Epic Entrepreneurs

Bill Gilliland
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Epic Entrepreneurs! What does it take to build a real and thriving business in today’s world? As entrepreneurs and business owners, we went into business to have more freedom of time and money. Yet, the path of growing a business isn’t always filled with sunshine and rainbows. In this chart-topping show, host Bill Gilliland; author of the best-selling book “The Coach Approach” leverages his decades of experience coaching proven entrepreneurs to make more money, grow the right teams, and find the freedom of EPIC Entrepreneurship.

  1. 1d ago

    My First Customer Asked Me To Kill A Cat with Michael Boehmler, Buzzkill Pest Solutions

    A lot of pest control sounds the same until you meet someone who spent 10 years doing mosquito research in a lab. We’re joined by Michael Ballmer, founder of Buzzkill Pest Solutions, to talk about what happens when scientific training collides with the realities of building a local service business from scratch. Michael breaks down why the pest control industry can feel confusing to homeowners right now, especially with private equity and national brands buying local companies and keeping the names. We dig into how that “fake competition” affects training, service quality, and chemical use, and what customers should look for when choosing a technician. He also explains integrated pest management (IPM), why it often means using less chemical, and why “the label is the law” when it comes to safe, legal pesticide application. On the entrepreneurship side, we get candid about the biggest lie of “working for yourself”, the slow grind of building without big ad budgets, and the stress of trying to secure business funding for equipment. Michael shares lessons learned the hard way about buying cheap tools, why he’s moving toward battery-powered gear, and how free inspections and doing small extra fixes can drive conversions through trust instead of hype. We also touch on AI bug identification, why it’s frequently wrong in the real world, and how bad advice can make infestations harder and more expensive to solve. If you like honest small business stories with practical takeaways and a few truly wild moments, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a local business owner, and leave a review telling us what part you want to hear more about next. CONTACT INFO: michael@buzzkillps.com https://www.buzzkillps.com/ Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/All the best!Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

    My First Customer Asked Me To Kill A Cat with Michael Boehmler, Buzzkill Pest Solutions

  2. 3d ago

    How A Virginia HVAC Startup Scales With Fair Prices with Jesse Bergstrom, Just Chillin

    “Freedom” is the word everyone sells you when you start a business, but Jesse Bergstrom says the truth is heavier and better: freedom is tied to responsibility and self-discipline. Jesse runs Just Chillin, a Virginia heating and cooling company serving real homeowners with real problems, and he walks us through what it feels like to make the leap from side work to going all-in. If you’ve ever wondered whether your business will fly or blow up, you’ll recognize the fear and the focus it takes to commit.  We dig into the unglamorous stress points that trip up small business owners, especially in the trades: HVAC licensing, certifications, accounting, business structure, and figuring out the “next right step” when the information feels scattered. Jesse also talks about the growing blue collar talent gap, why HVAC is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury, and how community and relationships can fill the knowledge gaps faster than Googling ever will.  Then we get practical about scaling a service business: fair pricing in a high-demand market, building trust, and paying a livable wage to drive morale and performance. Jesse shares what he looks for when hiring technicians (curiosity and drive over a perfect resume), plus quick-fire insights on success, failure, burnout, competition, and quality. If you’re feeling stuck, his advice is simple and hard to do: take a breath, reconnect with your why, and delegate what you’re not great at so you can keep moving.  If you enjoy honest small business conversations, listen now, share this with a founder who needs it, and subscribe plus leave a review so more entrepreneurs can find the show. CONTACT INFO: justchillinhvac523@gmail.com https://www.justchillinva.com/ Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/All the best!Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

    How A Virginia HVAC Startup Scales With Fair Prices with Jesse Bergstrom, Just Chillin

  3. 6d ago

    From Slow Weeks To Ice Storm Surges In Cleaning And Restoration with Stosh Fernandez, Voda Cleaning Restoration

    One slow week nearly forced Stosh Fernandez to drive Uber just to keep payroll covered and then the next wave hit with nonstop ice-storm calls for days. That swing from uncertainty to overwhelm is the hidden reality behind “being your own boss,” and it’s why this conversation with Voda Cleaning and Restoration of Greenville is so relatable for anyone in entrepreneurship or small business growth.  We talk through what Voda actually does, from residential and commercial cleaning like carpet, air duct, upholstery, and odor removal to emergency jobs involving water damage, fire cleanup, and mold. Stosh breaks down the operational pressure most people never see: fuel costs, recurring expenses, staffing needs, and the responsibility of taking care of employees even when the calendar looks scary.  You’ll also hear the mindset shifts that helped him move forward, including why he believes 95% of business ownership is hard, how “don’t stop” becomes a practical strategy, and what he learned from early mistakes like not listening closely enough to customer complaints. We dig into hiring, standards, and culture too, including his non-negotiables around honesty and attitude and his approach to “hire slow, fire fast” while still treating people like humans.  If you’re building a franchise, running a service business in Greenville or Western North Carolina, or trying to scale without burning out, you’ll walk away with grounded lessons you can use this week. Subscribe, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. CONTACT INFO stosh.fernandez@myvoda.com https://myvoda.com/greenville-sc/ https://www.facebook.com/vodagreenville?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.instagram.com/vodagreenville?igsh=MXQ1eXk5dXlqZGlpNQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Voda Cleaning & Restoration: Overview | LinkedIn Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/All the best!Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

