Let's Vent Podcast

Evan Hoffman
  • 4.4 (14)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Let's Vent Podcast! We are here to unveil the BS you've been told that will help you run your home service business. We cut out the fluff and just deliver the goods of what's actually working for operators and home business owners across the country. Whether you're a seasoned pro, a tech, or a CSR, our weekly deep dives are your ticket to success. It's time to get it off your chest and let's vent! 

  1. EP: 021 - From a Storage Unit to a $21M Plumbing & HVAC Empire: Kevin Fiscor Story

    10h ago

    EP: 021 - From a Storage Unit to a $21M Plumbing & HVAC Empire: Kevin Fiscor Story

    Send us Fan Mail Why Do 95% of Home Service Businesses Fail Within Their First Five Years?  In this episode of Let's Vent, host Evan Hoffman sits down with Kevin Fiscor, CEO of Fiscor Plumbing and Air, for an incredibly vulnerable look inside the dark side of scaling a trade business. Kevin pulls back the curtain on how he took his company from a struggling $500K shop to pacing $21M in 2026 and why he realized HE was the biggest bottleneck in his own business.  If you are a plumbing, HVAC, or electrical contractor tired of the fake social media highlights, this unfiltered conversation delivers the gritty, real life blueprint of what it takes to break the routine and build an independent trade empire. 👉 Connect with our sponsor, Free Agency, and fix your lead generation: https://freeagency.ai/yelp Time Stamps:  00:00 - Why 95% of Home Service Businesses Fail Within The First 5 Years?  00:45 - Introducing Kevin Fiscor, CEO of Fiscor Plumbing & Air  01:35 - A Message to the 2020 Version of Yourself 02:27 - From $500K to Pacing $21 Million 03:15 - "I Was the Problem": Looking in the Mirror After 26 Years in the Trades 04:00 - The Old School Mentality & Developing a Toxic Corporate Habit 05:50 - Shifting from Alcohol Abuse to Mental Fortitude 08:25 - Facing Emotional Realities Instead of Running From Them 09:41 - The Books That Saved My Life 11:05 - The Nightmare: Disappearing from Google Search & Map Packs 14:03 - The Isolation of Being A Business Owner 15:15 - Beyond the Revenue: Watching Your Team Buy Their First Homes 16:08 - Supporting Field Technicians Who Start Their Own Shops 19:15 - The 48 Hour Implementation Check Rule 20:53 - "If You Don't Write It Down, It Isn't Real" 22:06 - When Nobody Else is Clapping in the Auditorium 26:40 - The 5 Minute Work-Life Balance Rule 28:15 - Dealing with Competitors and Registrar Complaints 31:39 - The Danger of Comfort: Confronting Weight Gain and Excuses as a Former Athlete 32:24 - How Fast the Business Pivoted After Dropping the Ego 38:35 - Shifting from Install Manager to Coordinator 39:35 - The 3 Day Call Board Rule: Are you ready to Implement it?  40:15 - Why CSRs Are Your Most Important Position? 41:00 - The 98% Call Booking Rate Masterclass Ready for You 41:40 - 200 Hours of Training: Structuring Weekly KPI Reviews for Techs 44:50 - Fixing Gaps In Your Current House Before Spending More on Marketing 45:45 - The $18,000 Daily Overhead Reality: Walking In $80K in the Hole Every Week 47:50 - Changing Lives in the Field: How a Lead Installer Cleared $7K a Week 50:55 - Cutting the Budget: Evaluate DoorDash and Other Hidden Subscriptions 53:50 - Managing $500K in Inventory Without Suffocating Your Cash Flow 55:00 - Global Economics & Global Regulations: The Invisible Forces Impacting Your Shop 58:20 - Your Circle Predicts Your Future: Who Are your Closest Ones?  1:03:55 - What You Did Yesterday Doesn't Matter: What are you Doing NOW To Chase the $2 Million Month? 1:08:49 - The Power of Intention: Stumbling Across a Forgotten 100 Dreams List 1:10:00 - Writing the 6 Critical Tasks the Night Before 1:12:10 - Humble Beginnings: Operating a Plumbing & Air Shop Out of a 10x15 Storage Unit 1:13:00 - Eat the Frog: Forcing Yourself to Do the Hardest Task First 1:14:35 - Wrapping Up an Incredible 30-Minute Bonus Tangent 1:15:10 - Episode Ends.  Support the Let’s Vent Podcast, Subscribe, and Leave a Comment! That would help us keep bringing to you this valuable stories! Connect With Kevin Fiscor https://fiscorhvac.com/  https://www.instagram.com/fiscor_ceo/

