Hypotential Unlocking Business

Kane Tyler Smith

Most trade businesses are not actually as profitable as they look. More vans, more staff, more revenue, and somehow less money left at the end of the month, less time, and a business that only runs because you are in it every day. Hypotential Unlocked is the podcast for residential trade business owners who are done with theory and want to know how the business actually gets fixed. Hosted by Kane Tyler Smith, who built Smartfix from one ute in a Perth garage to a $30.7M multi-trade business with 133 staff, and then faced the hardest moment of his career when the whole thing nearly came apart. Every episode is grounded in what actually happened inside a real business. Operator interviews with trade business owners sharing what worked and what broke. Kane breaking down lessons from real situations. No recycled business advice. No guru content. Just the kind of conversation you would have with someone who has been through it. If you are running a trade business and the numbers are not adding up the way they should, this is the show. Based in Perth, Western Australia. New episodes published weekly at hypotential.com

  1. 1d ago

    Finance, Property Investment and Borrowing Smart as a Business Owner | Dan Steed from Fundd

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Dan Steed, a commercial and mortgage broker operating under Fundd, who spent over a decade in senior roles at Barclays and Lloyds in the UK before moving to Australia and becoming one of Western Australia's top performing bankers at Westpac. In the financial year ending 2026, Dan settled $552 million in new lending. Dan and Kane get into the real stuff: why you should never go direct to a bank, the difference between residential and commercial lending, how to use your home equity to grow a business, the self-managed super fund rule changes every investor needs to know about, why your books looking too lean can stop you from borrowing, how to get a business loan when you have no hard assets, and why a broker's job is not just to find the cheapest rate but the right one. They also swap stories about the hidden costs of running a business, payroll tax mistakes, long service leave, and what Dan would tell anyone thinking about investing half a million dollars today. If you own a business and have never spoken to a broker, this one might change that. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Dan and Fundd: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-steed-4b9aa076/ Website: https://fundd.com.au/

    Finance, Property Investment and Borrowing Smart as a Business Owner | Dan Steed from Fundd

  2. Jul 23

    Startups, Innovation and Turning an Idea Into a Real Business | Isabelle Charter

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Isabelle Charter, Head of Venture Studios at BetterLabs and CEO of Town Square, who has spent nearly two decades building, scaling and investing in startups across Australia and beyond. Isabelle previously built and exited Drip, Australia's first investing app for under 18s, and now leads BetterLabs, the strategic innovation arm of RAC, where she builds and funds new companies from concept to scale. She and Kane get into what it actually takes to turn an idea into a business, why most founders overbuild before validating, how to fail fast and move on, the AI tools changing how startups prototype and test, what a corporate venture studio looks like from the inside, and why saying no to the wrong clients is one of the most important things a growing business can do. They also swap stories about doing too much, losing focus and what brought them both back to their core. If you are thinking about starting something, or you are already in it and wondering why it feels so hard, this one is worth your time. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Isabelle: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-charter/

    Startups, Innovation and Turning an Idea Into a Real Business | Isabelle Charter

  3. Jul 16

    Running a Premium Aircon Business, Sales Process and Growing in Perth | Louis from WestOz Trades

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Louis, founder of WestOz Trades, one of Perth's leading residential and commercial air conditioning businesses. Kane and Louis have known each other for 17 years, going back to their apprenticeship days, and this one has the easy honesty of two mates who have both been through the wringer building a trades business from scratch. Louis runs a team of around 22 staff across the office and road, with a reputation built on premium service, nearly 1000 Google reviews, and a loyal property management client base. He and Kane get into the real stuff: how WestOz Trades moved into commercial work, the cert two course debate and what it is doing to the air conditioning industry, CRM and job management software, SOPs and team communication, the Monday morning toolbox talk that keeps the whole team aligned, a detailed walk through of the WestOz Trades sales process including follow up, how to charge a premium rate and actually win the job, Google ads and lead costs, door knocking as an underrated sales tactic, and what they both wish they had known when they started out. If you run a trades business and want to hear how someone who has been doing it for nine years actually operates day to day, this one is worth your time. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with WestOz Trades: Website: https://westoztradesairconditioningservices.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westoztrades/ Facebook: https: https://www.facebook.com/Westoztrades/

    Running a Premium Aircon Business, Sales Process and Growing in Perth | Louis from WestOz Trades

  4. Jul 9

    Nutrition, Training and Staying Healthy as a Busy Business Owner | AJ from Team Ecto

    In this episode, Kane sits down with AJ from Team Ecto, his personal trainer of five years, for a wide-ranging conversation about what actually works when it comes to health, fitness and nutrition for busy people. AJ has been in the industry for 12 years and works primarily with business owners and time-poor people who are trying to improve their health without overhauling their entire life. He and Kane get into the real stuff: why nutrition is harder than training, how fad diets and influencer misinformation are making things worse, the 80/20 rule for sustainable results, sleep, routine, intermittent fasting, caffeine, digestion, managing kids and downtime, and the mindset shift that actually makes healthy habits stick long term. If you are a busy person trying to figure out where to even start, this one breaks it all down in a way that is actually practical. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with AJ: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aj_teamecto/

