The Profitable Tradie Podcast
If you run a plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or any other trades business and you’re tired of long hours, cash flow headaches, and pricing battles, this podcast is for you. Join Tony Fraser-Jones and Phil Smith from Profitable Tradie as they break down straight-shooting strategies to help you make more money, work fewer hours, and get your business running smoothly—without the usual headaches. We tackle the real challenges every trades business owner faces: ✔ How do I find and keep good techs when everyone is hiring? ✔ What do I do when customers don’t pay their invoices? ✔ How do I charge what...
10 Ways to Use AI in your Business
“What’s one cool thing you’re using AI for?”
I asked 1,200 trades business owners that question...
A few of the answers genuinely caught me off guard.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to create dashboards that track your most important business numbers automaticallyHow trades business owners are creating custom software and apps without knowing how to codeHow to get AI to analyze your numbers and spot problems before they become expensive mistakesLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free Planning Session to learn what c...How to Make $750k Per Month (ft. James Martell)
Three contractors went bust in the same year.
James Martell lost a heap of work overnight,
He was also left with a pile of unpaid invoices...
With no way of getting that money back.
The cash flow crisis got so bad it eventually pushed him into bankruptcy too.
Most trades business owners would've thrown in the towel.
But James didn't.
Today, he’s got 60 staff, does over $7M a year in revenue, and is on track to hit $10M this year.
This is hi...
How To Use Your Numbers To Grow Your Business
Think your trades business is doing well just because you feel busy? Think again.
On today’s episode, we break down the dangerous trap of running your business on emotions rather than hard facts. We reveal why mistaking baseline activity for actual progress is a fast track to stress and explain how consistently tracking your financial numbers is the ultimate key to unlocking predictable growth and massive profitability.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The Danger of "Feeling" Profitable: Why relying on gut feelings instead of real data leaves your busine...How to Double Your Conversion Rate on Jobs
The fastest way to win more jobs has nothing to do with more leads, better marketing, or having the lowest prices.
It's much simpler.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Find out:
The reason customers choose slower, less qualified competitors over youWhy being first matters more than having the cheapest priceThe simple habit that helps some trades businesses win twice as many jobsLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free Planning Session to learn what coaching could do for your businessSubscribe to our YouTube Chan...The Secret to a High Performing Team
If you want a simple system that:
Keeps your guys switched on and working hard
Stops small problems blowing up into big ones
Gets your team finishing what they start, taking pride in their work, and sticking around long-term
I recorded this episode to get your team working like rock-stars!
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Maximize team performanceStop small problems blowing up into big onesKeep your workers accountable, motivated, and loyalLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free Planning Sess...The 4 Types of Jobs That Are Killing Your Profitability
There are 4 types of jobs successful trades businesses avoid like the plague.
They’re happy to let everyone else take them.
Along with the stress, chaos, and weak margins.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The 4 types of jobs quietly killing your profitWhy “busy” work is keeping you brokeHow profitable trades businesses decide which jobs to say no toLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free Planning Session to learn what coaching could do for your businessSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelGet a copy of the Profit...Contractor Doubles His Business While Working Less (here's his secret)
Nathan would cry in his truck every day.
The stress of running his business was just too much.
He was stuck on the tools, chasing work...
Wrangling staff, stressing over cash flow...
And struggling to keep everything together at home.
Now?
He’s gone from $30K-$45K a month to $80K-$100K a month.
His team’s grown from 4 guys to 10.
And he finally has time to be there for his wife and kids.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’...
How To Hire A+ Workers In 2026
If you want to hire good workers... But the best ones are already taken…
If your job listings are online... But only attract timewasters and no-shows...
If you know your business could be doing better... But your current team’s holding it back…
Listen to this.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The biggest hiring mistake that keeps you stuck with average workersThe real reason your best people leave… and how to stop itThe simple shift that turns hiring from stressful… to predictableLINKS MENTIONED IN T...
The Secret Behind Every Successful Business
Did you know 70% of your business success comes down to one thing...
It’s not better marketing...
Or better systems...
It’s definitely not working harder.
But if you get it wrong…
You stay the bottleneck...
You carry the load...
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free Planning Session to learn what coaching could do for your businessSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelGet a copy of the Profitable Tradie bookThanks for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Profitable Tradie...
