Profit & Grit with Tyler

Tyler Martin
  • 4.9 (7)
  • Entrepreneurship

Profit and Grit is the no-BS weekly podcast for home service business owners and blue collar entrepreneurs. Each episode features real strategies from successful contractors and industry experts in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and other trades. Hosted by Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home service businesses and the trades, Profit & Grit dives into growth, cash flow, hiring, pricing, and leadership. If you own or want to grow a business in the trades, this home service podcast will help you build a stronger, more profitable company.

  1. 1h ago

    How to Grow Without Experienced Technicians - Austin Blanchard

    Building a multi-trade company is difficult enough when experienced technicians are available. Austin Blanchard and his business partner took a different route by building much of their talent from the ground up. In this episode of Profit & Grit, Tyler Martin talks with Austin Blanchard, co-owner of Dynamech, about growing an HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company toward $5 million in revenue through organic growth without outside investors, loans, or acquisitions. Austin shares why Dynamech hires for character before technical experience, how they train employees across multiple trades, and why clear roles between service and project execution have become increasingly important as the company grows. For trades owners and home service company owners, this conversation offers a practical look at hiring, technician development, business partnerships, performance tracking, margins, systems, and building a company around the strengths of the people already inside it. What You Will Learn in This Episode How Dynamech grew toward $5 million through organic growthWhat Austin looks for when interviewing potential techniciansWhy ownership accountability and positivity matter in their hiring processHow experienced employees eventually became trainers for newer techniciansHow multi-trade training helps Dynamech manage changing workloadsHow extensive photo documentation helps maintain quality during trainingWhy Dynamech separated service from project executionHow service technicians diagnose problems and present options while project teams complete larger workWhy Austin believes being busy does not always mean an employee is creating enough valueHow Dynamech is experimenting with merit-based pay tied to revenue generation and executionWhy the company targets roughly 50 percent gross profitHow owner compensation and overhead can distort reported profitabilityWhy Austin believes financial benchmarks need context before owners compare themselves to other shopsWhy Austin believes a flexible software setup can support Dynamech toward $10 million and beyondHow complementary technical and business skill sets became one of Dynamech’s biggest competitive advantagesMore From Profit & Grit Book your complimentary Financial Insight Session with Tyler Martin, fractional CFO for home services and the trades, here: http://cfointrocall.com Learn more at http://cfomadeeasy.com Follow the show for weekly interviews with HVAC, plumbing, and home service owners and experts who share what it really takes to grow, scale, and profit in the trades. If you listen to any of the following shows, we’re sure you’ll love ours too! To The Point Home Services Podcast, Toolbox for the Trades, Masters of Home Service, Home Service Business Coach With David Moerman, BlueCollar.CEO, The Home Service Expert Podcast, Next Level Pros, Blue Collar Business Podcast, Home Service Millionaire with Mike Andes, The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber, and Blue Collar Success Group. 🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners. 🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com 📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home services and the trades 📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy? Book a free intro meeting

