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...
How to Find Good Employees
"There's no good tradesmen out there anymore."
Rubbish.
There are plenty.
They’re just working for someone else.
Which means they’re probably not reading your job ads online...
So you’ve got to catch their attention in a different way.
To find out how to attract great workers and filter out the time-wasters...
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The real reason great tradies aren't applying to your job adsWhy gut feel is costing you the right hiresWhat...Building a $10M Trades Business in 44 Minutes
You know how in video games, there’s a boss at the end of every level?
Some massive monster you’ve got to defeat before the game lets you move on.
Well, growing a trades business is pretty similar.
You’ve got different levels:
Start-up... $500K revenue/year... $2M... $5M... $10M+...
And at each level, there’s a different “boss” waiting for you.
Pricing... Hiring... Systems... Your own capacity... Your numbers...
Beat the boss, and you level up.
Lots of owners can’t, and stay stuck...
How to keep your team happy (and no it's not all about the money)
[EMPLOYEE] Hey boss, can we have a quick chat in private?
[BOSS] Uh oh... What’s up?
[EMPLOYEE] It’s been great working here the last three years. I’ve learned a bunch and had a good time.
[BOSS] I’m glad. You’re one of my best guys. I can always rely on you.
[EMPLOYEE] The thing is... I’ve decided to move on. Work for someone else. This is my 2 weeks’ notice.
[BOSS] Wait a minute, mate. Don’t leave. We can work something out.
[EMPLOYEE] It’s a...
The Cancer Diagnosis That Changed How He Runs His Business Forever
When your trades business gets bigger...
More customers
Bigger jobs
A larger team
More revenue
But also…
More expenses
More admin
Increased complexity
More problems
At some point, you can't run it the same way you did when it was smaller.
Something has to change.
The question is, what do you change first, and how?
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODC...
How to Become Dangerously Good at Running a Business in 42 Minutes | Ep.241
You crack open a beer after a huge week...
Suddenly, a genie bursts out of the can!
Says he can make you rich... A millionaire...
IF you develop 7 boring habits.
Would you do it?
Guess what?
This exact thing happened to me. And dangit, it worked.
No lamp. No 3 wishes. Just 7 things, done consistently, to separate your business from the rest.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Why the busiest business owners are often the least in control — and th...From Broke to $30M, The Real Reason I Started Coaching Plumbers | Ep. 240 with Josh Moore
This is my story from broke to owning a $30m coaching business
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Free Planning Session to learn what coaching could do for your businessSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelNew Book 'Built to Run' is now live, order your copy hereThanks for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Profitable Tradie Podcast? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us and leave us a review with a 5-star rating.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Po...
Why Some Trades Business Owners Become Millionaires and Others Stay Stuck
Spot the difference:
Two trades business owners.
Same service.
Same team size.
Same number of hours worked.
But one makes $100K profit a year.
And the other makes $1 million.
How can that be?
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
How to multiply yourself instead of maxing yourself outWhy hiring before you're desperate is cheaper than hiring when you're notThe secret to scaling past the "I do everything myself" ceilingLINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Claim a Fr...The Hidden Reason You Can Never Switch Off (And How To Fix It)
You've got 47 unread emails...
5 missed calls...
9 text messages...
Everybody wants something from you.
Your employees, suppliers, customers...
Your partner, your kids, your parents...
They’re all important.
So which one should you answer first?
What do you prioritize?
It's not the big decisions that wreck trades business owners.
It's the hundreds of tiny ones like this... all day, every day.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
Why decision fatigue quietly bottlenecks your entire...He Thought He Was Having a Stroke, It Was His Business | Steve Vega Ep. 237
What happens when a successful trades business owner pushes so hard that his own business nearly destroys his health? In this episode of the Profitable Tradie Podcast, Steve Vega shares how 63-hour work weeks, chronic underpricing, and poor systems left him burned out before transforming his plumbing business into a $1M+ company. If you're a plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, or home service business owner looking to increase profit, improve pricing, build better systems, and scale without sacrificing your life, this episode is packed with real-world lessons.
⏱ CHAPTERS
00:00:00 | Introduction
00:01:01 | 1. Stress & Burnout: Fighting se...
How To Be Firm, Not Nice (Quit being a pushover)
You’re hard working...
You’re dedicated...
And you care a lot...
All great qualities in a trades business owner.
But there's one trait – which is super common – that could quietly cost you thousands, create team problems, and leave you burnt out.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The surprising habit that's quietly draining your profit (most owners never spot it)Why trying to keep everyone happy is costing you the one thing that actually grows a businessThe simple shift that lets you stay kind and res...7 Numbers Every Profitable Business Owner Needs to Track
You know how much money came into the bank last month...
But do you know how many leads you got?
Your conversion rate?
Or how much you’re still waiting to be paid?
Most trades business owners have no idea.
They’re not tracking much.
But the owners killing it out there are tracking 7 key numbers.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM LISTENING TO TODAY’S PODCAST:
The 7 numbers that tell you if your business is actually making moneyHow to make better business decisions using facts in...Top 10 Uses for AI in your Trades Business(Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, or Similar)
“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...From Bankrupt to Making $750k Per Month (ft. James Martell) | Ep. 233
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…...
