Sparky Coach

Sparky Coach

🌴 Make money. Build wealth. Be kind. 📈 We help sparkies build generational empires 🎙️ 3 x podcasts out weekly

  1. 1 day ago

    #319 // “Five Simple Ways To Make More Money In Your Electrical Business (Part 5) with Greg Crowe 

    Making money is easy when you know how.  The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money. The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept.  In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows:  -weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss)  -the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit  -the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit  -all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”) -all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”)  Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is.  The goal? That revenue would consistently hit significantly above expenditure. Be kind. Repeat.  May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind.  Much love,  Crowe Summary In this episode, Greg Crowe shares practical insights on managing ongoing jobs, quoting strategies, controlling your calendar, and understanding your break-even rates to improve profitability and business growth. Keywords business management, quoting strategies, break-even rates, project management, electrical business, construction, business growth, time management Key Topics Managing ongoing jobs over 20k to 2 million+ The importance of quoting and follow-up questions Controlling your calendar and time management Understanding and calculating break-even rates The role of contracts and pricing in project success Building relationships with clients and staff Lessons learned from business growth and mistakes The importance of quality work and materials Takeaways Ongoing jobs over 20k are the easiest to get wrong but hardest to fix. Always allocate 30-60 minutes to review quotes before sending. Your calendar reflects your priorities; control it to control your business. Know your break-even rates, including fixed and variable costs. Build strong relationships with clients and staff for long-term success. Mistakes in quoting and project management can be costly but teach valuable lessons. Focus on quality materials and workmanship to ensure work stands the test of time. Be aware of market rates and adjust your pricing accordingly. Titles Mastering Ongoing Jobs: Strategies for Electrical Business Success How to Control Your Calendar and Boost Profitability Sound Bites "Ongoing jobs over 20k are the easiest to get wrong." "Your calendar reflects your priorities." "Know your break-even rates to stay profitable." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Managing Ongoing Jobs 00:30 Common Mistakes in Quoting and How to Avoid Them 01:55 The Importance of Reviewing Quotes and Asking Good Questions 02:50 Controlling Your Calendar and Time Management 04:17 The Power of a Well-Structured Schedule 05:43 Sending Quotes: Pleasing Both Present and Future Clients 07:12 Building Long-Term Relationships and Forecasting 09:34 Handling Difficult Conversations with Clients 10:56 Lessons from Business Growth and Mistakes 12:48 The Value of Experience and Continuous Learning 15:09 Understanding Break-Even Rates and Cost Components 17:27 Controlling Overheads and Variable Costs 19:50 Final Thoughts: Avoiding Costly Mistakes in Quoting

    23 min
  2. 3 days ago

    #318 // “Five Simple Ways To Make More Money In Your Electrical Business (Part 4) with Greg Crowe

    Making money is easy when you know how.  The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money. The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept.  In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows:  -weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss)  -the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit  -the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit  -all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”) -all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”)  Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is.  The goal? That revenue would consistently hit significantly above expenditure. Be kind. Repeat.  May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind.  Much love,  Crowe Summary In this episode, Greg Crowe shares practical insights on how service industry businesses, especially electrical, solar, and aircon companies, can increase profitability by focusing on labor and materials, effective quoting, managing staff, and personal finance discipline. Keywords business profitability, service industry, labor and materials, quoting, staff management, personal finance, ongoing jobs, project management  Key Topics Labor and materials split in service businesses Effective quoting and variation management Importance of personal and business budgets Managing staff performance and accountability Handling ongoing jobs and client relationships Titles Mastering Profit in Service Businesses: Greg Crowe's Top Strategies How to Use Labor as a Trojan Horse for Profit  Sound Bites "Labor is a Trojan horse for profit" "20% of a higher number is a higher number" "Not all revenue is good revenue" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Profitability in Service Industries 02:30 Understanding Labor and Materials in Business 05:17 The Importance of Budgeting in Business 08:36 Time Management and Its Impact on Profitability 11:33 The Consequences of Poor Staffing Decisions 14:26 Identifying and Managing Underperforming Staff 17:16 The Ripple Effect of Bad Decisions in Business 20:38 The Importance of Client Relationships 23:31 Final Thoughts on Business Success

    30 min
  3. 5 days ago

    #317 // “Five Simple Ways To Make More Money In Your Electrical Business (Part 3) with Greg Crowe