    How to Grow Without Experienced Technicians - Austin Blanchard

  2. Aug 11

    Nobody Talks About This in Home Services - Ashley Stroud

    Growing a trades business from one truck into a multi-million-dollar company can look impressive from the outside. But as Ashley Stroud explains, each new stage of growth brings a different set of problems to solve, from leadership and recruiting to marketing costs, margins, and the systems needed to support a larger team. In this episode of Profit & Grit, Tyler sits down with Ashley Stroud, co-owner of Plumbing Outfitters in the Austin, Texas area. Ashley shares how she went from working in a level one trauma center to helping build a plumbing company with 27 team members and roughly $6 million in revenue. They also talk about the revenue ceilings Plumbing Outfitters has faced along the way, why growth has not been linear, what losing three high-performing plumbers taught the company, how Ashley thinks about gross profit and marketing spend, and why stronger infrastructure becomes more important as a shop gets bigger. What You Will Learn in This Episode How Ashley transitioned from emergency room nursing into the tradesHow Plumbing Outfitters grew from one truck to its first million dollarsWhy hustle can get a business to one stage but not necessarily the nextHow call overflow became an important process improvementWhat Ashley learned from losing three high-performing plumbersWhy technician development should be viewed as a long-term lifecycleHow stronger onboarding can help technicians become productive soonerWhy trades business growth is rarely a straight lineWhat makes the $3 million to $7 million range especially difficultWhy missing a revenue goal can still produce valuable business lessonsWhy top-line revenue does not tell the whole storyWhy understanding your P&L is critical for making better decisionsWhy matching revenue with labor and material costs mattersHow inaccurate timing can distort monthly financial resultsWhy marketing spend needs to match your actual growth goalsHow Ashley and her husband define their roles inside the businessWhy position agreements and scorecards should apply to owners tooHow a strong leadership team helped reduce overlap between co-ownersMore From Profit & Grit Book your complimentary Financial Insight Session with Tyler Martin, fractional CFO for home services and the trades, here: http://cfointrocall.com Learn more at http://cfomadeeasy.com Follow the show for weekly interviews with HVAC, plumbing, and home service owners and experts who share what it really takes to grow, scale, and profit in the trades. If you listen to any of the following shows, we’re sure you’ll love ours too! To The Point Home Services Podcast, Toolbox for the Trades, Masters of Home Service, Home Service Business Coach With David Moerman, BlueCollar.CEO, The Home Service Expert Podcast, Next Level Pros, Blue Collar Business Podcast, Home Service Millionaire with Mike Andes, The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber, and Blue Collar Success Group. 🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners. 🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com 📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home services and the trades 📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy? Book a free intro meeting

    Nobody Talks About This in Home Services - Ashley Stroud

  3. Aug 4

    Why the Lights Went Off at His Plumbing Company - Brent Garrett

    Brent Garrett had already built and sold a successful plumbing and air conditioning company when his next business nearly collapsed under roughly $1 million in debt. In this episode of Profit & Grit, Brent shares how losing sight of the company’s culture and finances led to one of the hardest periods of his career. He explains how he rebuilt the business by improving sales, pricing, financial oversight, technician performance, and leadership. The conversation also covers the messy middle of growth and the key systems trades owners need to build a stronger, more profitable company that does not depend entirely on them. What You Will Learn in This Episode How he built and sold his first company before moving into mergers and acquisitionsHow his business ended up close to bankruptcy and roughly $1 million in debtWhich financial statements and operating numbers trades owners should regularly reviewHow focusing on the customer experience and needs-based selling helped rebuild the companyThe four stages trades businesses move through from owning a job to owning a companyWhy many contractors become stuck in the messy middle around five or six trucksThe five areas Brent says growing trades companies must prioritizeHow technology and CRM systems help prevent growing companies from multiplying inefficient processesWhy marketing and recruiting should be ongoing business functions rather than occasional projectsHow understanding gross profit helps owners price their services correctlyWhy confusing markup with margin can cause a company to lose money on every saleHow Brent works backward from desired profit to establish revenue and overhead targetsHow completed calls, average ticket, revenue, and labor percentage work togetherWhy profitable growth allows a company to reinvest in its people, customers, and long-term legacyMore From Profit & Grit Book your complimentary Financial Insight Session with Tyler Martin, fractional CFO for home services and the trades, here: cfointrocall.com Learn more at profitandgrit.com Follow the show for weekly interviews with HVAC, plumbing, and home service owners and experts who share what it really takes to grow, scale, and profit in the trades. If you listen to any of the following shows, we’re sure you’ll love ours too! To The Point Home Services Podcast, Toolbox for the Trades, Masters of Home Service, Home Service Business Coach With David Moerman, BlueCollar.CEO, The Home Service Expert Podcast, Next Level Pros, Blue Collar Business Podcast, Home Service Millionaire with Mike Andes, The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber, and Blue Collar Success Group. 🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners. 🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com 📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home services and the trades 📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy? Book a free intro meeting

