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.
Why a 10% Discount is Negotiating Against Yourself
Get Your Sales Leak Score: https://thecontractorfight.com/leak
You just found out that "small" discount is costing you way more than 10%. In this episode, Tom breaks down the actual math behind discounting a job, and why giving away 10% off your price can wipe out 20% (or more) of your profit. If you've ever caved on price because a customer pushed back, this one's for you.
What you'll learn:
Why your costs don't move when your price doesThe real math behind a "harmless" 10% discountHow much additional work you have to sell just to break even...Profit Is What Gives You Options (Revenue Is Just Noise)
Book a call with the team: https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground
Grab Tom's book FREE: https://thecontractorfight.com/book/
Your business is making more money than ever, but you still hate the damn thing. You’ve got the trucks, the branded wraps, the team, and a schedule that's packed tight. From the outside, it looks like you’re flying high. But you can’t take a single day off without something going sideways. You’re answering every question, putting out every fire, and your margins have anorexia. That business wasn't supposed to be a high-paying prison...it was s...
Is Your Business Worth Having?
Check out The Fight: www.thecontractorfight.com
Is Your Contracting Business Actually Worth Having?
Most contractors are chasing more revenue, more trucks, more employees, and more jobs.
Wrong scoreboard.
You can build a $3M company and still be broke, stressed, overweight, disconnected from your family, and chained to the business you created.
In this video, Tom Reber breaks down the real test:
Is your business actually worth having?
A business worth having should:
Make real profitGive you more choicesFunction without you being the heroMake...3 Things That Make Customers Accept Premium Pricing
Business training for Contractors: https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground
Contractors hear it every day: “Your price is too high.” But most of the time, price isn’t actually the problem. The problem is that you haven’t given the customer enough evidence to believe you’re worth more.
In this episode of Contractor Fight TV, Tom breaks down the 3 things that justify a higher price without defending it, apologizing for it, or trashing the cheaper contractor.
You’ll learn how to use:
• Communication to build trust before the sale
• Content to establish aut...
Stop Negotiating Against Yourself
Sales training for Contractors: https://thecontractorfight.com/command
Grab Tom's book FREE: https://thecontractorfight.com/book/
Before the customer ever asks for a discount, most contractors have already given them one. You lower the labor hours. You shave the material costs. You cut your markup. You manipulate the number until you finally land on a price you feel comfortable saying out loud. Meanwhile, the customer hasn't rejected your price. They haven't questioned it. Hell, they haven't even heard it yet. You're negotiating against yourself.
In this video, Tom Reber exposes four of the...
The First Fight is Always with Yourself
The First Fight is Always with Yourself
Ready to grow your life & business? http://bit.ly/4fbjCgo
Most contractors think the fight is with the economy.
Cheap competitors. Bad employees. Price shoppers. They're wrong.
The first fight is always with yourself.
In this video, Tom Reber shares the philosophy behind The Contractor Fight and the journey every contractor must take to become the leader, business owner, spouse, parent, and person they were created to be.
This isn't about tactics. It's about identity. You'll learn why every transformation...
Your Business Owns YOU (Here's How to Take It Back)
Your business was supposed to give you freedom. So why does it feel like you're working more than ever? Too many contractors build themselves into the center of everything. Every estimate. Every phone call. Every problem. Every decision.
In this episode, Tim and Derek break down why that happens and what it actually takes to build a business that runs without depending on you.
We cover:
• Why most contractors accidentally build themselves another job
• The biggest mistake owners make when building a team
• Why every business needs clear roles and ac...
Say This When They Say "We Need to Think About It"
The Command: https://thecontractorfight.com/command
"I need to think about it."
If you're hearing that over and over on your sales calls, here's the truth: it's probably not the objection you think it is. In this video, Tom Reber explains why "I need to think about it" is usually an out...not an objection and how contractors accidentally create it themselves.
You'll learn the exact question to ask when a homeowner says they need more time, plus how to fix the sales process that's causing this objection in the first place.
<...The Contractor Leadership Mistake Nobody's Talking About
Become More: https://www..thecontractorfight.com/battleground
Most contractors think their biggest leadership problem is finding good people.
They're wrong.
The real problem is how they respond when good people make mistakes.
In this episode, we unpack one of the most overlooked leadership lessons in business: knowing when to hold people accountable...and when to give them another shot.
You'll hear the true story of a $100 mistake that could have cost an employee his future—and how choosing to coach instead of condemn led to a $6,500 win just days la...
What to Say When They Say "We're Getting More Bids."
Check out THE COMMAND: https://go.thecontractorfight.com/command
"We're getting a few more bids."