    Making money is easy when you know how.  The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money. The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept.  In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows:  -weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss)  -the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit  -the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit  -all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”) -all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”)  Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is.  The goal? Revenue exceeds expenditure. Be kind. Repeat.  May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind.  Much love,  Crowe Summary In this episode, Greg Crowe shares practical strategies to increase profitability in electrical, solar, and air conditioning businesses. He emphasizes the importance of consistent execution, effective quoting, and managing ongoing jobs to maximize net profit. Keywords Electrical Business, Solar Profit, Aircon Business, Profit Strategies, Quoting, Ongoing Jobs, Business Efficiency Key Topics Profitability in service businesses Effective quoting and variation management Ongoing job profitability tracking Importance of consistency and discipline Building relationships for ongoing work Titles 5 Simple Ways to Make More Money in Your Electrical Business How to Increase Profitability in Solar and Aircon Jobs  Sound Bites "Let the content dictate the format." "20% of a higher number is a higher number." "Did I get the original price right?" Chapters 00:00 Maximizing Profit in Service Businesses 02:56 Understanding Profitability Metrics 06:12 The Importance of Consistency and Discipline 09:06 Evaluating Ongoing Jobs for Profitability 12:00 The Role of Reputation and Word of Mouth 14:51 Quoting and Pricing Strategies 17:46 Managing Variations and Client Expectations 21:10 The Value of Relationships in Business 24:01 Learning from Experience and Mistakes 26:55 The Importance of Communication in Business 30:09 Conclusion and Next Steps

    35 min
  4. 24 Jun

    #316 // Why You Should Raise Your Rates On July 1 (Part 2) with Greg Crowe

    July 1 is coming up, and there really is no better time to consider a rise in rates + margins.  Today we discuss 7 key items that will help you in your decision.  Good / Excellent Relationships With Clients Is The Key  Can you have hard conversations with your clients? Can you talk money with your clients? If you can’t, how strong is the relationship? Life, and business, is all about building relationships A good relationship is built on mutual respect, trust, transparency etc Don’t be scared to fill them in on what’s going on  Avoid The Generic Email, Go And See People Or at worst case call them Imagine if someone is having a bad day, or your relationship is already on the rocks, and they get an email about your price rises Delivering the news in person you can gauge their emotions + also communicate effectively Definitely for all your major clients, everyone else can be just told along the way A generic email to 1000 clients should be absolute worst case scenario.  Think Of What This Actually Means For Your Clients  A GPO might go up $10-$15+A 4 hour job might go up $40+ It’s honestly not that big of a deal  Think Of What This Actually Means For Your Business  Charging an additional $5 per person per hour = $40 per day = $200 per week = $10k per year Do this across 5 staff members that’s $50k straight to the bottom line Do this across 10 staff members that’s $100k straight to the bottom line Do this across 20 staff members that’s $200k straight to the bottom line  Establish A Yearly Rhythm For Your Clients, Staff + Yourself  Every year, your price will need to go up 3-5%Every year, your staff wages will need to go up 3-5%Every year, your wage will go up 3-5% in line with market value For the first year, this will feel uncomfortable. After 5 years, it will feel normal  Don’t Overthink It It’s not something you have a say in, it’s company policy If you were the CEO, you would need to do this  But Honestly, Sometimes OverThink It  If you are making $2m a year and yo are genuinely worried, back your gut + put it on pause  It’s time for you to get after your trade god ordained destiny of making money, building wealth + being kind.  Much love, Crowe x Summary In this episode, Greg Crowe discusses the importance of strategic rate increases, building strong client relationships, and maintaining business profitability through disciplined daily practices and annual planning. Learn practical tips to raise your rates effectively while preserving trust and long-term success. Keywords business growth, rate increase, client relationships, profitability, daily discipline, annual planning, business strategy Key Topics Timing of rate increases (July 1, January 1) Four key financial metrics: gross profit, gross profit per hour, net profit, net profit per hour Importance of daily discipline in checking job profitability Building strong, honest client relationships Effective communication when raising rates Annual rhythm for rate adjustments and cost increases Avoiding generic communication, personal engagement Long-term mindset for business and client relationships Titles The Best Time to Raise Your Rates and How to Do It Mastering Client Relationships for Business Success  sound bites "There's no better time than July 1 to raise your rates" "Check every job for gross profit and net profit" "Build relationships based on trust and transparency" Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Raising Rates 05:12 Building Strong Client Relationships 10:02 Effective Communication Strategies 15:03 Understanding the Financial Impact 17:52 Final Thoughts on Rate Increases