    1h 15m
  2. EP: 020 - Go Green Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical: Scaling with Culture, Training & AI

    Jun 18

    EP: 020 - Go Green Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical: Scaling with Culture, Training & AI

    Send us Fan Mail How do you scale a Home Services Business past the $10M mark without losing your Company Culture or selling out to Private Equity? In this episode of Let's Vent, we sit down with the Owners of Go Green Plumbing, Heating & Air, Alicia Green and Pete Green to break down the exact operational tips, strategies and ideas they implemented to build an independent trade powerhouse.  Connect with out Guests:  Go Green Plumbing: https://gogreenplumb.com/ Alicia Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-green-14bb3495/ Pete Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-green-25496072/  Connect with our sponsor: https://freeagency.ai Time Stamps:  01:10 - Introducing Pete & Alicia Green from Go Green Plumbing 02:18 - Pete Green’s Transition from Programming to "Chief Technology Officer" 03:45 - The Truth About Company Culture: There are Always Ups & Downs 05:15 - What Happens When People Don't Fit the Mold? 06:13 - Shifting from Professional to Lightheartedness in Tough Times 07:45 - The Go Green Hiring Process: Do You Let Your Team Make the Decisions? 09:20 - The "Princess Castle" Lego Challenge & Out Of Comfort Zone Testing 13:16 - Quick to Hire, Slow to Fire: Should Be The Opposite Way Around?  14:15 - The ROI of Training 16:55 - Joining Nextstar Network & Implementing Soft Skills Training 17:58 - The Academy Structure: Weekly Breakdown of Trades & Certifications 22:38 - 60% of Our Business Wouldn't Exist Without the Training Academy 23:45 - The Myth of the Unicorn Employee 25:03 - Balancing IQ and EQ: Why Technical Skills and Soft Skills Are 50/50 27:50 - The Chaos of Early Training Programs vs. Today's Managed Structure 29:15 - Building a Clear Pay Plan and Incentivized Levels 32:14 - Advanced Lab Training: Partnering with Ultimate Tech Academy in Arkansas 33:20 - The Tax Perspective: Are you Paying More?  34:00 - Facing Private Equity (PE) in the Trades 38:12 - The Positive Side of PE: Injecting Business Logic and Real Value into the Trades 42:50 - Growing Big with Zero Outside Capital 45:15 - Why Cheap Prices Come at the Expense of Employees? 47:50 - Built on Community assistance: The Go Green Community Promise Program 49:35 - "Owned by Google": Venting About the Real Monopolies Dictated by the Industry 53:48 - Where Does the Cash Flow? Canadian Agencies vs. Local Greensboro Wages 57:25 - Understanding KPI Pressures and Employee Mass Exits 58:35 - Why Technicians Stay for Culture and Run from Structure Changes 01:01:40 - The Flaw in Flipping: Why Passing Hands Leads to Volume Loss 01:05:43 - Processing the Reality of Multi-Billion Dollar Acquisitions in the Trades 01:07:55 - The Challenge to Maintain Massive Service Value Over Time 01:10:17 - Will AI Supplement or Completely Replace Modern Jobs? 01:12:00 - How To Choose a Software That Actually Helps Reduce Workload? 01:12:42 - Why the CTO’s Workload Increases When Implementing AI? 01:13:55 - The Sandbox Mindset: Starting From a Place of Natural Curiosity 01:18:15 - Managing Scope Creep When Coding with Accelerated AI Speed 01:21:38 - How Non-Technical Leaders Can Leverage Claude? 01:23:59 - The "Twice a Day" Automation Rule: Building Your Operational Task List 01:28:46 - The Importance of Context and Direct Communication to Create a Prompt correctly 01:31:12 - Ostrich Mentality: Why Ignoring the Automation Wave Will Cost People Their Careers 01:31:47 - Focus on Eliminating Time Rather Than Solving the World's Problems 01:34:00 - How To Hold People Accountable Without Destroying The Company Culture ? 01:34:48 - Facts Over Feelings: Gathering Documentation and Data Before Tough Conversations 01:38:25 - Final Thoughts on How to Build a Scalable Organization

