Episode 17: Five-Star Reputation Tools and Strategies with Mandeep Bhalla

Today’s episode of the Garage Door Heroes Podcast features industry leader and longtime friend of the show, Mandeep Bhalla. Host Robb Leishman sits down with Mandeep to dive into a powerful topic for 2025: How contractors can build a five-star reputation that drives real leads.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why online reputation is the most powerful referral system today

• How to collect and showcase reviews that actually generate new business

• The rising importance of video reviews and why Google is prioritizing them

• Practical strategies you can use right now to stay ahead of your competition
  

Mandeep also shares his inspiring journey of growing up in the trades and introduces his new tool, Grow Reviews, which is changing the way contractors capture trust online through text and video reviews.

This episode is packed with insights for garage door dealers, contractors, and home service pros who want to win more customers without overspending on ads.

In this inspiring episode, Robb Leishman sits down with industry veteran and longtime friend Mike Batoff—Chief Operations Officer at Howell Door in West Chester, PA—to talk shop, strategy, and what it really takes to thrive in the garage door industry.

Mike’s story is a masterclass in hustle, heart, and high standards. From getting dropped off at service calls by his mom at age 13 to closing high-profit commercial contracts as a seasoned leader, his journey is packed with insight for both new and experienced garage door dealers.

You’ll hear:

• How Mike launched his first business before he had a driver’s license

• The power of listening to customers—and building trust from minute one

• What happened when a major phone number disappeared after a business acquisition

• Why Howell Door teamed up with Legit5—and how they’re winning, even without the original phone line

• Tips on delivering consistent, relationship-first service that turns one-time callers into loyal brand advocates

Mike and Robb also explore the deeper side of the business:
What happens when things go wrong? How do you recover from mistakes? And how do you turn setbacks into defining moments for growth?

Plus, you’ll hear the story of how a single sales call became a high-ticket win—not through pressure tactics, but by building trust, listening carefully, and delivering exactly what the customer wanted (even helping bring her trash cans in!).

This episode is a real look at what it means to be a Garage Door Hero—the grit, the growth, the wins, and the heart that makes this industry more than just about doors.

Whether you're in year one or year twenty, this is one you don’t want to miss.

🎙️ Garage Door Heroes Podcast – Episode: From Struggle to Scale with Nathan Woodard

In this episode, Robb Leishman sits down with Nathan Woodard—owner of Pro Garage Doors in Northern California—for a raw, inspiring look at what it takes to build and rebuild in the garage door industry.

Nathan opens up about how he got started in the trade, from college summers working with his uncle to launching and selling his first business in Colorado, and eventually founding Pro Garage Doors in a completely new market. He shares the story of how brain surgery led to a new approach in business—one focused on systems, scale, and sustainability.

We dive into what it’s like to start over in a town where no one knows your name, how to gain traction without referrals, and the importance of Google presence, community involvement, and online marketing.

Nathan and Robb also discuss:

• The painful reality of laying off team members during slow seasons

• How Pro Garage Doors went from three down months to record-breaking sales

• What it takes to turn a $49 tune-up into a multi-thousand-dollar service ticket—ethically

• The role of weekly training, lead generation, and ongoing optimization

• The marketing strategies (like Nextdoor and GBP) that helped fuel growth

• How their partnership turned into friendship—and why that matters in business

Plus, Nathan shares how he took his company from 1% profit in 2023 to a projected 12–13% net net in 2025—all while growing revenue by 75% year over year.

If you're a garage door business owner—or any home service entrepreneur—this episode is packed with real talk, practical tips, and the kind of honest insights you don’t hear every day.

Don’t miss it.