    Why the Lights Went Off at His Plumbing Company - Brent Garrett

  4. Jul 28

    The Real Reason Home Service Companies Run Out of Cash - Stephanie Allen

    A strong brand can help a home service company stand out, but Stephanie Allen’s story shows that the business behind the brand has to be strong too. In this episode of Profit & Grit, Tyler Martin talks with Stephanie Allen, CEO of Airworks Solutions, about building an HVAC and plumbing company around trust, ethics, and long-term customer relationships. Stephanie also shares how one of their toughest years forced them to focus harder on cash flow, cut expenses, tighten systems, and rebuild operational discipline. For HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and multi-trade owners, this episode offers a grounded look at leadership, culture, cash flow, branding, AI, and building a business worth keeping. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why Stephanie and her husband started Airworks SolutionsHow one ethical sales decision shaped the company’s valuesWhy Airworks built its brand around family-run, mom-approved serviceWhat it means to create long-term customer relationships in HVAC and plumbingWhy Stephanie says cash matters more than margin in a hard yearHow a slow 2025 summer exposed gaps in the businessWhy strong businesses still need clean numbers and operational disciplineHow Airworks cut expenses and rebuilt systems after a tough seasonWhy everyone running their own sales process can hurt scaleHow ride-alongs helped Stephanie find gaps in the customer experienceWhy technicians need to understand the why behind each processHow profit sharing helped create more ownership across the teamWhy Stephanie is cautious about offering equity without a clear exit planHow Airworks is thinking about residential, commercial, and future diversificationWhy AI should make teams more efficient without removing the human touchWhat independent trades owners can gain from shared data and collaborationWhy Stephanie believes business owners should build companies worth keeping More From Profit & Grit Book your complimentary Financial Insight Session with Tyler Martin, fractional CFO for home services and the trades, here: cfointrocall.com Learn more at profitandgrit.com Follow the show for weekly interviews with HVAC, plumbing, and home service owners and experts who share what it really takes to grow, scale, and profit in the trades. If you listen to any of the following shows, we’re sure you’ll love ours too! To The Point Home Services Podcast, Toolbox for the Trades, Masters of Home Service, Home Service Business Coach With David Moerman, BlueCollar.CEO, The Home Service Expert Podcast, Next Level Pros, Blue Collar Business Podcast, Home Service Millionaire with Mike Andes, The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber, and Blue Collar Success Group. 🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners. 🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com 📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home services and the trades 📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy? Book a free intro meeting

    The Real Reason Home Service Companies Run Out of Cash - Stephanie Allen

  5. Jul 21

    How to Become the Next GOAT in Home Services - Paul Kelly

    Scaling a home service company is rarely about one big move. Most of the time, it comes down to implementing the right things faster, following through, and improving the small actions that compound over time. In this episode of Profit & Grit, Tyler sits down with Paul Kelly, former leader at Parker and Sons and author of Tricks of the Trade to Success. Paul shares how Parker and Sons grew into a $250 million-plus home service company by focusing on execution, simplicity, accountability, and a thousand small improvements done consistently well. They also talk about sales recovery, customer “wow” moments, growth ceilings, and why the owner’s own leadership often becomes the limit of the business. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why more ideas are not always what your company needsHow implementation separates growing shops from stuck onesWhy simplicity and speed matter when rolling out changeHow Parker and Sons improved its sales recovery processWhy failed estimates and unclosed leads deserve more attentionHow accountability changes the way employees respond to new initiativesWhy owners often train their teams to ignore new ideasHow to make important changes non-negotiable without losing trustWhy growth ceilings are often tied to the owner’s own capabilitiesWhat the fish tank principle means for trades business ownersWhy small improvements can create major long-term growthWhy customer experience matters more than chasing average ticket aloneHow technicians can create more “wow” moments on service callsWhy small acts of service can lead to stronger customer loyaltyHow better customer experiences can create low-cost leadsWhy owners should focus on actions that lead to resultsHow to build a culture where follow-through becomes the standardMore From Profit & Grit Book your complimentary Financial Insight Session with Tyler Martin, fractional CFO for home services and the trades, here: http://cfointrocall.com Learn more at http://cfomadeeasy.com Follow the show for weekly interviews with HVAC, plumbing, and home service owners and experts who share what it really takes to grow, scale, and profit in the trades. If you listen to any of the following shows, we’re sure you’ll love ours too! To The Point Home Services Podcast, Toolbox for the Trades, Masters of Home Service, Home Service Business Coach With David Moerman, BlueCollar.CEO, The Home Service Expert Podcast, Next Level Pros, Blue Collar Business Podcast, Home Service Millionaire with Mike Andes, The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber, and Blue Collar Success Group. 🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners. 🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com 📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home services and the trades 📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy? Book a free intro meeting

