Profitable Home Services Podcast

Profitable Home Services Podcast

Service Business owners are some of the busiest out there, wearing so many hats, putting out fires, trying to stand out and compete, grow the business and boost profits. Profit Coach Diane Gardner is on a mission to help owners grow faster with less stress so they can create more freedom and spend more time with family. Joined by top experts in the service business industry, they'll share key strategies in areas of finance, hiring, marketing, sales, management, operations and mindset. Plus hear from service professionals just like you share their success stories - all with the goal of helping you profit.

Episodes

January 5, 2026 43 mins

Safety problems rarely show up on your P&L until it's too late. I've watched too many home service business owners lose profit, time, and sleep because safety training in the workplace kept getting pushed aside. 

Eric Wick has sat on the other side of OSHA audits, insurance inspections, and lawsuits, and what he sees most is panic when owners cannot produce safety training records. Sneaky Leaky loves missi...

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Waiting until the last minute to sell a business is one of the most expensive mistakes owners make. Too many business owners assume they can wake up one day and sell, only to find out Sneaky Leaky has been draining value for years. In this episode, I sit down with Cameron Bishop to talk about what buyers actually look for and why preparation matters far more than timing the market. We dig into why most owners stay stuc...

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You can change the direction of your business with a few simple daily steps. I have 12 strategies to increase profit to share as a parting 12 days of Christmas gift for you. Your business numbers tell a story, and these strategies help you understand that story so you can finish the year strong. 

When I looked back at my own progress this year, I noticed real improvements hiding in plain sight, the kind we...

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Chaos creeps into your business the moment your team is unsure of the next step, and that is when Sneaky Leaky takes full advantage. I saw this firsthand when Karen described how a simple software update left her team staring at a screen that no longer matched the documented processes they relied on. Those small moments of confusion add up in ways owners rarely see, from slower jobs to frustrated customers to money sli...

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Every home service business owner wants a better strategy for marketing that helps you get real calls instead of empty clicks. Chris Lonergan joins me to talk about why the top three spots on Google Maps matter more than most people realize, why your old customer list is one of your most valuable assets, and how to guide your marketing team so they stay focused on what actually grows your business. 

Chris ...

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Running a home service business gets expensive when customers remember every competitor but forget you. You can serve them for years, only to lose the big job because someone else communicated with them more often. 

In our conversation, Jason Kerby shared how he cared for customers through every tune up, yet when it came time to replace a system, they bought from someone in a big box store. That moment sho...

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Home Service owners can't scale their business on hope and hustle alone. Fast growth feels exciting at first, but it can quickly turn into confusion, mistakes, and money leaks. I've seen service owners double their revenue only to find their profits shrinking. My guest, Karen Hairston, breaks down why this happens. It's not a profit problem. It's a process problem. Documenting and improving your processes brings back t...

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You can't increase your sales volume if your customers don't understand the real value of what you do. Too many home service businesses focus all their selling on price, durability, or parts. Sneaky Leaky loves that because it drains profits faster than a leaky faucet. In this episode, I sit down with Jerry Levinson to talk about how to sell with confidence, not desperation. He shows how packaging your work, naming you...

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You never forget the moment massive tax bills hit. For Shaun and Erin Leary, it was a $56,000 shock that nearly wiped out their business and their peace of mind. Like so many home service owners, they were doing the work, bringing in sales, and still running out of money when tax season rolled around. That's when they decided enough was enough. In this episode, we dig into how the Profit First system helped them turn f...

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You feel like all the customers are going to your competitors. You could pour more money into ads…or you could do something much simpler. Writing a book is one of the easiest ways to strengthen your marketing position and stand out in a crowded market. A book builds trust before a customer even calls, showing them you're the expert who knows your stuff. 

In this episode, I'm joined by author and marketing ...

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You work too hard to let your customers forget you. Every time a past customer calls someone else, Sneaky Leaky wins. That's trust (and potential money) you already earned slipping away. Turning each job into a lifetime customer is one of the simplest ways to grow your profits without spending another dime on ads. I've seen too many businesses pour time and cash into new leads while neglecting the gold mine sitting rig...

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You log into your bank to process payroll….and your heart stops. Where did all the money go!!?? Money disappears fast in a home service business when the truck repairs, payroll, and job materials all come calling on your bank account at once. Having a clear business finance plan isn't optional; it's mandatory for survival. 

Robb Conlon joins me to share how the Profit First system turned his finances from ...

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You get a say in how much tax you pay. Did you know that? Overpaying taxes is one of Sneaky Leaky's favorite hiding spots, because most owners don't even realize it's a profit leak they can plug. I've seen HVAC owners, builders, and contractors lose tens of thousands each year by leaving deductions unclaimed or operating with the wrong entity setup. With good tax planning, that money can stay in your business instead o...

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Busy days do not always equal healthy profits, and most owners feel chained to their business from morning until night. That is why this episode focuses on creating businesses that run themselves, giving you time back without losing money. 

My guest, Dr. Ruth Mannschreck, shares how a family crisis forced her to shrink her practice hours in half, yet her systems carried the workload and revenue stayed stro...

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Running a business shouldn't feel like you're just fighting fires every day. When it comes to small business finances, too many owners think the answer is to just work harder and sell more. That's exactly where Sneaky Leaky slips in, draining your profits through hidden leaks you don't even see. 

In this episode, I share Jake's story of an HVAC company owner who looked successful on the outside but was dro...

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Stress and cash flow headaches don't have to be part of running your business. In this episode, I'm joined by Brad Herda from Vision Forward Business Solutions to talk about real-world profit strategies that keep money in your pocket and build a sustainable business. Brad and I swapped stories about growing up stretching every nickel and how those same principles apply when you're running a company today. 

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Running a business shouldn't feel like running a marathon on a hamster wheel. When you're overworked, it's easy to slip into reaction mode—constantly chasing calls, juggling payroll, and missing family moments. I've seen owners like Jake, an HVAC pro, who looked successful from the outside but was secretly drowning inside his business. In this episode, I'll share simple but powerful steps that help you move from being ...

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Growth without profit is like running on a treadmill—you're moving fast but getting nowhere. Jake, an HVAC owner, learned this the hard way when his $5 million sales milestone left him exhausted and almost broke. The truth is, more jobs often multiply your profit leaks instead of fixing them. That's where Sneaky Leaky (our new mascot who points out profit leaks) slips in—through wasted time, underpricing, and overhead ...

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Networking doesn't have to feel like a root canal. For introverts especially, the thought of walking into a crowded room can be downright paralyzing. I know, because I've been that wallflower. The truth is, networking is often where doors open—new referrals, stronger partnerships, and even lifelong friendships are made. I'v...

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Your best employee just gave their two weeks notice. It's like a sucker punch to the gut, and your bank account. Losing employees is expensive. I learned this the hard way when I lost a key employee and watched the ripple effect across my business. Higher-paid team members were pulled into the wrong work, productivity slowed, and customer service took a hit. 

This episode dives into the hidden costs involv...

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