derek break down why you’re losing control of your business and your life because you can’t say "no" to a timeline. You’ll learn how to use your calendar as a weapon to protect your profit and your family. We’re tearing down the lie that you have to be available 24/7 to be successful. ====================================== Ready to start running a real business? Check out "The Contractor's Cod...

Mar 05, 202623 min

TCF1104: If You Wait Until April to Market, You’re Already Losing

If you’re waiting until the weather warms up to start pushing your marketing, you’ve already lost the season. Most contractors spend their lives reacting to the phone not ringing instead of commanding their pipeline through discipline and preparation. In this episode, I’m breaking down why "Spring" actually starts in January and how your lack of a marketing system is forcing you to sell from a place of desperation. Stop stealing from your family by making emotional, fear-based pricing decisions ...

Mar 02, 20267 min

TCF1103: Stop Scaring Yourself Out of Your Price

Tim and Derek discuss the common contractor fear of quoting high prices, often due to projecting their own frugal buying habits onto clients. They introduce the "vanguarding" technique to pre-frame pricing, preparing clients emotionally and highlighting job value to neutralize sticker shock. The episode also promotes the Freedom Forge event, emphasizing financial clarity, margin protection, and adopting an owner's mindset to stop business leaks and foster true financial freedom.

Feb 26, 202628 min

TCF1102: No More Free Estimates: How to Protect Your Time

Stop being an available tradesman hoping someone picks you and start acting like a professional business owner. If you’re still running all over town giving away your time and expertise for free, you’re training people that your bandwidth has zero value. In this episode, Tom Reber breaks down why "common" is where profit goes to die and how to reclaim 20+ hours of your week by qualifying access to your brain. ============================================================== Ready to stop swinging t...

Feb 23, 202615 min

TCF1101: Why Your Prospects Are Still Shopping You

Have you been a victim of the "we’re getting three quotes" line. If a homeowner tells you they need to shop around, it’s because you haven't shown them why you’re the only logical choice. In this episode, we break down how to take control of the sales process so you stop competing on price and start winning on value. ============================================================== Ready to stop swinging the hammer like a handyman and start running a real business? Grab the Contractor’s Code to cra...

Feb 19, 202611 min

TCF1100: Why You Keep Getting Ghosted (And How to Prevent It)

Stop staring at your phone waiting for a text that’s never coming. You think you got ghosted because the homeowner was flaky, but the truth is you chose comfort over clarity. In this episode, we break down why "good vibes" are killing your profit and the exact leadership moves you need to make to get a "yes" or a "no" before you leave the kitchen table. ============================================================== Ready to stop swinging the hammer like a handyman and start running a real busine...

Feb 16, 202611 min

TCF1099: Why Your Clients Want to Pay More

Many contractors are losing jobs because they make it too damn hard to buy from them. In this episode, Tim and Derek break down the "Concierge Service" model. A strategy that removes friction and justifies the premium prices you’re too scared to charge. We’re talking about moving past the transaction to create an experience that makes competition irrelevant. Stop being a "typical contractor" and start being the only logical choice for high-end clients. ===========================================...

Feb 12, 202618 min

TCF1098: 5 Price Objection Lines Every Contractor Should Master

Stop acting like a handyman and start selling like a pro. When a prospect says "you're too expensive," most contractors panic and start discounting their own worth. In this episode, Tom Reber breaks down the 5 exact lines you need to stay in control, maintain your certainty, and lead the conversation without caving on your price. If you want to stop stealing from your family and start earning what you’re worth, you need to master these responses. Ready to stop living "just over broke"? =========...

Feb 09, 202610 min

TCF1097: Why Your Best People Are Quitting

You’re keeping people on your crew who are poisoning the well. In this episode, Derek and Tim break down why "talent" isn't enough if the fit is wrong, using a legendary story about Charles Barkley and a $50k lesson from a powerhouse COO. Stop making excuses for bad behavior and start owning your role as a leader. If you don't have clear SOPs, you aren't a boss; you're just a guy with a headache. ============================================== Ready to stop playing small? Claim your seat in "The ...

Feb 05, 202616 min

TCF1096: Stop Selling Like a Technician

Stop leaking authority and start taking command of your sales calls. Most contractors are losing jobs not because their price is too high, but because they sell like a technician who waits to be chosen instead of a professional who leads. In this episode, Tom Reber breaks down why your "detailed explanations" are actually killing your deals and how to shift your identity to protect your margins. Stop being a "price choice" and start being the leader. ====================================== Stop p...

Feb 02, 20267 min

TCF1095: The Math That Funds Your Future

Most contractors are just "busy being busy" while their bank accounts leak cash like a broken pipe. In this episode, Tim and Derek tear down the fear of "Business Math" and show you how to find your real overhead, bulletproof your pricing, and finally start winning. Whether you have a sixth-grade education or a master's degree, these simple formulas are the difference between a business that traps you and one that funds your life. ===================================== Stop guessing and start lea...

Jan 29, 202631 min

TCF1094: Your Bank Account Is a Report Card. Own That

Your bank account is the most honest employee you have. It never lies, and it doesn't give out participation trophies. If you’re stressed about money, it’s not bad luck; it’s a report card on your leadership and your decisions. Stop telling yourself stories about being "busy" while your vendors aren't paid and your taxes are piling up. It’s time to stop being offended by the numbers and start getting curious about what they’re trying to teach you. ================================================...

Jan 26, 202622 min

TCF1093: Unlocking Financial Freedom with Steve Shinholser

Grab "The Contractor's Code to Finally Cracking $1M": https://thecontractorfight.com/code Stop being a pussy and start looking at your numbers. Steve Shinholser joins Derek and Tim to reveal how he hit financial "escape velocity"—where his investments now pay him more than his lifestyle costs. If you're 44 and still don't have your shit together, you're running out of time to stop swinging the hammer. Learn the simple, gritty math of compound interest and why your addiction to new equipment is s...

Jan 22, 202649 min
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