After more than 500 interviews with Roofing Contractors, Bill Good understands what problems keep us contractors up at night! In today's interview with Bill, we dig deep into the problems we all face every day in our businesses and what the NRCA is doing to help solve them. Bill, who has an MBA from the University of Chicago, has been the CEO of the NRCA for most of the past thirty years. The mission of the NRCA is a simple one- to assist contractors and advance the industry. It's a hundred and ...
Dec 07, 2018•47 min
The biggest problem faced by most of the contractors I work with is that they just can’t get off the hamster wheel of the day-to-day. They start off each day with the best intentions but end up just putting out fires. Having to “do it all,” they grind out another 80 hours, and the next thing they know is that there are problems at home and the stress just keeps piling on. Today we’re going to get you some relief with the help of Danny Kerr from The Breakthrough Academy. What you’ll hear in this ...
Nov 30, 2018•45 min
I like to watch the show Shark Tank. Usually I’ll binge 4 or 5 episodes at a time every so often. You can learn a lot about business from the Sharks. And yes, even the roofing business. Yeah, it’s entertainment. But they’ve been there and done it! Here is what you can learn from the Sharks: They start off by just asking for the short story about the business. The elevator pitch. They don’t really care what it is. What’s the problem and how are you solving it? Just like selling roofing. What’s th...
Nov 26, 2018•12 min
My guest for today is Todd Dewalt and he has an awesome podcast called The Construction Leading Edge. It's for business owners and contractors who would like to grow and do away with any disorder in their business. On the show today I have a really great conversation with Todd about ways to improve your business. And Todd has some great giveaways too, like a video series with a ton of really simple information that you can use to better your business. So be sure to listen in all the way to the e...
Nov 23, 2018•1 hr 1 min
Sell Me This Pen If you saw the movie The Wolf of Wall Street you’ll remember the final scene where Leo, just out of jail and banned from selling stocks, is teaching a group of eager salesmen looking for the “silver bullet” of selling. Leo asks a nervous victim in the front row that classic sales manager question, “Sell Me This Pen”. The movie ends before we get the answer. Today, I show you the right way to answer this question and how it applies to home services sales. The 4 Takeaways 1. Estab...
Nov 19, 2018•9 min
Contractors ask me all the time if I were to start another roofing business what would be the #1 thing I would do. I always tell them the same thing. I would start with a written business plan. Without a written plan you can’t have the clarity of where you want to take your business and how you’re going to get there. That’s why I wrote the 1 Page Business Plan. You can download it for free from my website and fill in the PDF. This will give you a professional business plan in just a couple of ho...
Nov 16, 2018•29 min
If you use sub or independent contractors in your business you’re going to want to listen to today’s show with attorney Philip Siegel. Philip works at Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman, and Siegel, a firm in Atlanta that specializes in work for construction companies all over the country. The difficult labor market has many of us turning to independent contractors to get the work done, but new regulations and aggressive enforcement have resulted in new hidden dangers for contractors. The misclassifica...
Nov 09, 2018•50 min
Stop tolerating warm bodies doing just enough to get by and driving your best customers away. In today’s interview with the “Business Psychologist,” we uncover the 4 strategies to solve the # 1 problem contractors face: How to hire the “A players” and where to find them. What you’ll hear in this episode: Sabrina’s roles: founder of Tap the Potential, author of How to Hire the Best and How to Hire the Best for the Construction Industry , and host of the weekly podcast, Profit By Design Background...
Nov 02, 2018•40 min
If you want a consistent flow of qualified leads you need to listen to my interview with Marc Levesque and learn how a professional PPC campaign can get your company’s name in front of new prospects ready to buy your services. Once you have their attention, Marc gives you the secrets to converting those clicks into qualified leads using the right landing pages. What you’ll hear in this episode: Dave met Marc at the Contractor Success Summit in May. The Summit will be held again in 2019, so watch...
Oct 26, 2018•54 min
As contractors, we’re always on the go, sometimes hitting four or five locations per day — which makes communication even more crucial. Luke Hanson’s roofing company found that taking photos helped them when writing bids, coordinating with their crews, and handling customer disputes, but getting them organized created a huge headache. He created CompanyCam to solve that problem. What you’ll hear in this episode: Luke’s background in his family roofing company Why he knew there was a better way t...