Give Me 21 Minutes And I'll Fix Your Cashflow
The best way to solve cash flow problems is to get more work and make more revenue.
True or false?
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Get paid faster (without the awkwardness)Control money in vs money out (quit guessing, quit stressing)Stop customers quietly using you as a bankLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free Planning Session to learn what coaching could do for your businessSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelGet a copy of the Profitable Tradie bookThanks for joining us this week...
How To Lead Your Team During A Global Conflict
The war in Iran isn't ending any time soon.
You already know what that means... rising costs and tighter margins.
But what about your team?
Their commute costs more, they're stretched at the grocery checkout and dealing with the same uncertainties as you.
Left unchecked, this shows up in your trades business as more mistakes, less productivity, and constant pay-raise requests.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to reassure your staff without pretending everything is perfectThe best style of communication during stressful timesHow to t...How To Handle Pay Discussions With Your Team
Oh crap.
One of your best workers wants a pay rise.
Your head starts spinning.
Can I afford it?
Do they actually deserve it?
If I say yes, will everyone else want one too?
If I say no, will my best worker leave?
Pay discussions can be awkward, stressful... and expensive.
But handled the right way, they can build loyalty, improve performance, and even make your business more profitable.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How a wo...Don't Cut Your Overheads (Do This Instead)
If you’re trying to keep overheads down...
Focus on where the money’s really going...
Or because the accountant told you to...
You might be making the most expensive mistake in your business.
To find out how overheads can actually help you make killer profits...
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Why trying to run the cheapest possible business might actually be keeping you stuckThe hidden reason trades businesses hit a glass ceiling and can’t growHow the right overheads can unlock more profit, ti...How The Iran War Affects Your Business (And What To Do About It)
The war in Iran is screwing everything right now…
Including your trades business.
Fuel prices are skyrocketing.
Material costs are rising.
And your margins are getting eaten up.
At the same time…
Customers are tightening their wallets.
Cash flow gets tighter.
Workflow goes patchy.
You've already felt it...
And it’s about to hit even harder.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to protect your margins when costs are rising fastWhat to do if y...42 Minutes of Wisdom From A Business Owner Who Nearly Threw In The Towel
Mike took his wife to the hospital.
What they thought was a bad headache...
Turned out to be a golf-ball sized brain tumour.
Meanwhile, his trades business couldn’t run without him.
But after surgery, he needed to support his partner.
That was Mike's wake-up call to get help.
Since joining Profitable Tradie...
His business has gone from relying on him for everything…
To having a team and systems in place so it runs without him.
He’s no longer constantly thinki...
The Real Reason Your Team Doesn’t Listen
You shouldn’t have to say it again.
You’ve told your guys a hundred times already.
Nothing’s changed.
Jobs are still going sideways.
Mistakes keep happening.
And you’re sick of repeating yourself.
What don’t they understand?
Are they even listening?
Truth is:
They probably aren’t.
Not because they’re useless.
Or because they don’t care.
It’s because you need to change your communication style.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENI...
The Hiring Mistake That Keeps You Stuck
When jobs stack up, it’s easy to spread out the extra work with the team you already have...
But it’s a big mistake.
I've made a video breaking down why hybrid roles backfire (and what to do instead)
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to know for sure you can afford to hire for a new role (and not worry about it)The best way to increase your team’s workload without things going pear shapedThe hidden cost of hybrid roles you won’t see coming<...
How To Turn Wasted Time Into Profit
There’s a lever in your business that could add up to $200K in yearly profit to your trades business.
It doesn’t require more jobs, marketing, sales, or pricing.
And you don’t need new team members, or any fancy software.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to unlock $50k–$200k+ in extra profit without more jobs, more staff, or price risesWhere your labor hours are secretly leaking... and how to plug the gaps fastThe simple metric that shows whether your team is making you money… or costing you...Marketing Is Getting Expensive (Do This Instead)
Just shot a new video on how to get the best bang for your buck from marketing.
If it feels like your ads are costing more and working less, this is for you.
I invited our head of marketing Damon Fisher, to help me out with this.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The marketing game you should be playing right now (because the old one’s changed)The easiest way to get more jobs without spending a cent more on adsHow to make more profit from the money...Build Systems or Hire First? (The Right Order)
You know your business needs a new role,
But you keep putting it off, thinking:
How will they know what to do?