    Nutrition, Training and Staying Healthy as a Busy Business Owner | AJ from Team Ecto

  5. Jul 2

    Content Marketing, AI and Why Your Story Is Your Best Business Asset | Sarah from Typeset

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Sarah, co-founder of Typeset, a Perth-based content and writing business, for a wide-ranging conversation about what actually works when it comes to marketing, storytelling and content strategy for business owners. Sarah has a background in software development, enterprise sales and writing, and has spent over two decades helping businesses communicate more clearly and build content that works as a long term asset. She and Kane get into the real stuff: why storytelling matters more than most people realise, how AI has changed the content industry and what businesses should actually be doing with it, the difference between paid ads and organic content, SEO vs content marketing and how to make the two work together, how to find a real expert in a market full of people claiming to be one, and why niching down and saying no to the wrong clients is one of the smartest things a small business can do. If you are a business owner trying to figure out your marketing without wasting money on things that do not work, this one is full of practical advice from someone who has been in the trenches for a long time. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Sarah and Typeset: Website: https://typesetcontent.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcmitchell/

    Content Marketing, AI and Why Your Story Is Your Best Business Asset | Sarah from Typeset

  6. Jun 25

    8 Years of Smartfix, Building a Business With Your Brother | Fin from Smartfix

    In this episode, Kane sits down with his brother Fin, Head of Installations at Smartfix, for an honest look back at eight years of building a business together from the ground up. Fin joined Smartfix as a fourth year apprentice and has worked his way through every corner of the business, from installer to managing a team of over 35 people on the road. He and Kane get into the real stuff: what the early days actually looked like, the challenges of working with family, the period where Smartfix scaled fast to 150 staff and $30 million in revenue before almost losing everything, the systems and communication tools that changed the way the business operates, and what excites them both about where things are heading now. If you have ever wondered what it really takes to build something big, or what happens when it nearly falls apart, this one does not hold back. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Smartfix: Website: https://teamsmartfix.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamsmartfix/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamSmartfixPty

    8 Years of Smartfix, Building a Business With Your Brother | Fin from Smartfix

  7. Jun 18

    Starting an Electrical Business and Pricing Your Work Properly | Angelo from Toptech Electrical

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Angelo, owner of Toptech Electrical, for an honest conversation about what the first couple of years of running a solo electrical business actually looks like. Angelo started Toptech Electrical in June 2024 after working at Smartfix, and has been building his client base from the ground up through Facebook community pages, school maintenance contracts and referrals. He and Kane get into the real stuff: the moment that pushed Angelo to go out on his own, why he hired an apprentice first and what he wishes he had done differently, the challenge of finding that first tradesman, quoting over the phone vs going to site, what did and did not work for lead generation, and why so many tradies undercharge themselves into trouble before they even get started. If you are a tradie thinking about going out on your own or you are in the early stages of running your own business, this one is full of honest lessons from someone who is in it right now. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Angelo: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559665013673 Website: https://toptechperth.com.au/

    Starting an Electrical Business and Pricing Your Work Properly | Angelo from Toptech Electrical

  8. Jun 11

    Starting a Plumbing Business from Scratch, Hiring Tradies and Building Systems That Last

    In this episode, Kane sits down with Rhys, founder of Oceania Plumbing and Gas, for a straight-talking conversation about what it actually takes to build a trades business from the ground up. Rhys started his business in 2019, living at home with mum and dad, just as Covid hit. Three months of uncertainty quickly turned into one of the busiest periods he'd ever seen, and from there he scaled to six vehicles and a growing team. He and Kane get into the real stuff: hiring tradies vs apprentices, keeping staff long term, building systems when everything is chaos, customer service, social media, managing vehicles and insurance, and what they both wish someone had told them when they started out. If you run a trade business or you're thinking about going out on your own, this one is packed with practical lessons from someone who's been in the trenches and figured it out along the way. Follow Hypotential: Website: https://www.hypotential.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypotential_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HypotentialCo Follow Kane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanetylersmith_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaneTylerSmithWA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kanetylersmith Connect with Oceania Plumbing and Gas: Website: https://oceaniaplumbingandgas.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceaniaplumbingandgas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceaniaplumbingandgas/

    Starting a Plumbing Business from Scratch, Hiring Tradies and Building Systems That Last
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About

Most trade businesses are not actually as profitable as they look. More vans, more staff, more revenue, and somehow less money left at the end of the month, less time, and a business that only runs because you are in it every day. Hypotential Unlocked is the podcast for residential trade business owners who are done with theory and want to know how the business actually gets fixed. Hosted by Kane Tyler Smith, who built Smartfix from one ute in a Perth garage to a $30.7M multi-trade business with 133 staff, and then faced the hardest moment of his career when the whole thing nearly came apart. Every episode is grounded in what actually happened inside a real business. Operator interviews with trade business owners sharing what worked and what broke. Kane breaking down lessons from real situations. No recycled business advice. No guru content. Just the kind of conversation you would have with someone who has been through it. If you are running a trade business and the numbers are not adding up the way they should, this is the show. Based in Perth, Western Australia. New episodes published weekly at hypotential.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kane Tyler Smith
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Kane Tyler Smith
  • Show Website
    Hypotential Unlocking Business