Hypotential Unlocking Business

Kane Tyler Smith

Most trade businesses are not actually as profitable as they look. More vans, more staff, more revenue, and somehow less money left at the end of the month, less time, and a business that only runs because you are in it every day. Hypotential Unlocked is the podcast for residential trade business owners who are done with theory and want to know how the business actually gets fixed. Hosted by Kane Tyler Smith, who built Smartfix from one ute in a Perth garage to a $30.7M multi-trade business with 133 staff, and then faced the hardest moment of his career when the whole thing nearly came apart. Every episode is grounded in what actually happened inside a real business. Operator interviews with trade business owners sharing what worked and what broke. Kane breaking down lessons from real situations. No recycled business advice. No guru content. Just the kind of conversation you would have with someone who has been through it. If you are running a trade business and the numbers are not adding up the way they should, this is the show. Based in Perth, Western Australia. New episodes published weekly at hypotential.com

  1. 13 Aug

    Commercial Property and Smart Investing | Luke Randazzo from Burgess Rawson

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Luke Randazzo, Director at Burgess Rawson, one of WA's leading commercial real estate agencies. Luke has brokered over $450 million in transactions and is one of the youngest shareholders in the business. Luke and Kane get into the real stuff: what the new negative gearing and capital gains tax changes mean for investors, why commercial property is now wide open while residential has been shut down for investors, the difference between office, retail and industrial assets, how self-managed super funds can be used to buy commercial property, the risks of long term leases, make good clauses and fit out contributions, how to cold call your way to a deal, and why customer service and follow up are the real difference makers in any industry. They also swap stories about building businesses the hard way, why Australia is becoming increasingly difficult for entrepreneurs, and what Luke would do if he had $1 million to invest today. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Luke and Burgess Rawson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-randazzo-77359b139/ Website: https://brwa.com.au/

    Commercial Property and Smart Investing | Luke Randazzo from Burgess Rawson

  2. 6 Aug

    Marketing, Branding and What Actually Works for Trade Businesses | Aisha Derrick from Smartfix

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Aisha Derrick, Brand and Marketing Manager at Smartfix and co-owner of Hypotential, for a practical conversation about what actually works when it comes to marketing a residential trade business. Aisha has spent four years shaping Smartfix's branding, advertising and customer experience, and in this episode she breaks it all down for trades business owners at every stage. They cover the biggest mistakes small budget businesses make, why branding and advertising are not the same thing, how to stand out in a market where everyone says the same thing, the role of Google reviews and Google Business posts, how AI is changing content creation and why authenticity is becoming more valuable as a result, and the one piece of marketing advice every business owner should hear before they spend a cent. If you run a trades business and want to get smarter with your marketing without wasting time or money, this one is for you. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Smartfix: Website: https://teamsmartfix.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamsmartfix/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamSmartfixPty

    Marketing, Branding and What Actually Works for Trade Businesses | Aisha Derrick from Smartfix

  3. 23 Jul

    Startups, Innovation and Turning an Idea Into a Real Business | Isabelle Charter

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Isabelle Charter, Head of Venture Studios at BetterLabs and CEO of Town Square, who has spent nearly two decades building, scaling and investing in startups across Australia and beyond. Isabelle previously built and exited Drip, Australia's first investing app for under 18s, and now leads BetterLabs, the strategic innovation arm of RAC, where she builds and funds new companies from concept to scale. She and Kane get into what it actually takes to turn an idea into a business, why most founders overbuild before validating, how to fail fast and move on, the AI tools changing how startups prototype and test, what a corporate venture studio looks like from the inside, and why saying no to the wrong clients is one of the most important things a growing business can do. They also swap stories about doing too much, losing focus and what brought them both back to their core. If you are thinking about starting something, or you are already in it and wondering why it feels so hard, this one is worth your time. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Isabelle: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-charter/

    Startups, Innovation and Turning an Idea Into a Real Business | Isabelle Charter

  4. 2 Jul

    Content Marketing, AI and Why Your Story Is Your Best Business Asset | Sarah from Typeset

