The Trade Traction Podcast with Dennis The Apprentice

Dennis The Apprentice
  • 5.0 (7)
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  • Updated Biweekly

The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating contractors stop working for free and actually make a profit!

  1. 2d ago

    What Happens When a Plumbing Owner Doubles Their Prices

    Send us Fan Mail 👇 Take the Trade Traction Score Assessment and discover what to focus on next in your business:  https://tradetraction.scoreapp.com Every coach tells you to raise your prices. Almost none of them show you what actually happens when you do. Dennis tripled his prices, then raised them again over several years, and the thing he was most afraid of, losing every customer, almost never happened. What did happen changed the entire company. In this episode, Dennis walks through what forced the first price increase, why he still struggled after tripling his rates, and the gut check it took to finally charge what the calculator said. He gets into how raising prices made his whole team level up, why a ripoff is a feeling and not a number, and the math mistake that quietly ate his profit as the company grew. Topics discussed: 00:00 - Doubled the prices, then doubled them again 00:51 - The first sign he needed to raise prices 01:33 - Getting a mentor before touching the numbers 02:14 - The calculator said quadruple, he only tripled 02:51 - What actually happened: phones kept ringing 03:57 - Why he still struggled after tripling his rates 05:27 - Your customers are investors in your company 07:17 - When prices went up, so did the standards 08:46 - Raise the bar, then charge for it 11:27 - The math mistake that killed profit at scale This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with Dennis: Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

    14 min
  2. The Money Habits That Separate Wealthy Contractors from Struggling Ones

    5d ago

    The Money Habits That Separate Wealthy Contractors from Struggling Ones

    Send us Fan Mail 👇 Take the Trade Traction Score Assessment and discover what to focus on next in your business:  https://tradetraction.scoreapp.com What separates tradespeople who build wealth from those who stay stuck chasing the next paycheck? In this episode of Trade Traction, recorded live at the SkillsUSA National Championships, we sit down with Jake Chesney to discuss the financial habits that can transform a career in the skilled trades. From building a savings foundation and avoiding unnecessary debt to investing, entrepreneurship, sales, and personal development, Jake shares practical lessons that every plumber, HVAC technician, electrician, and contractor should hear early in their career. Whether you're an apprentice just starting out or a seasoned contractor looking to create long-term financial freedom, this conversation is packed with timeless advice on money, mindset, and success. 00:00 Most Tradespeople Never Learn This 07:18 Stop Financing Cars 09:22 Save First. Invest Second. 13:51 Don't Start a Business Too Early 17:33 How Wealth Is Actually Built 19:31 Invest In Yourself First 21:50 Why Trades Are Winning Right Now 23:55 The Highest-Paid Skill Nobody Learns 27:47 The Confidence Shortcut 29:58 Rewire Your Mindset 32:10 The Advice That Could Change Your Life Subscribe for more interviews, business strategies, and growth insights for the trades. #PlumbingBusiness #SkilledTrades #FinancialFreedom #ContractorLife #TradeTraction #Entrepreneurship #SalesSkills #Investing #SkillsUSA   The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with Dennis: Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

    34 min

  3. Jun 23

    The Apprenticeship Every Plumbing Owner Skips

    Send us Fan Mail 👇 Take the Trade Traction Score Assessment and discover what to focus on next in your business:  https://tradetraction.scoreapp.com You finished your trade apprenticeship. Someone showed you the tools, the work, what to do and what not to do. Then you filed an LLC and woke up the next morning with nobody teaching you anything. Dennis says there's a second apprenticeship most plumbing owners never hear about, and skipping it is costing them far more than they think. In this episode, Dennis breaks down why knowing the trade and knowing how to run the business are two completely different skill sets. He shares a surfing story from Hawaii that mirrors what most owners are doing in business right now, explains why six years of dabbling at something taught him less than weeks with a coach, and gets into the real cost of going it alone. It's not just money. It's time, relationships, and marriages. Topics discussed: 00:00 - Your apprenticeship is not over 00:45 - The business side nobody prepared you for 01:55 - The Hawaii surfing story 03:20 - Even when the economy dips, trained owners still ride 03:55 - The real problem with figuring business out alone 05:01 - What six years of dabbling taught him about coaching 07:43 - The cost no one talks about: time, relationships, marriages 08:14 - Why good tradespeople go bankrupt 09:16 - What a business apprenticeship actually looks like The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with Dennis: Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