Oct 19, 2018•55 min
Do you ever feel that your business is out of control? You’re not alone. Today I talk with Jake Dempsey of JobNimbus CRM about getting your business organized and under control by using a CRM program. No more leads falling through the cracks. Jake lays out a simple process that will increase your sales, reduce your stress, get you, additional happy customers. A lot has changed with Dave since he was last on the show, which was on episode 29 , so tune in to learn more about Dave, JobNimbus CRM, a...
Oct 12, 2018•48 min
Vicki Suiter runs Suiter Business Builders, a consulting business for contractors that she started back in 1990. She helps contractors build better and more profitable businesses. Vicki and I are in a mastermind group together, and she’s here to discuss her new book, The Profit Bleed, which pinpoints the places where you are losing money in your business. What you’ll hear in this episode: Vicki’s background in banking, then as a corporate controller: when she was married to a painting contractor...
Oct 05, 2018•50 min
Today I’m talking to Jill Nelson of Ruby Receptionists about how to get more qualified leads by using a virtual receptionist. We all know that the biggest complaint about contractors is that they DON’T answer the phone! Let Ruby help your business! Join us to hear what Ruby provides and how they can help YOUR business. What you’ll hear in this episode: When Jill was a receptionist, she wanted to be an entrepreneur and open a co-working space, but when that idea didn’t work out, Ruby Receptionist...
Sep 28, 2018•36 min
Do you ever feel stressed or out of control when running your growing contracting business? If so, this is the show for you. Today, I interview Diane Gilson about how much that chaos is costing your company. Too many contractors don’t like numbers and usually turn over the bookkeeping and accounting to someone that may be less than qualified--or worse--downright dishonest. Find out how making some minor changes can reap a huge improvement in profits. What you’ll hear in this episode: Diane’s bus...
Sep 21, 2018•51 min
Roofers racked up over $21 million in OSHA citations in 2016! Will you be ready when they show up on your job? As the Risk Development Director for the NRCA, Harry will explain the steps you need to take to defend yourself from one of the biggest threats we face as roofing contractors. We need all the help we can get when it comes to navigating the complicated maze of regulations and Harry gives us the answers. If you would like to avoid a costly run-in with OSHA, you will really gain a lot from...
Sep 14, 2018•42 min
My salespeople had a favorite “Whine”—"Homeowners only care about the price and we’re too expensive.” When in fact, survey after survey tells us that price is rarely the main reason why homeowners select a particular contractor. In today’s interview, I discuss the sales process you need to get your price, with expert John DeRosa. What you’ll hear in this episode: John’s work as director of contractor training and customer experience at SRS Distribution, including travel and seminars His 25 years...
Sep 07, 2018•48 min
If you’re not marketing and selling preventative roof maintenance you are leaving a lot of money on the table! In today’s interview, Greg teaches us how to set up a maintenance department, find the right people to run it, and how to sell maintenance for high profits. He’ll also show us the top 5 mistakes contractors make that will kill the deal. Greg Hayne, of The Hayne Coaching Group, has a unique training program that helps roofing contractors grow their service departments and become more pro...
Aug 31, 2018•48 min
In today’s interview, I sit down with Devon Tilly from The Art Of Construction Podcast and learn how he built a company culture to take his successful business far into the future. Devon has been recognized nationally for his innovation and creativity within the building industry. In today’s conversation, we go deep into people and technology. As we all know, there are more people going out of the industry than coming in. Devon has some great ideas on how to attract and retain the best from that...
Aug 24, 2018•43 min
Why is it that the last 20% of a roofing job takes 80% of the time? Sometimes you just can’t get it closed out. The punch list that gets longer with every inspection. Materials are on back order. A sick employee slows things down. Whatever it is, it means you’re not getting your final payment and your customer is getting impatient. Today I talk about the 13 step process we used at my company to get in and out of a project and maximize our profits. You’ll learn about the checklist we used to have...
Aug 17, 2018•27 min
There will be another recession that can destroy your business. It may be down the road but it will come. Now is the time to recession-proof your contracting business by setting up a sales process and building a quality sales team for the long haul. Today I interview sales team builder Ryan Groth and learn his 5 step process that will get you started on recession-proofing your business today. What you’ll hear in this episode: Ryan’s background as a pro baseball player and how he connected with a...