    20 min
  5. 23 Jun

    #315 // Why You Should Raise Your Rates On July 1 (Part 1) with Greg Crowe 

    July 1 is coming up, and there really is no better time to consider a rise in rates + margins.  Today we discuss the pros and cons of considering increases.  Why you should raise your rates… Make money. Build wealth. Be kind. It all starts with making money You deserve a market wage + super + a business net profit of 20-35% You’re currently oncosting yourself as 1 full time position but really you are doing 2 positions (ie 30-40 hours of “volunteer” admin work at night time). If you paid someone to do this, your overhead per hour would increase and you would either be losing money or making less moneyIf you don’t raise your prices, every hour is costing you more and out of every dollar you are keeping less. The price of everything has gone up (subscriptions, petrol, staff, super, interest etc)A $45 to $50 wage increase for your key tradie has just cost you $10k  Why you shouldn’t raise your rates… You feel dirty like you’re ripping someone off You fear success / failure / making money You are uncomfortable having hard conversations You fear the unknown // what happens if someone pushes back? What happens if you lose clients? Is it worth it?If you’re currently charging too low, you might not be able to get there in one go Your overheads are too high and it’s messing with your break evens You genuinely want to absorb this one to keep + build client relationships You are on top of this and are continually raising your rates  It’s time for you to get after your trade god ordained destiny of making money, building wealth + being kind.  Much love, Crowe x Summary In this episode, Greg Crowe discusses the importance of raising rates at strategic times, especially July 1, to ensure business profitability and sustainability. He shares practical insights on how to approach rate increases, understand your numbers, and build a profitable, long-term business. Keywords business rates, profitability, financial planning, business growth, pricing strategy, July 1 rate increase, business tips, financial year, profit margins Key Topics Best times to raise business rates (July 1, January 1) Understanding your break-even rate and profit margins The importance of knowing your numbers and costs Overcoming the fear of raising prices Building a profitable and sustainable business The impact of overheads and non-billable expenses Market normalcy and pricing ethics Self-development through business challenges Titles Why July 1 is the Best Time to Raise Your Business Rates Master Your Business Finances: When and How to Increase Prices Sound bites "Most of you are on costing volunteer administration work" "Every hour is costing you more money" "Stop glamorizing the struggle, speak positively about your business" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Rate Increases 01:24 The Importance of Timing for Rate Increases 02:20 Understanding the Need to Raise Rates 05:04 The Financial Reality of Running a Business 08:48 Defining Your Role and Responsibilities 10:58 Market Wage and Profit Margins 12:25 The Cost of Volunteer Administration Work 14:11 The Consequences of Not Raising Rates 16:03 Reasons Against Raising Rates 20:41 Evaluating Overheads and Break-Even Rates 23:03 Market Realities and Client Expectations 25:31 Building Client Relationships vs. Profitability 26:28 Conclusion and Next Steps

    28 min
  6. 22 Jun

    #314 // “Five Simple Ways To Make More Money In Your Electrical Business (Part 2) with Greg Crowe 

    Making money is easy when you know how.  The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money. The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept.  In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows:  -weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss)  -the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit  -the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit  -all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”) -all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”)  Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is.  Revenue > expenditure. Be kind. Repeat.  May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind.  Much love,  Crowe Summary Greg Crowe shares practical strategies to increase profitability and build a sustainable electrical business over the long term. He emphasizes the importance of long-term planning, maintaining business health, and focusing on implementation over complexity. Keywords Electrical business, profitability, long-term planning, business growth, financial management, Sparky Coach, revenue, expenses, net profit, business systems Key Topics Long-term planning and its impact on business success The importance of weekly revenue exceeding expenses Building relationships with clients and staff for long-term success The role of gross profit and net profit in business health Strategies for increasing revenue and reducing costs Titles 5 Ways to Make More Money in Your Electrical Business The Long Game: Building a Sustainable Electrical Business Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Business Growth Strategies 02:51 The Power of Long-Term Thinking 07:34 Balancing Short-Term Hustle with Long-Term Goals 12:14 Five Ways to Increase Revenue in Electrical Business 15:22 Understanding Revenue and Expenditure 26:07 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

    35 min
  7. 18 Jun

    #313 // “Five Simple Ways To Make More Money In Your Electrical Business (Part 1) with Greg Crowe 