    1h 40m
  3. EP: 019 - Using Chat GPT & Claude All Wrong? Ken Moskowitz Shares Free Practical Tips

    Jun 11

    EP: 019 - Using Chat GPT & Claude All Wrong? Ken Moskowitz Shares Free Practical Tips

    Send us Fan Mail Most Home Service business owners treat AI like a basic tool to create robotic prompts with generic results and poor return.  In this episode of the Let's Vent Podcast, we sit down with a creative advertising legend and the CMO of Clover Growth Partners, Ken Moskowitz. He is a marketing mastermind who has spent over 40 years helping more than 1,000 businesses transform their brand messaging and drive real sales. He explains and show with real examples why the secret to elite marketing is knowing the right questions to ask, forcing the AI to ask you clarifying questions, and go deep into conversational voice modes to create authentic strategies. Connect with Ken Moskowitz: 🔹 Instagram: @spankymoskowitz 🔹 CMO: Clover Growth Partners / https://growwithclover.com/ 🔹 CEO: Ad Zombies / https://www.adzombies.com/ Time Stamps:  00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Meet Ken Moskowitz: 40 Years of Moving Consumers to Action 03:52 - Are Modern Marketers Lazy? The Lost Art of Making a Sale 05:58 - How Ken Overcame Cancer and Turned His Crisis into a Blessing 08:24 - Why Everyone is a Practitioner: The Rapid Evolution of AI 09:20 - The Power of Claude Prompts That Ask Questions 10:33 - Chat GPT vs. Claude: Choosing the Best AI Tool for Copywriting 11:41 - The Secret Tool Meta Bought: Building Service Pages in Minutes with Manus 13:50 - Stop Worrying About the Subscription Cost 14:55 - How to Audit and Analyze Your Marketing Data with Claude Code 16:28 - How Much Time Should You Dedicate to AI? 18:12 - Live Demonstration: Why You Need to Stop Typing and Start Talking to Chat GPT 21:54 - The 6-Step Framework to Lock In Your Authentic Brand Voice 26:45 - The Website Pulse Check: Auditing Your Brand Online with Google Labs 28:44 - Building Live: Ken’s 6-Hour Immersive AI Workshop Details 30:45 - Final Thoughts: Staying Curious & Scaling Your Shop's Potential 31:00 - Connect with Ken: Direct Email & Contact Information 31:25 - Episode Ends

    32 min
  4. EP: 018 - From Nursing Student To A $62M Trade CEO: The Mary Jean Anderson Story

    Jun 4

    EP: 018 - From Nursing Student To A $62M Trade CEO: The Mary Jean Anderson Story

    Send us Fan Mail We had the absolute honor of sitting down with an absolute industry powerhouse, Mary Jean Anderson, former owner and CEO of Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air. In this episode, Mary Jean peels back the curtain on the exact strategies that allowed her company to average a staggering $3.6 million in growth every single year placing the right people in the right seats, and why true leadership requires you to "hire your weakness" to protect your own business goals. If you are a contractor ready to take your plumbing, HVAC, or electrical company to a 7 or 8 Figure Business, grab a notebook because this episode is packed with invaluable, real-world business wisdom. Reach Out Mary Jean Anderson Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maryjeananderson/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryjean-anderson-68b56714/ Facebook This Episode Is Sponsor By Free Agency Time Stamps:  00:37 – Introducing Mary Jean Anderson 02:05 – Managing Stage Nerves After Decades of Team Leadership 03:41 – The Anderson Story: From a $3.2M Operation to a $62M Exit 05:01 – Building an Actionable Mission Statement That Outlasts Artwork 08:50 – How to Help People Become Their Best to Drive a Company Growth 09:44 – Mastering Profitability: Inventory Control on a 200-Truck Fleet 10:35 – Interview Secrets: Using Negative Prompts and Asset Questions to Filter Talent 12:11 – Delivering a 98.2% "Wow Experience" Customer Retention Strategy 14:18 – Shifting from Transactional Customers to Lifelong Clients 14:50 – Transitioning From Nursing to HVAC: The Art of Hiring Your Weakness 15:58 – Breaking Stereotypes: Why Women Are Crushing It in the Trades 18:18 – Leveraging Maintenance Agreements to Drive In-Home System Sales 19:10 – Launching an Internal Training Institute to Combat Labor Shortages 20:17 – The Critical Dangers of Third-Generation Watered-Down Training 21:30 – Visionaries vs. Integrators: How Brain Trusts Build Empires 22:55 – Let's Start Actively Hiring Women In The Trades 25:56 – Launching an Internal Training Institute to Eliminate Labor Shortages 27:07 – The Critical Dangers of Third-Generation Watered-Down Training 28:21 – Visionaries vs. Integrators: How Brain Trusts Build Empires 29:40 – Hire Your Weakness: Why the Best Trade CEOs Leave some Skills to the Experts 31:18 – The Cost of Forcing Yourself Into Roles You Hate 32:32 – This Episode Is Sponsored By Free Agency  34:00 – Behind the $62M Empire: Mary Jean’s Biggest Business M&A Mistake 36:30 – How to Connect with Mary Jean Anderson and Final Closing Remarks

