Profit & Grit with Tyler

Tyler Martin
  • 4.8 (6)
  • 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. The Shift That Took This HVAC Company From $5M to $11M - Darren Yarbrough

    4d ago

    The Shift That Took This HVAC Company From $5M to $11M - Darren Yarbrough

    After 40 years in HVAC and plumbing, Darren Yarbrough has built Yarbrough & Sons from a small family-run shop into a multi-trade company with more than 50 team members. In this episode, Darren shares how he started the business in 1988 with no big plan, just a need to provide for his family. He talks about growing through word of mouth, getting stuck around the $5M mark, and how the company changed when his three sons joined the business in 2018. We also discuss adding plumbing, why electrical did not work the first time, how the team uses open numbers and profit sharing, and why customer trust and employee care have stayed at the center of the company. Darren also shares his thoughts on debt, average ticket, financing, succession, private equity, and why his family is leaning into transparent online pricing through GetSuite.  What You Will Learn in This Episode  How Darren started Yarbrough & Sons in 1988  Why the business stayed around $5M for years  What changed when his sons joined the company  How they added plumbing successfully  Why the right leader matters when adding a trade  How they share numbers and profit with the team  Why average ticket became an important number  How they think about debt, cash flow, and financing  Why they are not focused on selling to private equity  How transparent online pricing helps qualify customersMore 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

    39 min
  2. Become Your Own Private Equity in HVAC and Plumbing - Dillon Caraway

    May 19

    Become Your Own Private Equity in HVAC and Plumbing - Dillon Caraway

    Private equity has been buying up HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other home service companies for years. But Dillon Caraway believes trades owners have more options than they may realize, especially when financing is used as a growth strategy instead of a last resort. In this episode, Tyler is joined again by Dillon Caraway from Live Oak Bank to talk about how service business owners can use lending to fund acquisitions, buy real estate, access working capital, and prepare for succession. Dillon explains what banks actually look for when evaluating a business, why profitability matters more than top-line revenue, and how clean financials can open the door to bigger opportunities. They also discuss what it means to “become your own private equity,” when buying another company makes sense, how DSCR impacts financing, and why owners need to think carefully before taking on debt, buying a building, or preparing for an exit. What You Will Learn in This Episode How Dillon and Live Oak Bank work with HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other service businesses Why banks care more about cash flow and profitability than revenue What adjusted EBITDA means and why it matters for financing How trades owners can use financing to acquire another business What it means to become your own private equity without giving up control When 100% financing may be available for an acquisition Why keeping cash on the balance sheet matters during growth What banks look for in the existing business, target business, and owner’s personal finances When buying a building makes sense versus continuing to lease How owning real estate can support long-term wealth and succession planning Why trends, work mix, and customer concentration can make or break a deal What DSCR means and why 1.25x is an important benchmark How too much debt can quietly weaken a business Why clean books, accurate tax filings, and stable profitability matter before selling How owners can prepare for succession, partner buyouts, or selling to a key employee Why buyers and banks care about historical performance, not just potential More 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

    43 min
  3. The Big Five Numbers Every Trades Owner Should Track - Mark Paup

    May 12

    The Big Five Numbers Every Trades Owner Should Track - Mark Paup

    At 24, Mark Paup bought a plumbing company from a newspaper ad with four trucks, five employees, and no real plan. More than 25 years later, that decision has grown into Golden Rule, a multi-location, multi-trade business with over 150 employees. In this episode, Mark shares how he went from working two jobs to growing a company across Des Moines, Omaha, and Salt Lake City. He talks about the lessons that came from early setbacks, adding new trades, expanding into new markets, and learning to lead through systems, numbers, and consistency. We also discuss the KPIs Mark watches every week, why cash flow should guide business decisions, and how Golden Rule is using AI in dispatching, call handling, and speed to lead without losing the human side of the business. What You Will Learn in This Episode How Mark bought his first plumbing company at 24 years old Why quitting was never an option, even after the seller competed against him How Golden Rule grew from a small plumbing company into a multi-trade business Why leadership should drive expansion more than location What to know before opening a greenfield location Why Mark says new locations may require a few million dollars in reserve When it makes sense to add another trade like HVAC or electrical Why your first division should be stable before expanding into another service line The KPIs Mark tracks weekly to keep the business profitable Why cash flow should guide spending decisions How Mark uses a financial “quick check” to adjust before the month ends How AI is being used and why AI implementation needs a clear thesis, strategy, and internal communicationMore 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