    12 min

  4. Jun 17

    What I'd Do Differently If I Started My Plumbing Business Today

    Send us Fan Mail 👇 Take the Trade Traction Score Assessment and discover what to focus on next in your business:  https://tradetraction.scoreapp.com Every plumber starting out pictures the same thing. Big shop, double doors, wrapped trucks, the whole setup. Dennis spent 25 years building a $12 million plumbing company and says that vision is exactly what holds most trades owners back. The shop should be the last thing you buy, not the first. In this episode, Dennis breaks down what he'd do instead if he started his plumbing business over today. He covers the fixer-upper strategy for building rental income and keeping crews productive, why buying equipment you want instead of what your company needs is a costly trap, and why idle crews sitting in the shop waiting for calls destroys morale and kills sales. The line that stuck: confidence sells. Topics discussed: 00:00 - Why he wouldn't buy a shop first 00:40 - The fixer-upper strategy instead of a fancy shop 01:48 - Spotting project houses while on the job 02:51 - Turning slow days into crew training 04:20 - The $70K mistake and the want vs. need trap 05:19 - Why he never bought a backhoe in 25 years 07:18 - When the big shop is actually justified 08:36 - What he lost by not buying rentals sooner 10:28 - Why idle crews kill morale and sales The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with Dennis: Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

    13 min
  5. Belief #5: Why You're Losing to Worse Companies

    Jun 10

    Belief #5: Why You're Losing to Worse Companies

    Send us Fan Mail 👇 Take the Trade Traction Score Assessment and discover what to focus on next in your business:  https://tradetraction.scoreapp.com Most plumbing companies think they have a marketing problem when they actually have a branding problem. In this video, Gene Johnson breaks down why the best plumbing company doesn't always win—the best marketer does. You'll learn how successful plumbing businesses create a powerful brand, attract more customers, spend marketing dollars more effectively, and grow without relying entirely on Google, Yelp, Angi, or lead generation platforms. Whether you're a plumber, HVAC contractor, electrician, remodeler, or home service business owner, this training will help you understand how to build a business people specifically ask for instead of competing solely on price or paid leads. You'll discover: ✅ Why branding matters more than most contractors realize ✅ The difference between marketing and brand building ✅ How to create a purpose-driven business customers remember ✅ Why throwing money at ads often fails ✅ How to generate more calls without increasing ad spend ✅ The marketing lessons learned from building a successful plumbing company ✅ How community involvement creates trust and referrals ✅ The contractor growth strategy that compounds over time If you're serious about growing your plumbing business, attracting better customers, hiring great technicians, and becoming the company everyone in town recognizes, this episode is for you. Based on Gene's experience building a leading plumbing company, the core message is simple: build a brand first, then amplify it with marketing. #PlumbingBusiness #ContractorMarketing #PlumbingMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness #BusinessGrowth #ContractorBusiness #ServiceBusiness #LeadGeneration #MarketingStrategy #SmallBusinessGrowth Chapters 00:00 Why the Best Marketer Wins 02:02 The Marketing Budget Formula Every Contractor Should Know 04:15 What Yellow Pages Taught Me About Marketing 06:25 Why Most Contractors Market Too Soon 08:40 Building a Brand One Truck at a Time 11:15 The Difference Between Branding and Marketing 13:20 How Customers Learn to Trust Your Company 16:05 The Cycling Team Sponsorship That Built Our Brand 19:30 Why Google, Yelp, and Angi Aren't Enough 22:10 Finding Your Company's Purpose Beyond Plumbing 25:45 The Compounding Effect of Brand Building 28:10 How to Amplify a Brand With Marketing 30:45 The Biggest Marketing Mistake Contractors Make 34:00 The Sewer Liner Lesson That Changed Everything 37:15 Let Demand Force Growth 40:20 Why Every Contractor Needs Business Coaching 43:10 Trade Traction Score App & Next Steps 45:00 Final Thoughts on Winning Through Marketing The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with me on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

    22 min
  6. Your Plumber Is Your REAL Customer (Most Owners Get This Wrong)

    Jun 10

    Your Plumber Is Your REAL Customer (Most Owners Get This Wrong)

