OWNR OPS Podcast

Austin Gray @theownerop
  • 5.0 (33)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Starting a business by offering a service to your local community is one of the greatest entrepreneurial opportunities of our time. While most people search for a remote job and try to build the next tech unicorn, you can start a business in your own back yard. Join your host, Austin Gray, as he shares tips from behind the scenes of starting and growing his own local service businesses in bite sized 10 min episodes. PLUS, tune in for special guest interviews, where Austin hosts other entrepreneurs who have started local service businesses in markets across the US.

  1. How To Do SEO For Blue Collar Business

    5D AGO

    How To Do SEO For Blue Collar Business

    💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops Can AI actually run parts of your blue collar business better than you? Andy Walker thinks so—and he built the tools to prove it. In this episode, Austin Gray sits down with Andy, co-founder of Stryker Digital, who shares how he used ChatGPT, Claude, and Replit to build a custom retention system in just 10 days—something that would’ve taken 30 devs a full year. From SOP automation and speed-to-lead hacks to real-time customer health scores and AI lead qualification—this is a blueprint for the future of service-based businesses. You’ll learn: Why “mega prompts” are the secret to getting elite AI outputs How to automate SOP creation using ChatGPT’s Canvas tool Andy’s AI sales system that flags churn risks before they happen What tools and data you need to train an AI assistant Why home service businesses are primed for an AI-powered takeover If you’re in HVAC, roofing, land clearing, or any service business—this episode gives you a look into how the pros are building the future with AI. 🔥 Services We Use 🔥We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube 🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo 💰 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros: https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownropsWant to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business? 📩 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → https://ownrops.com/newsletterDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

    1h 14m
  2. How To Win More Jobs w/ Speed To Lead

    DEC 13

    How To Win More Jobs w/ Speed To Lead

    💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️⁠ https://skool.com/ownrops⁠ Can you really make 6 figures in 60 days—and still run a tight, high-ticket business? Steve Hunsaker proves it's possible. In this episode, Austin Gray sits down with Steve, founder of Valley Christmas Lights and Home Service Accelerator, who shares the exact systems, sales playbook, and paid ad strategies behind his explosive seasonal success. From postcard ROI and CRM attribution to speed-to-lead systems and why he won’t train competitors in his own market—this is a masterclass in building lean, profitable service ops. You’ll learn: How Steve turned $5K in postcard ads into $28.5K in October sales Why accurate lead tracking is non-negotiable for growth The speed-to-lead system that outpaces every competitor Why sticking to high pricing builds a better business long-term How to avoid being “busy but broke” in seasonal services If you’re in lights, landscaping, junk removal, or any local service business—this episode is packed with tactical clarity. 🔥 Services We Use 🔥 We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing ➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here:⁠ https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube⁠ 🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker SEO:⁠ https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo⁠ 💰 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros:⁠ https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops⁠ Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business? 📩 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: →⁠ https://ownrops.com/newsletter⁠ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

    2h 27m
  3. How to Price Land Clearing Jobs: 3 Rules for Better Clients and Profit (with Jacob Neffendorf)

    DEC 5

    How to Price Land Clearing Jobs: 3 Rules for Better Clients and Profit (with Jacob Neffendorf)

    💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️https://skool.com/ownrops How should land clearing operators price their jobs in 2025? In this episode, Austin Gray sits down with Jacob Neffendorf, founder of Land Clearing Growth, to unpack everything from day rates vs. project pricing to instant estimate tools, client education, and why pricing transparency actually drives better leads. Jacob shares what’s working right now across 120+ land clearing companies—from pricing psychology and “good, better, best” packages to avoiding tire kickers, improving qualification, and marketing smarter on Facebook. You’ll learn: Why job-based pricing usually beats hourly or day rates How to use estimate tools to qualify leads before you ever pick up the phone The top mistakes new operators make when pricing their first few jobs How to get local Facebook content ranking on Google What mindset shift Jacob says will unlock better clients (and more profit) If you're in land clearing, fire mitigation, or any blue-collar service business—this episode is packed with tactical, field-tested insights you can apply today. 🔥 Services We Use 🔥 We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing ➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube 📞 QUO- Business Phone System That Scales With You: Get 20% off your first 3 months. https://www.quo.com/ 🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business? 📩 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → https://ownrops.com/newsletter

    46 min
  4. How To Create Estimates With AI Automatically

    NOV 28

    How To Create Estimates With AI Automatically

    💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops Can AI really generate construction estimates better than a human? Alex Boyd says yes—and built the proof. In this episode, Austin Gray sits down with Alex, founder of Brushwork Land Clearing, who reveals the full tech stack he uses to automate his sales process from start to finish. Using a pendant to record conversations, ChatGPT to summarize and price jobs, and Housecall Pro to send instant estimates—this is the future of blue-collar automation. You’ll learn: How Alex trained AI to understand brush density, terrain, and job pricing The exact tools he uses to automate everything from estimates to social posts Why switching from per-day to per-project pricing was a game changer How AI helps land more jobs with better accuracy The framework any contractor can use to build their own AI estimating system If you’re in land clearing, landscaping, tree service, or any local service business—this episode is packed with real-world, tactical automation strategies. 🔥 Services We Use 🔥 We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing ➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube 🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo 💰 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros: https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business? 📩 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → https://ownrops.com/newsletter Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