    46 min
  4. The Hard Truth About Starting A Home Service Business - Mike Venidis

    May 5

    The Hard Truth About Starting A Home Service Business - Mike Venidis

    After years of advising service businesses on growth and marketing, Mike Venidis is now stepping into the owner-operator seat with Good Golly Garage Doors. In this episode, Mike shares what it’s been like to go from giving advice to actually building a business from scratch. He talks about the emotional weight of making the phone ring, buying leads, answering late-night calls, and learning that even great marketing still takes daily consistency and real-world execution. We also get into why Mike and his wife, Jacqueline, chose to build in the garage door space, how they think about brand as a differentiator, and why customer experience matters just as much as technical service. Mike explains how homeowners make decisions based on trust, feeling, and confidence in the people behind the company. On the operations side, we discuss hiring the right first technician, training, speed to lead, and why blended average ticket is one of the most important numbers in the business. If you’re building a service business or thinking about making the leap from advisor to operator, this episode offers an honest look at what it really takes. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why Mike says he was “teaching a game” he had never playedWhat changes when you move from advisor to owner-operatorWhy branding and trust matter in local home servicesHow Good Golly is using customer experience to stand outWhy the first hire is so important in a new service businessThe role of lead buying, speed to lead, and consistency early onWhat blended average ticket means and why Mike tracks itHow Mike and Jacqueline work together as spouses and business partnersWhy garage doors offer both emergency and upgrade opportunitiesHow the Good Golly network model supports operators without being a franchiseMore 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

    47 min
  5. The Habits That Separate Profitable Shops From Busy Ones — Jason Noel

    Apr 28

    The Habits That Separate Profitable Shops From Busy Ones — Jason Noel

    Being busy isn’t the same as being profitable, and in a lot of service businesses, that gap is bigger than most owners realize. Jason Noel from CEO Warrior joins the show, bringing more than two decades of experience helping HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies improve performance and turn around struggling operations. In this episode, we break down why so many service businesses look successful on the outside but struggle financially behind the scenes. Jason shares what he’s seen inside companies doing millions in revenue with little to show for it, and why focusing on top-line growth without structure can actually make things worse. We also get into the fundamentals of improving profitability—from understanding your P&L to dialing in gross margins, job costing, and eliminating inefficiencies in the field. Jason explains how small operational issues like dispatching, inventory, and pricing can quietly erode profit over time. On the leadership side, we talk about the transition from technician to business owner, when it makes sense to bring in a general manager, and the mindset shifts required to stop doing everything yourself. Jason also shares the most common limiting beliefs that keep owners stuck and how to start breaking through them. If your business is growing but the financial side feels unclear or inconsistent, this episode offers a practical look at what needs to change to build a more stable and profitable operation. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why revenue alone doesn’t reflect the health of a service businessHow companies can generate millions and still struggle with profitabilityThe role of gross margin, pricing, and cost of goods in improving profitWhy inefficiencies in dispatching, inventory, and operations hurt the bottom lineHow to use job costing to identify where money is being lostThe importance of clean and accurate financials for decision-makingWhy growth without structure can create bigger problems over timeWhen it makes sense to hire a general manager or operations leaderThe most common limiting beliefs that hold business owners backHow to stop doing everything yourself and build the right team around youThe value of consistency when implementing changes in your business More 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

    44 min
  6. Marketing Mistakes Costing Trades Businesses Thousands - Adam Rich

    Apr 21

    Marketing Mistakes Costing Trades Businesses Thousands - Adam Rich

    Marketing in a home service business doesn’t fail because of a lack of tools or agencies. It breaks down when there’s no strategy, no accountability, and no one owning the outcome. Adam Rich, founder of Rich Ideas, joins the show to share his perspective after more than 15 years helping HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies improve their marketing performance and decision-making. In this episode, we break down what actually drives results in marketing. Adam explains the common traps business owners fall into, from relying on vanity metrics to trusting agencies that prioritize spend over performance, and why more activity doesn’t always mean better outcomes. We also get into the role of a fractional CMO, what it looks like to truly hold marketing accountable, and how business owners can shift from being reactive to making informed, data-driven decisions that impact revenue. On the operations side, we talk about memberships, retention, and why many programs fail to deliver long-term value. Adam shares how to rethink customer relationships, improve renewal rates, and turn everyday service calls into lifetime customers. If you want to get more out of your current marketing, eliminate wasted spend, and build a system that actually produces results, this episode offers practical and actionable insights. What You Will Learn in This Episode What causes marketing to underperform in HVAC and home service businessesWhy many agencies push increased ad spend without clear returnsThe difference between tracking activity metrics versus revenue-driving KPIsHow a fractional CMO improves oversight and marketing accountabilityWhy business owners struggle to evaluate marketing performance on their ownThe core metrics every service business should focus onHow to simplify dashboards and avoid getting lost in too much dataWhy memberships often fail and how to increase customer retentionHow to create more long-term value from existing customersThe importance of ownership, structure, and clear decision-making in marketingHow to better utilize tools and software instead of constantly switching platformsThe mindset shift needed to turn marketing into a true growth drive More 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