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Sarah, co-founder of Typeset, a Perth-based content and writing business, for a wide-ranging conversation about what actually works when it comes to marketing, storytelling and content strategy for business owners. Sarah has a background in software development, enterprise sales and writing, and has spent over two decades helping businesses communicate more clearly and build content that works as a long term asset. She and Kane get into the real stuff: why storytelling matters more than most people realise, how AI has changed the content industry and what businesses should actually be doing with it, the difference between paid ads and organic content, SEO vs content marketing and how to make the two work together, how to find a real expert in a market full of people claiming to be one, and why niching down and saying no to the wrong clients is one of the smartest things a small business can do. If you are a business owner trying to figure out your marketing without wasting money on things that do not work, this one is full of practical advice from someone who has been in the trenches for a long time. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Sarah and Typeset: Website: https://typesetcontent.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcmitchell/

    Content Marketing, AI and Why Your Story Is Your Best Business Asset | Sarah from Typeset

  5. 25 Jun

    8 Years of Smartfix, Building a Business With Your Brother | Fin from Smartfix

    In this episode, Kane sits down with his brother Fin, Head of Installations at Smartfix, for an honest look back at eight years of building a business together from the ground up. Fin joined Smartfix as a fourth year apprentice and has worked his way through every corner of the business, from installer to managing a team of over 35 people on the road. He and Kane get into the real stuff: what the early days actually looked like, the challenges of working with family, the period where Smartfix scaled fast to 150 staff and $30 million in revenue before almost losing everything, the systems and communication tools that changed the way the business operates, and what excites them both about where things are heading now. If you have ever wondered what it really takes to build something big, or what happens when it nearly falls apart, this one does not hold back. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Smartfix: Website: https://teamsmartfix.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamsmartfix/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamSmartfixPty

    8 Years of Smartfix, Building a Business With Your Brother | Fin from Smartfix

  6. 18 Jun

    Starting an Electrical Business and Pricing Your Work Properly | Angelo from Toptech Electrical

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Angelo, owner of Toptech Electrical, for an honest conversation about what the first couple of years of running a solo electrical business actually looks like. Angelo started Toptech Electrical in June 2024 after working at Smartfix, and has been building his client base from the ground up through Facebook community pages, school maintenance contracts and referrals. He and Kane get into the real stuff: the moment that pushed Angelo to go out on his own, why he hired an apprentice first and what he wishes he had done differently, the challenge of finding that first tradesman, quoting over the phone vs going to site, what did and did not work for lead generation, and why so many tradies undercharge themselves into trouble before they even get started. If you are a tradie thinking about going out on your own or you are in the early stages of running your own business, this one is full of honest lessons from someone who is in it right now. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Angelo: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559665013673 Website: https://toptechperth.com.au/

    Starting an Electrical Business and Pricing Your Work Properly | Angelo from Toptech Electrical

  7. 11 Jun

    Starting a Plumbing Business from Scratch, Hiring Tradies and Building Systems That Last

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Rhys, founder of Oceania Plumbing and Gas, for a straight-talking conversation about what it actually takes to build a trades business from the ground up. Rhys started his business in 2019, living at home with mum and dad, just as Covid hit. Three months of uncertainty quickly turned into one of the busiest periods he'd ever seen, and from there he scaled to six vehicles and a growing team. He and Kane get into the real stuff: hiring tradies vs apprentices, keeping staff long term, building systems when everything is chaos, customer service, social media, managing vehicles and insurance, and what they both wish someone had told them when they started out. If you run a trade business or you're thinking about going out on your own, this one is packed with practical lessons from someone who's been in the trenches and figured it out along the way. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Oceania Plumbing and Gas: Website: https://oceaniaplumbingandgas.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceaniaplumbingandgas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceaniaplumbingandgas/

    Starting a Plumbing Business from Scratch, Hiring Tradies and Building Systems That Last

  8. 4 Jun

    Men's Mental Health & The Hidden Crisis Facing Aussie Blokes

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Jevyn from Men's Talk, a men's health promotion charity based in Western Australia, for a raw and eye-opening conversation about the mental health crisis quietly affecting men across Australia. They cover the alarming suicide statistics (7 men die every day in Australia), the role isolation, divorce and job loss play as warning signs, why tradies are 9 times more likely to die by suicide than from a workplace accident, and how Men's Talk is doing things differently with non-clinical drop-in centres, free mentoring programs and their one-of-a-kind mobile outreach van "Monty the Man Van." Whether you're a bloke who's been disconnecting without realising it, or someone who wants to know how to check in on a mate, this one's for you. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Men's Talk: Website: https://www.mtalk.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mens_talk_au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MensTalkAU

