On September 16, attend our free web class to discover the 6 proven processes to pull you off the job site and out of sales. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-SP25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP235

Let’s be honest:

It’s kinda hard to prioritize when everything is on fire.

With so many problems to solve and systems to build, how do you figure out what to focus on?

Today, landscaper, content creator and author of Total Business Turnaround Mike Andes is here to answer that question.

Mike built his business, Augusta Lawn Care into a national brand with 180 franchises. He also created CoPilot CRM, a software platform designed to help home service businesses streamline their operations.

In this episode, Mike lays out the four areas of business you need to get dialed based on which phase of growth you’re in:

- Lead Gen

- Labor

- Leadership and

- Liquidity

His roadmap will help you focus on the most important systems for YOUR business. And give you a plan to put your fires out one at a time.

00:00-Intro

01:11-Intro & Why Franchising Matters

04:19-Common Misconceptions About Readiness to Scale

09:31-The 4 L’s

10:50-Phase 1: Lead Gen

16:43-Phase 2: Labor

29:45-Phase 3: Leadership

40:57-Phase Four: Liquidity

53:22-Wrap up and how to connect with Mike

On September 16, attend our free web class to discover the 6 proven processes to pull you off the job site and out of sales. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-SP25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP234

Check out Spencer's benchmarking tool here: https://fixyourprofit.com/signup/bta

Confused by your financials? You’re not alone. Most contractors struggle to make sense of their numbers, and it costs them big.

In this episode of Contractor Evolution, we sit down with Spencer Sheinin, bestselling author of Entreprenumbers and CEO of Shift Financial, who’s on a mission to empower contractors by turning complex financial data into simple, actionable insights.

Spencer used to be a contractor himself, so he gets the challenges you face. That’s why this conversation hits different. It’s not just about spreadsheets and profit margins, it’s about taking control of your business through real financial empowerment.

🔍 In this episode, we break down:

• How to make your numbers tell a story using visual tools
• How to spot red flags in your P&L before it’s too late
• What your bookkeeper should really be doing for you
• The three financial levers that drive profitability in contracting businesses

📘 Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just getting serious about your growth, this episode will help you stop fearing your financials and start using them to win.

🔗 Check out Spencer’s book Entreprenumbers here: https://entreprenumbers.com/

👇 Drop a comment if you've ever felt overwhelmed by your P&L—and let us know your #1 takeaway from this episode!

00:00-Intro

01:55-About Spencer and Shift Financial

09:33-Define: Financial Empowerment

10:35-Three levers of profitability

14:32-How to determine which lever to pull (with visuals)

21:01-How to build your first proper budget

25:26-How to select your strategic financial team

38:24-Essential software and tools for financial management

40:25-How to maintain clean financial data

46:05-One thing listeners can go do right now to get comfortable with numbers

47:59-Free benchmarking tool

On September 16, attend our free web class to discover the 6 proven processes to pull you off the job site and out of sales. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-SP25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP233

Ever had a project go sideways, a client bail, or cash flow dry up?

This episode of Contractor Evolution is your playbook for bouncing back when business gets messy. Today, Reset With Resilience author Mandy Gill, broadcaster, ultra-endurance athlete, and creator of the Hooked on Healthy Habits app, shares field-tested strategies for staying consistent, even when your goals go off the rails.

👉 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to hit reset when a client bails or a project stalls
• A resilience framework for handling cash flow crises and staffing headaches
• Why courage (not comfort) is your best tool when motivation fades
• The daily habits top contractors use to stay on track—even in chaos
• How to design goals that work in the messiness of construction, not just on paper

Whether you’re growing a trades business or just trying to get your footing back, Mandy’s insights will give you the tools to navigate the “messy middle” and come out stronger.

📘 Get her book: https://www.mandygill.com/book

📱 Explore her app: https://www.mandygill.com/app

00:00-Intro

01:19-About Mandy

12:40-The Concept: Reset With Resilience

17:13-Courage vs. Comfort

21:21-Three Goal Setting Tips from the book

37:18-Building Healthy Habits

43:01-Leading with Resilience

47:41-Final thoughts

On September 16, attend our free web class to discover the 6 proven processes to pull you off the job site and out of sales. Register now here: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-SP25

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP232

Today we are bringing back the best moments with our friend Matt Risinger

This man is a true industry goliath: host of The BUILD Show, founder of Risinger Build, and one of the most trusted names in the industry.

He’s been on our show four times and has shared some truly life-changing advice about everything from recruiting to finances.

In this episode, we’ll be summarizing our favorite Matt Risinger moments from his various collaborations with Breakthrough Academy over the years.

Important teachings, practical tips, and thought provoking stories from his experience building both of his massive brands.

This video covers Matt Risinger’s top Contractor Evolution moments.

Episode Highlights:

• Refresh your memory on the top 4 moments from Matt Risinger on Contractor Evolution.
• Hear about Matt’s $200K SOP mistake and what he learned from it.
• Get Matt’s insight on when to let a high-performer go, rather than try and keep them on.