Aug 10, 2018•46 min
Business is booming and you have a lot of cash flowing out the door. Without a strong collections process, you can run into a real cashflow squeeze. Just one hiccup on a large project can put your entire business at risk. Today, I interview construction attorney Alex Barthet from The Lien Zone Podcast to discuss everything we need to know to get paid for your jobs. We cover the good, bad, and the ugly on contracts, change orders and filing timely lien notices. Alex is a Florida Board Certified c...
Aug 03, 2018•54 min
With the year half over it’s time for a mid-year checkup of your business. It’s halftime. Get your team together and review what went right and what went wrong. It’s a time to take a step back, look at the score, and be sure you are on track for a strong finish. In today’s podcast, I make it easy with an 8 step process to evaluate your business performance and give you a free download from my website with a fillable PDF that you can use to lead your team to success. Would you like your business ...
Jul 27, 2018•26 min
We all have a story to tell about how we ended up in the Roofing Industry, but with Louie Leger, as the saying goes, “You can’t make this stuff up!” One of the first things I do every morning is checking LinkedIn to see what my connections are up to, and that usually means getting a little boost from Louie’s morning greeting. He is always upbeat and positive, but the other day he posted something a little more thought-provoking and I wanted to hear more. In today’s podcast, you’re going to hear ...
Jul 20, 2018•35 min
The only way to grow a profitable roofing business for the long haul is to build an effective sales team. On today’s podcast, I talk sales with Becca Switzer, owner of Roof Sales Mastery. Becca teaches roofing contractors how to find, hire, and train successful salespeople with her proven step-by-step system that avoids all the typical mistakes most business owners make. What you’ll hear in this episode: Why a great sales team makes ALL the difference in your business “Nothing happens until some...
Jul 13, 2018•46 min
Even with the booming construction economy, contractors are still going out of business at an alarming rate--and the reason is most likely poor cash flow. As sales volume increases, so do your payroll and supplier costs, all of which must be paid--usually long before you get paid for those jobs. If you’re not on top of your cash flow it doesn’t take much for it to all come crashing down. You can’t make your payroll with a book of receivables. In today’s interview, business expert Michael Stone s...
Jul 06, 2018•54 min
I’m in the "hot seat” when I’m interviewed by fellow podcaster Devon Tilly from The Art Of Construction Podcast where we have a conversation about growing your roofing business. We also get into my experience of 30 years of contracting and talk some helpful tips. What you’ll hear in this episode: Why I choose to share my experiences over 30 years of roofing and how others can grow their business but yet have more free time “What’s in it for me?” How I try to give info that I wish I’d had back in...
Jun 29, 2018•38 min
If you are going to grow a successful roofing business, you’re probably going to need a credit line with a local material distributor. In today’s interview with Thea Dudley, we’re going to get into how your supplier can help. Thea has over 30 years of credit and collection management experience in the construction industry. She writes a credit advice column for ProSales Magazine and has presented educational sessions for numerous trade organizations. What you’ll hear in this episode: Thea’s back...
Jun 22, 2018•44 min
What is going on with Facebook? What was the scandal all about and how will it change Facebook? Is Facebook still relevant to roofers in terms of marketing? How can roofers use Facebook groups to cultivate free referral leads? We get the answers to these and other questions in today’s podcast with digital marketing expert Aaron Hockel. What you’ll hear in this episode: Aaron’s work at Alta Vista Strategic Partners, where they specialize in helping roofers implement goal-oriented marketing plans ...
Jun 15, 2018•37 min
The tagline for my podcast is learn how to grow your roofing business, make more money, and have more free time. I use this because these are the top 3 problems that the roofing contractors I work with face in their businesses. But with this strong economy most everyone is growing their business but they’re still not making the money they should and they certainly don’t have the free time they want to spend with their families. That’s what we are going to talk about today.
Jun 08, 2018•35 min
Today we talk about setting up a process to help your company manage its online reputation, enhance employee relations with customers, and address customer concerns before they hit review sites. All this can be tracked from one easy-to-use website. What you’ll hear in this episode: Josh’s background in HVAC and plumbing How RevuKangaroo began when he wanted to perfect the review system How can we turn Yelp reviews into a conversion and closing tool? Three takeaways from Josh’s video: Growing you...
Jun 01, 2018•47 min