    Send us Fan Mail 👉 Take the contractor assessment and learn what your business should focus on next:  https://tradetraction.scoreapp.com Are you struggling to grow your plumbing business, retain plumbers, or build a profitable plumbing company? In this episode, Dennis the Apprentice reveals one of the most important lessons every plumbing business owner must learn: your primary customer is not the homeowner—it's your plumber. Most plumbing contractors focus all their attention on customer service, but the most successful plumbing companies understand that attracting, training, and retaining great plumbers is what drives long-term growth. If you want to grow a plumbing company, increase profitability, recruit top technicians, and build a business that lasts, this mindset shift can change everything. Dennis shares how he transformed his plumbing service business by creating an environment where plumbers wanted to work. You'll learn why paying plumbers more often requires charging more, how flat-rate pricing helped support business growth, why technician retention matters more than most owners realize, and how investing in training can help your plumbing company dominate the market. Whether you're a plumbing contractor, service plumber, HVAC business owner, electrical contractor, or home service entrepreneur, this episode will help you build a stronger team, improve recruiting, increase technician retention, and create a more profitable service business. What You'll Learn: ✔ Why your plumbers are your most important customer ✔ How to attract and retain top plumbing technicians ✔ Why great plumbers can work anywhere they want ✔ How to grow a plumbing company with the right culture ✔ Why cheap pricing hurts your plumbing business ✔ The connection between profitability and technician pay ✔ How training programs attract better plumbers ✔ Why "whoever has the plumbers owns the market" ✔ How to build a plumbing business that top talent wants to join If you're looking for plumbing business coaching, plumbing company growth strategies, plumbing management advice, recruiting plumbers, retaining plumbers, flat-rate pricing strategies, or home service business growth, this episode is for you. 👇 Take the contractor assessment and discover what your plumbing business should focus on next. Subscribe for more plumbing business coaching, contractor growth strategies, service business management, leadership training, and home service business success tips. Chapters 00:00 Plumbing Business Owners Are Thinking About Customers Wrong 01:15 Why Your Plumber Is Your Real Customer 03:20 The Plumbing Business Model Explained 05:10 Why Great Plumbers Can Work Anywhere 07:08 How to Attract Top Plumbers to Your Company 09:42 How Plumbing Companies Pay Plumbers More 12:15 Flat Rate Pricing and Plumbing Business Growth 15:00 The Customer Complaint That Changed Everything 18:05 Why Cheap Plumbing Companies Struggle 20:30 Building a Plumbing Company Technicians Love 23:15 Whoever Has the Plumbers Owns the Market 25:40 Plumbing Training Programs That Attract Top Talent 29:05 Creating a World-Class Plumbing Training Center 32:00 Plumbing Business Coaching and Contractor Growth 35:10 Final Advice for Plumbing Business Owners #PlumbingBusiness #PlumbingCompany #PlumbingContractor #Plumber #ServiceBusiness #H The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with Dennis: Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

    16 min
  7. Most Contractors Stay Broke Because They Don’t Know THIS

    Jun 7

    Most Contractors Stay Broke Because They Don’t Know THIS

    Send us Fan Mail Most plumbing business owners don’t fail because they’re bad at plumbing… they fail because nobody taught them how money actually works in business. In this episode of Trade Traction, Dennis sits down with Electra to break down the money mistakes keeping contractors stuck — from underpricing and cash flow chaos to why most owners are terrified to raise prices. They dive deep into Profit First, flat rate pricing, customer psychology, marketing spend, and the mindset shifts required to build a truly profitable service business. If you’ve ever felt like you’re working harder but still not making enough money, this episode will hit hard. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro & meeting Electra 02:00 – Why contractors avoid looking at numbers 05:34 – The biggest operational mistakes owners make 08:31 – Profit First & fixing cash flow problems 11:48 – Understanding your real numbers in business 15:07 – Flat rate pricing & charging what you’re worth 18:27 – The truth about customer experience in plumbing 21:50 – What profitable companies do differently 25:00 – Why “singles and doubles” build profitable businesses 28:10 – Pricing mindset & why owners undercharge 31:36 – The servant mindset behind great tradespeople 34:43 – Educating customers the right way 38:05 – ServiceTitan, payroll & when to hire help 39:46 – Final thoughts on growing a profitable trade business The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with me on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

    43 min
  8. Clifton Podcast | What Nobody Is Telling You About Trades

    May 29

    Clifton Podcast | What Nobody Is Telling You About Trades

    Send us Fan Mail Most contractors think the hiring problem starts with finding apprentices. But according to HVAC education leader Clifton Beck, the real issue is what happens after they get hired. In this episode of ESCO Institute and Trade Traction, we break down why so many young techs leave the trades early, how contractors are failing the next generation, and what companies must do to actually retain profitable employees long-term. From apprenticeship systems and mentorship to company culture, technology, leadership, and the future of the skilled trades — this conversation is packed with insights every plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contractor needs to hear. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why contractors keep losing good technicians 00:32 – Introduction to Clifton Beck & ESCO Institute 02:10 – Why most contractors misunderstand apprenticeship programs 05:00 – How contractors can shape local trade education programs 09:12 – The biggest reason young techs leave the industry 10:00 – Creating career paths that retain employees 15:00 – How technology is changing HVAC & skilled trades 20:00 – Why money alone won’t keep technicians loyal 25:00 – The massive opportunity still available in the trades 30:00 – The deeper purpose behind skilled trades work 35:00 – Different career paths inside HVAC & plumbing 37:15 – Final message on building a profitable company that keeps great people #HVAC #PlumbingBusiness #SkilledTrades #ContractorBusiness #HVACLife #TradeTraction #Apprenticeships #BusinessGrowth #HVACTechnician #Tradespeople   The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit.  Connect with Dennis: Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dennis-hamon/?skipRedirect=true Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.

    38 min
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The Podcast that helps plumbing and heating contractors stop working for free and actually make a profit!

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