    46 min
  7. Fired at 19 to Running a $3M Service Business - Brandon Saiz

    Apr 14

    Fired at 19 to Running a $3M Service Business - Brandon Saiz

    Scaling an HVAC or plumbing business gets difficult when systems, structure, and leadership can’t keep up with growth. Brandon Saiz, owner of NCB Mechanical in Albuquerque, shares how he went from getting fired at 19 to building a multi-million dollar HVAC and plumbing company after starting during COVID with his own money. In this episode, we break down the real challenges of growing a home service business. Brandon walks through costly mistakes that shaped his journey, including a $23,000 workers’ comp audit, a $50,000 CRM decision, and losing a $250,000 contract due to lack of structure and scheduling. We also cover hiring, leadership, and team development... how Brandon shifted from hiring anyone available to building a more intentional team, and why understanding what motivates employees is key to scaling. On the marketing side, we discuss how to think about spend across Google, Yelp, and other channels, why you need to test everything, and how tracking KPIs helps you make better decisions instead of relying on industry averages. If you’re looking to grow, improve profitability, and avoid expensive mistakes, this episode delivers practical, real-world insights. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why HVAC and plumbing businesses struggle when scaling too quicklyHow lack of structure leads to operational chaos and lost revenueWhat causes unexpected workers’ comp audits and how to avoid themThe risks of implementing CRM systems before your business is readyWhy losing a $250,000 contract became a turning pointHow to improve scheduling and operational efficiency in a service businessThe importance of accountability in business growthHow to hire and retain the right technicians and team membersWhy leadership development is critical for scaling a home service companyHow to approach marketing spend across Google, Yelp, and other channelsWhy tracking KPIs and performance metrics drives better decisionsThe mindset required to grow a successful HVAC or plumbing business More 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

    41 min
  8. The $3M to $6M Growth Trap for Home Service Businesses - Janeen Norquist

    Apr 7

    The $3M to $6M Growth Trap for Home Service Businesses - Janeen Norquist

    Growth in a home service business doesn’t break because of a lack of leads. It breaks when communication, structure, and leadership can’t keep up. Janeen Norquist joins me, president and co-owner of Just In Time Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, a growing HVAC and plumbing company based in Illinois. After spending 16 years at 3M, she stepped into the trades and helped build a business alongside her husband from the ground up. In this episode, we get into what it actually looks like to grow a home service company beyond the early stages. Janeen shares the reality of leaving a stable career, the financial pressure in the early years, and how learning the numbers and building the right processes changed their trajectory. We also break down how they use DISC personality profiles across their entire team to improve communication, reduce internal friction, and make better hiring decisions. Janeen explains how understanding how people are wired has led to stronger retention, better leadership, and a more aligned company culture. We also cover role-playing, leadership development, and what it takes to move from around 3 million to over 5 million in revenue without losing control of the business. If you want to scale with better systems, stronger people, and clearer direction, this episode will give you practical strategies you can apply right away. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why home service companies stall in the 3M to 6M growth stageHow communication issues impact team performance and retentionHow DISC profiles help improve hiring and leadership decisionsWhy understanding personality types leads to better customer interactionsHow to build a culture that supports long term growthThe importance of role playing in training technicians and office staffHow to develop leaders instead of just promoting top performersKey financial metrics every HVAC and plumbing business owner should trackHow to improve efficiency and accountability as your business growsWhat it takes to scale a home service business without burning out your team Connect with Janeen Norquist Website: justintimeheroes.com LinkedIn: Janeen Norquist More 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

    47 min
See All (65)

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

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
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Profit & Grit with Tyler
  • Show Website
    Profit & Grit with Tyler

You Might Also Like