I don’t have systems for them to follow.
I'm not even 100% sure what their job should be.
What if I pay wages and they turn out to be useless?
So you stay the bottleneck.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Should you hire first or build the systems first?Why you’re stuck and how to get unstuck...How to Make Business Changes That Actually Stick
What if it all goes pear shaped?
You could look stupid...
Your mates might laugh at you...
Competitors could get the one up on you...
You don’t want to let down your family...
It’s just too risky...
There are so many reasons not to change.
But if you want to take your business from good to great,
Change is essential.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The real reason you’re putting off change.The easies...The Hard Truth About Your Team Problems (It’s Not What You Think)
Sick of fuming over other people’s stuff-ups...
That somehow you take the hit for?
If you want to skip the blame game and fix the real problem...
Check out this episode
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The mindset shift that separates owners who stay stuck blaming from those who retake control of their business.Why your clients don’t care whose fault it was (and what to say instead).How to stop relying on people “just remembering” and build systems that make mistakes way less likely...How One Electrical Business Owner Turned Chaos Into Control
Last year Travis Bosse did $1.4 million in revenue...
But made only $10K in net profit.
The year before, he did $1.2 million...
And lost $28K.
He realized something needed to change...
But what?
After taking a hard look at his electrical business...
It dawned on him...
And after he tackled the problem...
His numbers completely turned around.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Find out:
How to attract A-players when every other business says...10 Ways to Use AI in Your Business Without Being a Tech Expert
ChatGPT isn't just some trendy piece of tech.
It's a tool that’s genuinely changing how people do business.
And if you're not using it yet.
It’s worth getting your head around it now.
Or you might get left behind.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to use ChatGPT to save hours on pricing, marketing and systemsThe best prompts to get top results from ChatGPTThe trick to winning more jobs with less adminLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free P...How to Build a Team That Deserves to Represent You
Most business owners think: if my staff are happy, they'll be more productive.
But it’s actually the other way around: the more productive people are, the happier they feel...
I explain how that works in my new video
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The trick to getting your guys who need “constant supervision” to be 95% self-sufficient. Why Friday beers and team BBQs won’t build the culture you want (and what to do instead). How to attract high-performing workers and keep them in your business.LINKS MENT...
Here's Why Cashflow Is A Mess After Christmas
Back at it after Christmas.
But the bank account is an absolute joke.
You’re not sure you can stump up for materials this week.
Or cover wages for your team.
Let alone pay yourself.
This is not “just how January is”
But it is a pattern loads of trades business owners get stuck in.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to start the new year with plenty of cash (instead of plenty of stress)How to keep your business b...Give Me 33 Minutes and I'll Make 2026 Your Best Year Ever
With tech like ChatGPT making customers expect jobs priced faster...
With supplier and wage costs climbing...
And more competitors chasing the same work...
2026 is shaping up to be a challenging year...
So I’ve shot a new video that breaks down exactly what you need to do stay ahead
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to use AI to get an edge with your businessHow to protect your margins, even with rising costsHow to keep jobs rolling in and your cash flow strongHow To Make 2026 The Most Organized Yet
You promised yourself 2026 would be different...
That you’d finally put systems in place so your business runs smoother…
Sort the cash flow headaches to lower your stress...
Fix your pricing so you’re not leaking profit...
Cut down your work hours...
And actually spend decent time with the family …
But here you are...
With a to-do list you want to tick off...
But now that you’re back at it after the break...
Your business is already pulling you away...
And i...
The Exact Steps 36 Trades Businesses Took To Hit $1M Profit Per Year
Most trades business owners can’t imagine making a million bucks profit…
That amount of money feels so far away...
When your head’s down in the daily grind...
Just hoping you’ll make enough to pay the bills this week...
So you can get onto the next job and keep your team busy…
But if you follow the right steps...
Your business can make $1 million per year…
And not just revenue…
Profit…
Not gross profit...
Net profit…
We would know…...
The AI Advantage: What You Need to Know Right Now
Wanna catch our number one video for 2025?
How to Use ChatGPT for Your Trades Business was our most viewed by far.
For good reason – it shows you how to save hours every week using simple, powerful (and free) tech.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to save hours every week (and get more done in less time) The trick to getting stuff done that you’ve been putting off forever The 4-step formula to get ChatGPT to nail your request every timeLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPI...