    Making money is easy when you know how.  The trouble is, sometimes we get busy and conveniently forget the ways to make money. The truth is that it’s not that complicated, it’s actually a very simple concept.  In this podcast series we go through the 5 simple ways to make more money in your electrical business which are as follows:  -weekly revenue exceeds weekly expenditure (ie profit / loss)  -the jobs that are starting and finishing every week (ie “closed jobs”) are at a solid net profit  -the jobs that are running over weeks + months(ie “open jobs”) are on their way to making a solid net profit  -all paid hours are allocated to a job (ie “labour efficiency”) -all hours completed are effective + efficient (ie “quality of hours”)  Sometimes it’s in the moments when we peel ourselves away from the mundane day to day grind where we can see how simple running a business really is.  Revenue > expenditure. Be kind. Repeat.  May these words inspire you as you proceed on your journey of making money, building wealth + being kind.  Much love,  Crowe Summary Greg Crowe shares practical strategies to increase profitability and build a sustainable electrical business over the long term. He emphasizes the importance of long-term planning, maintaining business health, and focusing on implementation over complexity. Keywords Electrical business, profitability, long-term planning, business growth, financial management, Sparky Coach, revenue, expenses, net profit, business systems Key Topics Long-term planning and its impact on business success The importance of weekly revenue exceeding expenses Building relationships with clients and staff for long-term success The role of gross profit and net profit in business health Strategies for increasing revenue and reducing costs Titles 5 Ways to Make More Money in Your Electrical Business The Long Game: Building a Sustainable Electrical Business Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Business Growth Strategies 02:51 The Power of Long-Term Thinking 07:34 Balancing Short-Term Hustle with Long-Term Goals 12:14 Five Ways to Increase Revenue in Electrical Business 15:22 Understanding Revenue and Expenditure 26:07 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

    31 min
  8. 8 Jun

    #312 // 11 Ways To Derail + Stunt Your Business Compounding (Part Four) with Greg Crowe

    Business compounding is amazing.  There really is no mistaking that the incremental effect of consistently closing the week, closing the month, doing the right thing, having the hard conversations, front costing, back costing, quoting on time etc etc, can land you in a really healthy spot in 15 years.  If we start at $500k revenue and budget in conservative market averages (15% organic revenue growth, a market wage, business net profit of 20%) over 15 years your business will be doing an annual revenue of $3.5m and you would have accumulated nearly $7m dollars in personal + business profit.  If we start at $1.5m revenue and budget in conservative market averages (10% organic revenue growth, a market wage, business net profit of 20%) over 15 years your business will be doing an annual revenue of $5.6m and you would have accumulated nearly $11.5m dollars in personal + business profit.  If we start at $5m revenue and budget in conservative market averages (10% organic revenue growth, a market wage, business net profit of 20%) over 15 years your business will be doing an annual revenue of $19m and you would have accumulated nearly $34m dollars in personal + business profit.  Sometimes slow + steady really does win the race.  So what do you do from here?  It’s time to embrace your trade god ordained destiny of making money, building wealth + being kind.  Get after it!  Much love,  Crowe x  Summary This episode explores 11 critical ways to derail your business growth and how to avoid them. It emphasizes the importance of long-term vision, relationship building, self-care, and maintaining integrity to ensure sustainable success. Keywords business growth, entrepreneurship, business strategy, long-term success, relationship building, self-care, business mindset, business development, leadership, business planning Key Topics Long-term vision and business planning Relationship building with clients and partners Importance of self-care and mental health in entrepreneurship Titles 11 Ways to Derail Your Business and How to Avoid Them Building a Business That Lasts: Key Insights for Entrepreneurs Sound Bites "It's about growing as a person, not just the business." "Control your time or lose control of it." "Make the business an asset you're proud of." Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Power of Business Compounding 01:20 The Glasses and Ponytail Analogy: Seeing Your Business Clearly 02:48 Thinking Long-Term: 15 to 20 Years of Business Growth 04:15 Avoiding Short-Term Mindset: Focus on Value, Not Just Money 07:33 Prioritizing Product Quality and Customer Relationships 08:50 Finding Purpose Beyond Money and Growth 12:13 Building Relationships with Suppliers and Partners 14:08 Self-Care and Headspace for Business Success 16:05 Controlling Your Time and Avoiding Negative Bonding 20:48 Summary: Focus on What Truly Matters for Long-Term Success

    23 min

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🌴 Make money. Build wealth. Be kind. 📈 We help sparkies build generational empires 🎙️ 3 x podcasts out weekly

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