Every contractor has heard it.
Most immediately assume the homeowner is shopping for the cheapest price.
That's usually not what's happening.
In this episode, Tom Reber explains why getting more bids is often a sign that the homeowner is still looking for clarity not a lower price. He shares the exact question he asks to uncover what's really driving the decision and how to turn a stalled sales conversation into a productive one.
<...Do This When You’re Frustrated With Your Team
Do This When You’re Frustrated With Your Team
When business gets hard, morale gets weird, and your team starts slipping, it’s real easy to let your frustration lead the room.
That’s a mistake.
In this episode, Tim and Derek talk about what contractors need to do when they’re frustrated with their team, when the business is in a low, and when they feel like snapping instead of leading. They get into the reality that leadership still starts at the top, why your people may be carrying more than you realize...
Stop Letting Marketing Companies Rob You Blind
Join us in Colorado: https://go.thecontractorfight.com/forge
In this episode of The Contractor Fight Podcast, Tom Reber sits down with Josh Osborne for a straight-up conversation about contractor marketing, business ownership, and the mindset it takes to stop getting pushed around by bad vendors, bad habits, and bad thinking.
Josh is Tom’s partner at No Excuses Media, a marketing company built specifically for contractors who are tired of wasting money on agencies that don’t understand the trades. Together, Tom and Josh pull back the curtain on why so many contractors get burn...
One Phrase...$35,000
Check out BATTLEGROUND: https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground
Tim and Derek get into the real numbers behind running a profitable contracting business, why most owners have no idea what their overhead actually costs them, and how that blind spot kills their confidence at the table.
They share the $5,000 retainer move that locked in a $35,000 job, why scheduling for profit beats scheduling by calendar, and the uncomfortable client conversation that turned a $7,000 mistake into a $23,000 opportunity.
If you don't know your numbers, you're not running a business. You're guessing.
Ready to grow to...
Exactly What to Say When You Hear: "You're Too Expensive."
Checkout The Command: https://thecontractorfight.com/command
Contractor sales training for handling price objections. If you've ever heard "you're too expensive," this video shows exactly what to say, how to uncover the real objection, and how to close more contractor jobs without discounting your price.
Every contractor hears it.
You spend time building rapport, inspecting the project, and putting together a professional proposal—only to hear: "You're too expensive."
Most contractors immediately start defending themselves, explaining their materials, experience, reviews, and warranties. That's usually the fastest way to lose profit and lo...
Contractor Sales Has Changed. Have You?
Contractor Sales Has Changed. Have You?
The way homeowners buy today is different than it was just a few years ago.
They're researching more. Comparing more options. Taking longer to make decisions. Visiting your website multiple times before they ever reach out. And when they do reach out, many aren't ready to buy—they're gathering information.
Unfortunately, many contractors are still selling like it's 2014.
In this episode, Derek and Tim discuss the real-world changes they're seeing in today's market and what contractors must do to adapt. From follow-up systems and video co...
AI Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Contractors
Watch This: https://youtu.be/C8Me5SpjcPY?si=CSMLN4e7FNfSvXMC
Everyone is talking about how AI is going to replace jobs.
Lawyers are worried.
Writers are worried.
Marketers are worried.
Accountants are worried.
Meanwhile, you're in one of the safest industries on the planet.
AI can't paint a house.
AI can't install a roof.
AI can't build a deck.
AI can't sit across from a homeowner and earn their trust.
In this episode, Tom explains...
He Broke His Leg on a Sunday. I Was at the Hospital on Monday.
============================================================ WATCH THIS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/C8Me5SpjcPY?si=pgar2FOCHlNI5E2a
============================================================ When Tim's employee Zach sent him a picture of his leg at midnight, he knew something was wrong. Two broken bones, surgery scheduled, and the first thing Zach was worried about wasn't his leg. It was his job. That hit Tim hard.
In this episode, Tim and Derek are recording from a hospital library while Zach is upstairs getting steel plates and screws put in. They talk about what it really means to build a business worth having. One with the...
3 FREE Ways to Get Better Leads
============================================================ WATCH THIS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/C8Me5SpjcPY?si=pgar2FOCHlNI5E2a
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Most contractors think they need more leads. They're wrong. Because bad leads create bad clients. Bad clients create low margins. Low margins create stress. And stress follows you home every night.
In this video, Tom Reber shares 3 completely FREE things you can do right now to attract better leads, better clients, and more profitable jobs—without spending another dollar on marketing.
You'll learn:
• How to turn your Google Business Profile into a lead-generating machine
•...
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www.thecontractorfight.com/command
TCF1129: What Every Contractor Mistakes for a Lead Problem
Stop trying to fix your sales process when your head isn't straight.