    Men's Mental Health & The Hidden Crisis Facing Aussie Blokes

  9. 21 May

    Getting the Phone to Ring When Work Dries Up

    Steve started E-Maintain two years ago with zero residential experience. He is still on the tools, has three staff, and is building something the right way without burning through a Google ads budget to do it. Kane and Steve cover the real story of starting a small electrical business in Perth with no residential background and figuring it out on the fly. They get into hiring your first apprentice vs your first sparky and why most people get that wrong, how to build consistent work through property managers and commercial relationships instead of chasing leads, why a VA might be your best early hire, and how to get the phones ringing without blowing your budget on advertising. If you are in the first few years of running a trade business and trying to figure out how to get consistent work without it costing you everything, this one is for you. hypotential.com Perth, Western Australia About Our Guest Steve is the owner of E-Maintain, a Perth-based electrical business specialising in residential maintenance, property manager work, and commercial service. Two years in, still on the tools, and building a business the right way from the ground up.

    Getting the Phone to Ring When Work Dries Up

  10. 14 May

    Why Hiring More Staff Does Not Fix a Trade Business

    Most trade business owners think hiring more people will fix their problems. It does not. It exposes them. And the cost of getting it wrong is bigger than most realise. Kane Tyler Smith and Anthony Lawler from Nimbus Tech break down what actually happens when a trade business grows without the right processes and structure in place. This is a conversation about the chaos phase of scaling, why profit drops as revenue grows, and what needs to be sorted before you even think about hiring your next person. If your business feels like it runs through you and only you, this episode is why. hypotential.com Perth, Western Australia About Our Guest Anthony Lawler is the owner of Nimbus Tech, a WA-based IT services and consulting business supporting trade and service companies with systems, infrastructure, and technology. linkedin.com/in/anthony-lawlor-67155496 anthony@nimbustech.cloud

    Why Hiring More Staff Does Not Fix a Trade Business

  11. 7 May

    What Your Apprenticeship Never Told You About Running a Trade Business

    Kane Tyler Smith started Smartfix in 2018 with one ute and zero business training. It grew to 140 staff and $30 million before a near-miss that almost took everything. In this episode, Kane and Aisha break down the real story behind building Smartfix from the ground up. How they handled Google reviews from day one, why staff retention was always a core value, what scaling too fast actually looks like from the inside, and why trade business coaching in Perth barely existed when they needed it most. If you are running a trade business in Australia and want real talk from someone still in it, this is where to start. https://www.hypotential.com Perth, Western Australia About Our Guest: Aisha Derrick is the Marketing and Brand Manager at Smartfix and co-founder of Hypotential. Her perspective comes from being inside real trade businesses and seeing firsthand the gap between technical skill and business capability, and what it actually takes to close it.

    What Your Apprenticeship Never Told You About Running a Trade Business

  12. Episode 1

    From One Ute to $30million. Who Is Kane Tyler Smith?

    Kane Tyler Smith built Smartfix from one ute in 2018 to over $30 million a year and 130 staff. What most people never saw was how messy that actually was. This is the intro episode of Unlocking Business: Hypotential. Kane breaks down who he is, why he built Hypotential, and the gap he kept seeing in the trade industry. Most tradies are excellent at their trade. Nobody teaches them how to run a business. That is what this podcast is here to fix. Real conversations, real operators, real situations from inside a trade business. If your business relies on you too much, things feel harder than they should, and the numbers are not adding up; this is where to start. hypotential.com Perth, Western Australia

    From One Ute to $30million. Who Is Kane Tyler Smith?
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About

Most trade businesses are not actually as profitable as they look. More vans, more staff, more revenue, and somehow less money left at the end of the month, less time, and a business that only runs because you are in it every day. Hypotential Unlocked is the podcast for residential trade business owners who are done with theory and want to know how the business actually gets fixed. Hosted by Kane Tyler Smith, who built Smartfix from one ute in a Perth garage to a $30.7M multi-trade business with 133 staff, and then faced the hardest moment of his career when the whole thing nearly came apart. Every episode is grounded in what actually happened inside a real business. Operator interviews with trade business owners sharing what worked and what broke. Kane breaking down lessons from real situations. No recycled business advice. No guru content. Just the kind of conversation you would have with someone who has been through it. If you are running a trade business and the numbers are not adding up the way they should, this is the show. Based in Perth, Western Australia. New episodes published weekly at hypotential.com

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