00:00-Intro

01:31-Revenue is Vanity and Profit is Sanity

02:33-Matt's $200K Mistake

07:07-Profit Comes From Pre-Construction

07:56-When to Let A-Players Move On

09:43-Matt and Danny's next web class

Grab your project management resource bundle and start implementing these tips today: https://trybta.com/DL231

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP231

Poor project management leads to massive financial losses in the construction industry (up to $40 BILLION each year), but this can be avoided with effective communication. By improving communication skills, contractors can avoid costly mistakes and improve overall project outcomes.

Last month I hosted a roundtable webinar alongside Charley Burtwistle from The Building Code Podcast and two high-performing builders who’ve cracked the code on running smoother, more profitable projects.

Today, it’s coming to you as a bonus episode.

You’ll hear how Dylan from Tectonic Design Build and Toby and Bradley from New Beginnings Construction systemized their project management, defined key roles, and created a repeatable communication rhythm that keeps things on time and on budget—even on multi-million dollar projects.

Episode highlights:

• Understand WHY project management is so hard to execute properly
• Learn how to transform your PMs from glorified errand boys to forward-thinking team leaders
• Get tips for holding subcontractors accountable so they deliver quality work, consistently

00:00-Intro

05:54-About the panelists

12:31-Signs your PM is broken

18:06-What is a project manager's role?

25:02-What have you learned about PM hiring?

35:28-How does communication make or break project management?

49:01-Prove PM systems used by pro contractors

57:09-The evolution of the entrepreneur

01:04:02-How to use the Contractor Growth Method®

01:07:34-How to implement change TODAY

01:13:05-What advice would you give yourself five years ago?

01:17:55-Q&A

For help navigating critical conversations, download our free guide here: https://trybta.com/DL230

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP230

If you thought hiring was hard…

…wait until you have to fire someone.

It is not fun.

Unfortunately, it’s also part of owning a business. Your job is to lead your team towards goals that benefit not just you, but everyone.

And if someone on the team is working against those goals—intentionally or unintentionally—it’s your responsibility to let them go.

But that doesn’t make it any easier.

That’s why, today, we’re teaching you how to fire someone, the right way, with a six-step process you can use as soon as you need it.

Episode Highlights:

• Learn the six steps to exiting an employee, from making the decision to dealing with the aftermath.
• Understand the red flags that an employee isn’t a fit for your company or their role.
• Get tips on having “the conversation” with the employee in question in a way that makes it as painless as possible for both parties.

00:00-Intro

01:04-Step 1: Make a list of actions or behaviors that are cause for firing

03:31-Step 2: Take corrective action and document it

04:15-Step 3: Make the decision

04:47-Step 4: Get your ducks in a row

05:46-Step 5: Have the conversation

06:45-Step 6: Deal with the aftermath

07:28-Wrap up

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP229

Have you ever felt like you’ve hit a wall when it comes to marketing? You’re not alone.

You can’t get someone to impulse buy a new deck, air conditioner, or new roof. Instead, you have to sell trust, reliability, and a rock-solid reputation.

So why are most contractor and construction marketing strategies built like they’re selling sneakers?

Today, I’m joined by Ryan Chute, partner at Wizard of Ads and international sales strategist, to unpack how trades and home service pros can rewire their approach to brand, advertising, and messaging.

You’ll learn:

• How to create a brand message that actually sticks in your customer’s mind so you can stand out from your competition
• The biggest branding mistake contractors make in their marketing strategies (and how to fix it)
• Why your “satisfaction guarantee” is useless
• How to improve your marketing with the right approach and boost lead generation

00:00-Intro

01:23-About Ryan and Wizard of Ads

03:12-What's unique with contractors in marketing?

10:32-The 2 ingredients of brand: empathy and competence

14:56-How to identify your own powerful brand stories

21:07-How to distribute your brand stories

24:10-How to avoid messaging that misses the mark

31:47-Using a North Star Promise in your marketing

35:24-The case for returning to traditional media

41:48-Getting the copy right

46:07-Adapting and re-adapting your media mix

51:34-Easy ways to level up your contractor marketing

56:49-Quick win for contractor marketing

To download tools that will help you implement these four systems, click here: https://trybta.com/DL228

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP228

What do New Zealand electricians and North American roofers have in common?

More than you’d think—especially when it comes to the biggest problems in the trades: finding skilled people, keeping margins healthy, and finally getting off the damn tools.

Today, I’m joined by Tony Fraser-Jones, an entrepreneur, business coach and founder of The Profitable Tradie who’s helped hundreds of contractors in Australia and New Zealand build profitable, self-managing companies.

Tony and I have a ton in common. Similar backgrounds, similar career paths and similar missions in life.

In this episode, we compare notes from opposite sides of the globe and unpack some plug-and-play systems you can implement this quarter—no matter what hemisphere you're in.

Episode Highlights:

• Learn what the most common challenges are in Australia/New Zealand and in the US/Canada and how each region is tackling them differently.
• Walk through two practical playbooks you can start implementing this quarter from the founders of two highly successful contractor coaching businesses.
• Get a sneak peek into what Danny and Tony see coming in 2026 (in two different hemispheres).

00:00-Intro

01:56-Tony's story

07:28-System 1: Skilled-Labour Shortage

19:28-System 2: Financial Management

35:30-System 3: Productivity & Owner Focus

45:02-System 4: Sales and Marketing

53:32-Lightning Round