    1 hr
  5. Alex Built & Sold His Landscape Business

    NOV 21

    Alex Built & Sold His Landscape Business

    💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops How do faith and business intertwine in the life of an entrepreneur? In this episode, Austin Gray talks with Alex Kirby, a former pastor who turned his passion for landscaping into a thriving multi-million-dollar business. Alex shares his journey of overcoming initial challenges, scaling debt-free, and how his faith played a pivotal role in his success. Alex reveals: How he built Trifecta Landscaping from the ground up The importance of aligning business with your core values Marketing strategies that didn’t require big ad spend The mindset shifts required to scale past the $250K revenue barrier Why he chose to franchise and the lessons from his expansion Whether you’re a tradesman or an entrepreneur, Alex’s insights on blending faith, hustle, and business are invaluable. Tune in to learn how to grow your business and create a lasting legacy while staying true to your values. 🔥 Services We Use 🔥 We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing ➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube 📞 QUO- Business Phone System That Scales With You: Get 20% off your first 3 months. https://www.quo.com/ 🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business? 📩 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → https://ownrops.com/newsletter Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

    1h 8m
  6. $100M Leads, Offers, & Money Models In Home Services

    NOV 14

    $100M Leads, Offers, & Money Models In Home Services

    What’s the real math behind profitable growth in home services? In this episode, Austin Gray talks with Andy Walker (Stryker Digital) about using LTV : CAC (LTGP : CAC), Average Order Value, and speed-to-lead to scale—without racing to the bottom on price. Andy shares: His practical $2K podcast/production mindset applied to service marketing. A step-by-step speed-to-lead framework (3-minute call, 7-day follow-up, long-tail nurture) Facebook vs Google Ads for high-ticket services (roofing, mitigation, remodeling) Bonus-stacked offers, guarantees, and timeline commitments to win without discounting. How weekly manual reporting builds data discipline and sharper decisions Why focus beats shiny objects—and when to expand. Whether you’re in the trenches scaling a local service brand or optimizing your acquisition flywheel, this episode gives you the playbook to raise AOV, improve LTGP : CAC, and outspend competitors profitably. Listen in to turn your marketing into a durable growth engine. 🔥 Services We Use 🔥 We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing ➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube 🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo 💰 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros: https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business? 📩 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → https://ownrops.com/newsletter Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

    1h 4m
  7. Apply $100M Money Models To Land Clearing Business

    NOV 7

    Apply $100M Money Models To Land Clearing Business

    💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops How do you scale a land clearing / forestry mulching / fire mitigation business from busy operator to true owner? In this live episode, Austin Gray talks with Jacob Nefendorf (Rise Online Ads, Land Clearing Growth) right after the $100M Money Models launch and an acquisition.com strategy day. Jacob lays out the exact marketing and ops moves that drive qualified jobs—not vanity views. You’ll learn: The Operator → Owner path at $1M, $5M, and beyond How to define and qualify your ideal customer (machines, revenue, mindset) The 72-Hour Booking Machine to 3× your close rate from existing leads Why pricing pages & “cost to clear land” content cut tire-kickers The framework: test on TikTok/IG → scale winners with Meta ads When YouTube beats everything for older landowners & education Systems and processes that make your company sellable Follow Austin (THE OWNROPS) and Jacob (Land Clearing Growth), grab the free book via growth.riseonlineads.com, and subscribe to the OWNROPS Podcast for more service-business growth playbooks. 🔥 Services We Use 🔥We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing ➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-youtube 🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo 💰 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros: https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business? 📩 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → https://ownrops.com/newsletter Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

    46 min
  8. FB Ads Don't Work For Land Clearing Biz

    OCT 31

    FB Ads Don't Work For Land Clearing Biz

    💰Learn Google Business, Facebook Ads, and Automation tips for your Blue Collar Business ➡️ https://skool.com/ownrops Are Facebook ads dead for local service businesses? Not even close. In this episode, Austin Gray chats with Jacob Neffendorf, founder of Rise Online Ads — an agency managing Facebook ad campaigns for over 125 land clearing businesses nationwide.  Jacob unpacks how he’s helping operators land six-figure jobs, get 100+ leads per month, and scale with simple, proven strategies. You’ll learn: How one video ad landed a $425K right-of-way clearing job Jacob’s preferred pricing model: day rate vs. by-the-job The biggest mistake land clearing operators make in sales What to say in a 2025 Facebook ad (hint: targeting is changing) How focusing on one niche can transform your agency or service business Whether you’re a contractor or a marketer, this is a tactical deep dive into what’s actually working right now. 🔥 Services We Use 🔥 We use Jobber to handle our estimates, scheduling, & invoicing ➡️ Get 20% off Jobber here: https://go.getjobber.com/ownrops-spotify 🚀 Get ranked #1 On Google With Stryker SEO: https://stryker-digital.com/?el=oo 💰 Bookkeeping: Get 50% off bookkeeping for 3 months with the Home Service Bookkeeping Pros: https://dialedinbookkeeping.com/ownrops Want to learn more about starting and scaling your own service-based business? 📩 Sign up for the OWNR OPS Newsletter: → https://ownrops.com/newsletter Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes with blue collar entrepreneurs sharing their best insights and growth tips!

    1h 18m
See All (112)

5
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Starting a business by offering a service to your local community is one of the greatest entrepreneurial opportunities of our time. While most people search for a remote job and try to build the next tech unicorn, you can start a business in your own back yard. Join your host, Austin Gray, as he shares tips from behind the scenes of starting and growing his own local service businesses in bite sized 10 min episodes. PLUS, tune in for special guest interviews, where Austin hosts other entrepreneurs who have started local service businesses in markets across the US.

Information

  • Creator
    Austin Gray @theownerop
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Austin Gray @theownerop
  • Show Website
    OWNR OPS Podcast

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