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

November 24, 2025 48 mins

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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What was the name of that waitress that did such a great job the last time you went out to eat? Oh wait…. You don't remember? It's the same with your customers. In the home service world, good work gets you in the door—but staying in touch is what keeps you there. That's where a company newsletter comes in and Cathy Minz joins me to share her expertise. A newsletter is not about flooding inboxes with offers—it's about ...

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Reports. Spreadsheets. Statements. Intimidating right? Your business numbers don't have to feel like a foreign language. They should be accessible and valuable pieces of information. When you are making data-driven decisions you're building a business that works smarter, not harder. I remember one client who had the Customer Relation Management (CRM) system ServiceTitan but barely touched the reports because it felt ov...

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An earthquake had just ripped through my town in California. I watched everything fall apart. My business, my finances, and the deal I thought was going to launch me to the next level. I sold my practice in desperation and ended up getting completely taken advantage of. That moment taught me more lessons in business than any textbook ever could. 

Over the next 30 years, I collected dozens more of these rea...

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Construction business accounting isn't just about spreadsheets—it's about survival. In this episode, Wade Carpenter joins me to break down real-world ways contractors can take control of their cash flow and stop bleeding money on every job, especially from things like "zombie rentals". Wade shares stories from the field, including a contractor who discovered his paycheck was getting eaten alive by bad math and worse sy...

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When you're trying to lead a profitable team, clarity and focus are vital. Without clear company mission statements, your business ends up spinning its wheels—especially when you're not in the room. I remember sitting in my own office, frustrated that things were slipping through the cracks until I realized we were out of alignment with one of our core values. That one shift—getting our mission, vision, and values on p...

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Not every business success story starts with throwing fish, but this one sure does. In this episode, we dive into how the legendary FISH! philosophy transformed not just a seafood stand, but an entire construction company's work culture. 

Peter Lisoskie shares how he built a 77-person team in just a few years by focusing on attitude, presence, and fun—and how that approach boosted profits and loyalty acros...

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