    37 min
  5. EP: 017 - SBA Loans vs Seller Financing with Jordan Cordero

    May 28

    EP: 017 - SBA Loans vs Seller Financing with Jordan Cordero

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talked with Jordan Cordero from Live Oak Bank about the massive wave of mergers and acquisitions transforming the home services industry. Jordan is one of the key players on these deals, and he shares exactly how independent trade companies are scaling from local operations into seven- and eight-figure regional powerhouses. If you are running an HVAC, plumbing, or electrical business, this episode provides all the necessary nuggets when it comes to financial strategies. If you are looking for an inside look at where interest rates are heading for the rest of 2026, this episode shows you how to structure a win-win deal that protects your retirement or your investment. Time Stamps:  01:05 - Introduction: Funding the Home Services Acquisition Wave 02:23 - The Mom and Pop Boom: How 2M Companies Are Buying Competitors 03:30 - Adding Service Lines To the Deals: Merging HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical 04:55 - How to Source Hidden Business Deals in Your Area 07:45 - Why Right Now is the Perfect Time to Buy a Trade Business 09:29 - Interest Rate Trends and the Reality of Capital Costs 10:30 - SBA 7a Loans vs Seller Financing: Shifting the Risk to the Bank 13:10 - The Hidden Trap of Seller Notes: Post-Sale Disagreements 15:15 - Creative Financing Structures and Tax Planning Options 16:40 - Acquisition Horror Stories: When the Seller Badmouths the Buyer 19:30 - Sponsor: Free Agency  21:18 - Why You Need a Lender Who Specializes in the Home Services Vertical 23:46 - The MCA Warning: How Predatory Working Capital Loans Ruin Cash Flow 26:12 - Can You Refuse or Refinance a Merchant Cash Advance? 27:10 - Market Forecast, Where Interest Rates Are Heading Next28:02 - Impact of Interest Rates on Acquisitions. 29:02 - Loan Structure and its effects. 30:01 - Fixed vs. Variable Rates in SBA Loans. 31:00 - Revenue Projections in Acquisitions. 34:52 - The Importance of Strategic Growth. 36:18 - Are You a Fit for SBA programs? 37:17 - Closing Remarks and Appreciation. Sponsor:  Free Agency - https://freeagency.ai/

    38 min
  6. EP: 016 - How to Use AI and the Right Words to Close Leads with Ryan Fenn & Justin Judd

    May 21

    EP: 016 - How to Use AI and the Right Words to Close Leads with Ryan Fenn & Justin Judd