    How to Become the Next GOAT in Home Services - Paul Kelly

  6. Jul 14

    The Weekly Numbers That Fix Cash Flow - Ellen Rohr

    A busy trades business is not always a healthy one. The phones can be ringing, the trucks can be moving, and revenue can be growing while the owner is still dealing with tight cash, unclear numbers, and pricing pressure. In this episode of Profit & Grit, Tyler sits down with Ellen Rohr, author, ServiceTitan Ambassador, and longtime champion of the trades, to talk about simplifying the money side of an HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or home service business. Ellen shares how she went from busy and broke in her husband’s plumbing business to understanding pricing, cash flow, financial reports, and the weekly numbers that help owners make better decisions before the month is already over. If you want to build a stronger shop with better pricing, clearer numbers, and more options as an owner, this episode is for you. What You Will Learn in This Episode How Ellen Rohr went from busy and broke to understanding the numbersWhy every trades business must charge more than it costsHow pricing decisions affect cash flow, debt, stress, and optionsWhy raising prices is often more emotional than mathematicalHow trades owners can separate their business from their personal identityWhy understanding your balance sheet and profit and loss is not optionalHow a weekly financial check can help owners catch problems earlierThe key numbers Ellen recommends watching every weekHow gross margin, profit, cash position, and wages affect business decisionsWhy clean financials matter before adding new software or systemsWhy high prices can help protect your team and the full supply chainHow to think about service managers in a growing home service companyHow field supervisors can help create a stronger leadership benchHow trades owners can recover faster from mistakes and keep moving forwardWhy the trades are in a strong position for growth and investmentHow knowing your numbers gives you more options as an ownerMore From Profit & Grit Book your complimentary Financial Insight Session with Tyler Martin, fractional CFO for home services and the trades, here: http://cfointrocall.com Learn more at http://cfomadeeasy.com Follow the show for weekly interviews with HVAC, plumbing, and home service owners and experts who share what it really takes to grow, scale, and profit in the trades. If you listen to any of the following shows, we’re sure you’ll love ours too! To The Point Home Services Podcast, Toolbox for the Trades, Masters of Home Service, Home Service Business Coach With David Moerman, BlueCollar.CEO, The Home Service Expert Podcast, Next Level Pros, Blue Collar Business Podcast, Home Service Millionaire with Mike Andes, The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber, and Blue Collar Success Group. 🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners. 🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com 📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home services and the trades 📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy? Book a free intro meeting