Holiday Game Plan for Trades Businesses: Cash, Work and Sanity
I know you’re slammed right now...
The calendar’s been booked up for weeks...
You’re going from job to job...
Trying to do them all by Christmas...
Which is less than a week away...
So you’re not worried about December...
But you should be thinking about January...
LISTEN TO TODAY’S PODCAST AND LEARN HOW TO GET:
Consistent bookings across December and January (instead of a good month followed by a bad one) A productive team who turn up on site when you need them (i...How to Switch Off When Your Business Never Stops (Christmas Edition)
The Christmas break’s a great time to chill out,
Sign off from work,
Enjoy a couple of drinks,
And spend time with family and mates.
But for most trades business owners,
It’s hard to fully switch off.
You end up checking emails,
Answering calls instead of playing with the kids...
And carrying the stress from last year straight into the next.
LISTEN TO TODAY’S PODCAST AND LEARN:
How to celebrate the wins of 2025 and let go of the rest What...The Most Important Hire You'll Ever Make
If you're wearing all the hats...
Working nights catching up on emails...
Squeezing in pricing on the weekend...
Too slammed to return phone calls...
Invoices are piling up...
And the bank account’s getting thin...
This is for you
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Separate good advice from bad, and focus your energy on the right skills instead of wasting time on the wrong ones
How to turn team chaos into checklists and training videos The simple equation to find...How to Win So Many Jobs It Feels Illegal
One month you’re slammed...
The next, you’re staring at an empty calendar, waiting for the phone to ring...
You don’t have a sales problem,
You have a marketing problem.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to get steady, profitable work, without busting your gut The biggest mistake trades business owners make when hiring marketing agencies (and how to avoid it) Why there’s a lag between marketing and booking a job (and what to do about it)LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
C...200 Episodes of Advice But One Missing Piece
You know what to do to fix your business...
You’ve been at this for a while...
There’s nothing you haven’t seen...
You’ve heard it all before...
And got all the knowledge and skills and resources you need...
To finally turn your business around...
The only problem is...
You still haven’t done it.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to stop learning and start earning (you already know enough) The 3 most important things you need to make your bu...The Playbook For A Successful Trades Business
Just had a killer chat with Danny Kerr from Breakthrough Academy.
You can catch it all in my new video....
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Find out:
What to do when your business stalls (and things get hairy) Why screw-ups are essential (and should be celebrated) How to get jobs done through your guys (not for them) The trick to finding the best workers (without spending a cent on marketing) The difference between having a system... and being the systemLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free Pl...How to Build a $6m Business That Runs on Autopilot (w/ Emma Freestone)
The tension had been building for a while...
But one dick move pushed it over the edge.
A full-on screaming match erupted.
Company director versus customer.
Right there on-site, in front of everyone.
A messy, ugly blow-up.
It’s the kind of moment every business owner dreads...
But it’s also an opportunity to get clear on what you stand for...
Who you really are...
How you want to be...
And if it’s not sitting right...
Change.
Th...
How to Get the Right Systems For Your Business
If you can't leave for a month without hiccups, you don't actually own a business yet.
You own a job with extra headaches.
But that can change...
Check out my new video to find out how.
5 simple steps to double your profits and finally get your nights back. How to solve 80% of your headaches by only doing 20% of the work.The 3-step hack to build systems fast, even if you hate office admin.LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free Planning Session to learn what coaching could do for your...How to Learn The Business Skills No One Taught You
Ever feel like you’re pushing shit uphill?
Working your guts out to improve your business…
Putting everything you’ve got into it…
But no matter what you do…
Nothing seems to change?
The good news...
You’ve definitely got the drive…
But the problem is…
You’re putting your energy in the wrong place.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Find out how to:
Separate good advice from bad, and focus your energy on the right skills in...Want Predictable Cashflow? Here's How To Get It
Payday coming up but your bank balance looks grim?
If you want to know how to dig yourself out of a cash flow hole...
So you’re not stressed to the max and pulling your hair out...
Listen Up...
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Find out:
How to find the true cause of your cash flow issues (instead of constantly putting out fires) The margin traps draining profits from your business (and how to plug them) The best way to get paid on time, without b...