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode with Ryan Fenn and Justin Judd from Chiirp, we discuss the power of language, customer communication, and innovative marketing strategies in the trades. They share insights on how your choice of words, consistent follow-up, and technology like AI can transform business growth and strengthen customer relationships. Time Stamps:  00:00 - The Power of Words in Business 02:51 - Transforming Customer Engagement 06:09 - The Art of Giving Value First 09:01 - Building Trust Through Reciprocity 11:58 - Creating Effective Playbooks 15:08 - Lead Conversion Strategies 17:55 - The Importance of Follow-Up 20:47 - Nurturing Customer Relationships 23:48 - Leveraging Technology for Communication 27:04 - Creating Memorable Customer Experiences 31:21 - Harnessing AI for Lead Conversion 34:04 - The Role of Speed in Lead Response 36:58 - AI and Human Interaction: Finding the Balance 39:46 - The Future of Human Senses in AI Interaction 41:39 - Building Human Connections in a Tech-Driven World 43:58 - Reassessing Efficiency: The Value of Human Interaction 51:29 - Revenue Optimization: Identifying Business Leaks 55:50 - Streamlined Implementation: Making AI Accessible Connect with Ryan and Justin: https://chiirp.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryandfenn/ ; https://www.instagram.com/highonutah/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-fenn-76568b165/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-judd-b5052297/

    1h 3m
  7. EP: 015 - Leadership Lessons from Colleen Keyworth: Networking, Inclusion, and AI in the Trades

    May 13

    EP: 015 - Leadership Lessons from Colleen Keyworth: Networking, Inclusion, and AI in the Trades

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Colleen Keyworth talks about the real impact of AI in home services, leadership in the trades, and how to leverage technology for business growth. We discussed How AI's role is saving time in Operations and Processes, content authenticity, and building a legacy in the industry. Time Stamps:  00:00 - Navigating the Current AI Landscape 10:11 - The Role of AI in Business Efficiency 20:17 - Content Creation and Authenticity in the AI Era 27:24 - The Evolution of Content Value and Trust 29:20 - Local Search and AI's Role in Home Services 30:41 - The Importance of Technical SEO 32:37 - Navigating Client Relationships in Marketing 33:56 - The Future of Marketing Agencies in an AI World 35:40 - The Human Touch in Customer Service 37:46 - After-Hours Service and Customer Experience 40:32 - Creating Memorable Customer Experiences 43:47 - The Importance of Personal Connections in Business 45:14 - Leaving a Legacy in the Trades Resources:  Women in HVACR International Women's Network in Cooling (IWNC) HVACR Industry Events Where To Find Colleen Keyworth LinkedIn : linkedin.com/in/colleen-keyworth  Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ckeyworth04/

    55 min
  8. EP: 014 - The HVAC Success Truth: How Gil Cavey Turned His Biggest Failures Into A $10M Business.

    May 6

    EP: 014 - The HVAC Success Truth: How Gil Cavey Turned His Biggest Failures Into A $10M Business.

    Send us Fan Mail Gil Cavey, host of HVAC Uncensored, shares his journey through business, personal struggles, and insights on industry challenges like permitting and training.  Discover how he balances control, quality, and growth while navigating personal setbacks and embracing failure. Time Stamps:  00:00 - Introduction and Gil Cavey's background 01:04 - Transition from podcasting to business ownership 02:31 - Lessons from previous business partnerships 04:12 - Frustrations with permitting process 05:36 - Training and developing technicians 06:42 - Using AI to streamline operations 08:46 - Maintaining respect and leadership with technicians 11:22 - Selling options without pushing unnecessary services 12:58 - Balancing training and proficiency in HVAC 14:24 - Dealing with permitting and regulatory hurdles 16:42 - Embracing AI and technology in HVAC 19:30 - Marketing and growth strategies 22:07 - Building relationships with technicians 27:12 - Personal life and overcoming personal struggles 34:11 - Overcoming fear of failure and personal growth 37:18 - The importance of mental health and therapy 38:32 - Final thoughts and encouragement Where to Find Gil Cavey HVAC Uncensored Podcast : https://www.hvacuncensored.com/#dm

    43 min
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About

Welcome to the Let's Vent Podcast! We are here to unveil the BS you've been told that will help you run your home service business. We cut out the fluff and just deliver the goods of what's actually working for operators and home business owners across the country. Whether you're a seasoned pro, a tech, or a CSR, our weekly deep dives are your ticket to success. It's time to get it off your chest and let's vent! 

Information

  • Creator
    Evan Hoffman
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    252
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Let's Vent Podcast
  • Show Website
    Let's Vent Podcast

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