    The Weekly Numbers That Fix Cash Flow - Ellen Rohr

  7. Jul 7

    Why Bland Brands Pay More For Leads - Dan Antonelli

    AI is changing how home service companies think about websites, search, and marketing. But Dan Antonelli’s message is clear: AI is a tool, not a brand strategy. In this episode of Profit & Grit, Tyler Martin is joined again by Dan Antonelli, founder of KickCharge Creative, to talk about AI websites, branding, truck wraps, customer acquisition cost, and why trades companies need to focus on becoming memorable in their market. Dan explains why generic content and bland branding can make HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and multi-trade companies more dependent on Google and paid leads. He also shares how community visibility, branded photography, reviews, and strong truck wraps can help homeowners remember your company before they ever start searching. For trades owners trying to grow without chasing every marketing shortcut, this episode is a reminder that the companies people know, trust, and remember often win before the lead ever comes in. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why Dan says AI is a tool, not a brand or strategyWhat home service owners should know before using AI websitesWhy generic branding can make you more dependent on GoogleHow memorable branding can lower customer acquisition costWhy homeowners still choose companies they know, like, and trustHow truck wraps and community visibility support local lead generationWhy branded photography matters on a home service websiteWhat trades companies can learn from Jolly Goat Garage and Utterly GuttersWhy branding cannot fix weak operations or poor customer experienceHow stronger branding can impact booking rates, conversion rates, and average ticketsWhy family-owned shops need to educate customers about what makes them differentHow Dan connects branding, digital marketing, and measurable business resultsMore From Profit & Grit Book your complimentary Financial Insight Session with Tyler Martin, fractional CFO for home services and the trades, here: cfointrocall.com Learn more at profitandgrit.com Follow the show for weekly interviews with HVAC, plumbing, and home service owners and experts who share what it really takes to grow, scale, and profit in the trades. If you listen to any of the following shows, we’re sure you’ll love ours too! To The Point Home Services Podcast, Toolbox for the Trades, Masters of Home Service, Home Service Business Coach With David Moerman, BlueCollar.CEO, The Home Service Expert Podcast, Next Level Pros, Blue Collar Business Podcast, Home Service Millionaire with Mike Andes, The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber, and Blue Collar Success Group. 🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners. 🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com 📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home services and the trades 📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy? Book a free intro meeting

    Why Bland Brands Pay More For Leads - Dan Antonelli

  8. Jun 30

    From Family HVAC Shop To Scalable Company - Ray Isaac

    Growing Isaac Heating & Air Conditioning from a family HVAC shop into a scalable home service company took more than adding revenue, employees, and trucks. In this episode of Profit & Grit, Ray Isaac shares how the company became more professionally run, why bad leadership can cost more than money, and how family-owned businesses can avoid the traps of entitlement and lifestyle spending. Ray also breaks down the key numbers he watches, including revenue per employee, office salaries as a percentage of revenue, employee loyalty, Google reviews, and succession planning. He also shares what buyers look for when evaluating HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and multi-trade companies. If you want to build a stronger business that does not depend on constant owner heroics, this episode is full of practical lessons. What You Will Learn in This Episode How Ray Isaac grew up inside the family HVAC businessWhy bad leadership creates a major cost in turnover, culture, stress, and performanceWhat Ray means by the “legacy trap” in a family businessWhy family-owned does not always mean family-operatedHow lifestyle business habits can weaken margins and create entitlementWhy Isaac Heating & Air Conditioning operated with very few personal add-backsWhat buyers look for when evaluating home service companiesWhy scalability matters before selling or partnering with private equityHow revenue per employee can reveal whether a company is efficientWhy office salaries as a percentage of revenue should be watched closelyHow employee loyalty scores and surveys helped improve the businessWhy Google reviews can reveal deeper issues in culture and leadershipWhat red flags Ray looks for in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and multi-trade businessesWhy strong systems, succession, and leadership matter more than owner heroicsMore From Profit & Grit Book your complimentary Financial Insight Session with Tyler Martin, fractional CFO for home services and the trades, here: http://cfointrocall.com Learn more at http://cfomadeeasy.com Follow the show for weekly interviews with HVAC, plumbing, and home service owners and experts who share what it really takes to grow, scale, and profit in the trades. If you listen to any of the following shows, we’re sure you’ll love ours too! To The Point Home Services Podcast, Toolbox for the Trades, Masters of Home Service, Home Service Business Coach With David Moerman, BlueCollar.CEO, The Home Service Expert Podcast, Next Level Pros, Blue Collar Business Podcast, Home Service Millionaire with Mike Andes, The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber, and Blue Collar Success Group. 🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners. 🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com 📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home services and the trades 📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy? Book a free intro meeting

    From Family HVAC Shop To Scalable Company - Ray Isaac
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About

Profit and Grit is the no-BS weekly podcast for home service business owners and blue collar entrepreneurs. Each episode features real strategies from successful contractors and industry experts in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and other trades. Hosted by Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home service businesses and the trades, Profit & Grit dives into growth, cash flow, hiring, pricing, and leadership. If you own or want to grow a business in the trades, this home service podcast will help you build a stronger, more profitable company.

Information

  • Creator
    Tyler Martin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Profit & Grit with Tyler
  • Show Website
    Profit & Grit with Tyler

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