In this episode, Tim and Derek pull back the curtain on NashVegas 2026 and look at what actually happens when contractors drop the corporate ego and show up real. We don't care about polished consultant theories here. We talk about the real mental blocks, the pressure of carrying the whole operation alone, and why you keep getting trapped in the feast-or-famine cycle.
If you're tired of running a business that owns you instead of you owning it, this conversation is the gut check you...
TCF1128: The Busy-Season Sales System
You spend hours tracking down leads, burning fuel in your truck, and writing detailed proposals for homeowners who were never going to buy from you at full margin. It’s a classic trap: high close rates but your debt keeps climbing every single year.
In this episode, we break down why true sales mastery isn't just reciting a script—it's about surviving under pressure. I share the story of a contractor who failed our Shin Fu black belt test seven times without making a single excuse, and why that exact level of grit is what separates the cont...
TCF1127: The True Cost of Avoiding Hard Conversations on the Job
You walk onto a job that’s already sold, the deposit is in the bank, and your crew hits an unpredicted roadblock. Something was missed in the initial walkthrough. Do you eat the cost and call it "the price of doing business," or do you face the discomfort and write a change order?
In this episode, Tim and Derek break down the internal friction contractors face when asking for more money. They talk about how avoiding a 10-minute awkward conversation can lead to a thousand tiny financial cuts by the end of the project. You’ll learn how...
TCF1126: The $28K Job from Hell
You aren't going to get rich off a $28,000 sale if it costs you $45,000 to do the work. In this episode, I’m ripping the band-aid off my most expensive mistake from my first year in business to show you how to stop being "just over broke." I’ll walk you through the three massive errors, ignoring red flags, losing control of the process, and copying "going rates" that destroy your bank account. Learn the exact pricing formula and screening process we use to protect our margins and our sanity.
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For over a decade, cont...
TCF1125: The Art of Handling a Pissed Off Customer
Stop being a punching bag for clients who don't respect your time or your team. In this episode, Derek and Tim break down a real-world blow-up with a customer who thought yelling would get him a free pass on the rules. You’ll learn how to match energy without losing your cool, why paperwork is your best weapon in a fight, and why "the customer is always right" is a lie that’s killing your profit.
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For over a decade, contractors have asked us the same question. Do you have a sales-only training prog...
TCF1124: Command the Gate or Stay Broke
You’re out there busting your ass 60 hours a week, but your bank account is a joke because you’re selling at margins that wouldn't keep a lightbulb on. Most contractors close 30% of their leads; you need to be hitting 80% plus, or you’re just a glorified volunteer. In this episode, I’m breaking down the three moments where you’re losing control—the gate, the meeting, and the silence—and announcing the only "sales gym" built specifically for the trades.
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For over a decade, contractors have asked us the same question. Do you have a sales-only t...
TCF1123: Discipline: More Than Just Clean Shingles
You wouldn't let a truck engine run without oil, so why are you doing it to your body? If you’re foggy, sluggish, and neglecting your health, you aren't playing at the level your family and your business deserve. In this episode, Tim and Derek break down why physical discipline is the ultimate indicator of how you run your crew and your bank account. Stop making excuses and start checking the health box so you can dominate your market.
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Most contractors lose control in the sales conversation, whether they are chasing more leads or sitting on...
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.
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Ready to stop playing small?
Get "The Co...
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.
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Ready to stop being a slave to your business? Check out our free c...
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.
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Ready to stop being everyone's little bh?* Grab "The Contractor's Code to Finally Cracking $1M" and learn to price with intention so you actually have something to show for your hard work. Click Here for Your FREE Access...
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.
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Ready to stop swinging the hammer and start leading? Check out our free course: "The Contractor's Code t...
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.
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TAKE CONTROL:
Stop leaving your family's future t...
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.
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Ready to stop grinding for pennies?
Grab "The Contractor's Code to Finally Cracking $1M" free...
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.
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Stop being a handyman and start being a pro. Check out our free course, "The Contractor's Code to Finally Cracking $1M," and le...
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 want to talk about.
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Ready to stop being a "handyman" and start...
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.
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Ready to stop the bleeding? Stop stealing from your family and start building a business that serves your life. Grab "The Contractor's Code to F...
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’s time to change how you...
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.
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Stop stealing from your family by underpricing your work. Get "The Contractor's Code to Finally Cracking $1M" free course and learn ...
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.
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Ready to stop the grind? Check out "The Contractor's Code to Finally Cracking $1M." If you...
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.
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Stop stealing from your family by underpricing your work. Get "The Contractor's Code to Finally...