    From Slow Weeks To Ice Storm Surges In Cleaning And Restoration with Stosh Fernandez, Voda Cleaning Restoration

  4. Jul 22

    How A YouTube Rabbit Hole Became A Real Service Business with Ruben Ramirez, Triad Pressure Washing LLC

    A single YouTube Shorts clip of a driveway getting cleaned sent Ruben Ramirez down a rabbit hole that changed his life and built a real, profitable pressure washing business. He went from 16 years in dental assisting to launching Triad Pressure Washing, funding his leap by selling personal gear, investing in training, and betting on a service business that rewards consistency and craftsmanship. We get honest about what small business ownership actually looks like when you do everything A to Z. Ruben breaks down the marketing lessons he learned the hard way, how he thinks about where to spend (and not spend) limited marketing dollars, and why being firm on pricing is not being rude, it is protecting your time, margins, and standards. He also tackles the most persistent entrepreneurship myth: that owning a business means total freedom. The reality is quotes, texts, estimates, scheduling, and follow-ups can turn a “workday” into a constant rhythm, especially for solo operators. Then we zoom out to growth and leadership. Ruben shares what’s driving his next phase: networking, potential hiring, and a five-year vision that includes adding trucks and expanding coverage. If you’re building a local service business, you’ll love his focus on integrity, customer service, and the mindset shift toward discipline over motivation. Press play for a practical reset on execution, consistency, and doing the work even when you feel overwhelmed, then subscribe, share this with a business owner friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. CONTACT INFO: triadpwllc@gmail.com www.triadpw.com https://www.facebook.com/share/14YwvXNENQn/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.facebook.com/share/1DjbBiFcJD/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.instagram.com/triad_pressure_washing?igsh=MWM0a2l4bjdjOHQ2Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr https://www.tiktok.com/@triadpressurewashing?_r=1&_t=ZT-94xFriJpstB Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/All the best!Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

    How A YouTube Rabbit Hole Became A Real Service Business with Ruben Ramirez, Triad Pressure Washing LLC

  5. Jul 20

    From Corporate Tech To Water Damage Restoration In Asheville with Rob Franks

    A hurricane hit 10 months after Rob Franks bought his company and suddenly “learning on the job” wasn’t an option. Rob joined us to share what it’s really like to run a 24-7 disaster restoration business in Asheville, from water damage restoration and mold remediation to post-storm reconstruction, and what Hurricane Helene taught him about scaling fast without losing quality. We start with Rob’s jump from corporate America, startups, and private equity into local home services ownership, then dig into the unglamorous parts of growth: hiring people you can trust, building delegation muscle, and putting systems in place so the business doesn’t depend on one person. Rob explains why he would evaluate a business acquisition differently today, putting far more weight on reputation, referral networks, Google reviews, domain authority, and local SEO, because customers in an emergency choose whoever looks credible on their phone in minutes. We also unpack a common misconception that frustrates a lot of contractors: “You must be making a fortune.” Rob walks through the real overhead behind professional mold removal and water mitigation, including workers’ compensation, liability insurance, safety gear, vehicles, and the tools that keep teams safe and jobs documented. We close with practical advice for entrepreneurs having a rough year, plus what’s next for Secure Restoration as they expand offices and hire for long-term rebuild work across Western North Carolina and into South Carolina. If you get value from this conversation, subscribe, share it with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. CONTACT INFO: https://securerestoration.com/ Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/All the best!Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

    From Corporate Tech To Water Damage Restoration In Asheville with Rob Franks

  6. Jul 20

    From Military Aviation To A Neighborhood Woodworks Business with Frank Campagna

    You can learn more about business from a neighbor fixing a dock than from a thousand growth hacks. Cliff McCray sits down with Frank Campagna, founder of Campagna Woodworks LLC, to unpack how a retired military aviator accidentally built a thriving neighborhood handyman and woodworking business by doing the basics better than most people do the “advanced” stuff. We talk about the real gap in home services: jobs that are too big for DIY but too small for large contractors, especially in growing subdivisions with aging homes. Frank explains why “set your own schedule” is both the best part of ownership and the fastest path to complacency, and he shares the moment he stopped job hunting and committed to doing this work the right way with an LLC, insurance, and clear standards. You’ll hear how word of mouth becomes a growth engine when you pair it with professionalism: fast callbacks, showing up when you say you will, honest boundaries on what you will and won’t do, and clean itemised estimates that customers can sign digitally. We also dig into the toughest part of service work: pricing fairly when hidden problems add hours, especially when the customer is a friend. Finally, Frank shares how he uses AI tools like ChatGPT for research and pricing guidance while staying clear-eyed that AI can’t replace hands-on craft, only support it. If you run a small service business or you’re thinking about starting one, subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a builder or business owner you know, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one “boring” habit you think matters most: speed, clarity, or consistency? CONTACT INFO: Frankcampagna64@gmail.com Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/All the best!Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

    From Military Aviation To A Neighborhood Woodworks Business with Frank Campagna

  7. Jul 17

    Roof Revival Shows Homeowners Where Every Dollar Goes with Will Welborn

    A roofing quote can feel like a black box: one big number, a handshake, and a lot of faith. We wanted to pull that curtain back, so I brought on Will Wellbourne from Roof Revival to explain a model that challenges how most roofing contractors sell, price, and recommend work. His promise is bold: shockingly transparent pricing, plus a mindset that starts with repair first, explores renewal when it makes sense, and saves full roof replacement for when it’s truly necessary. We also get real about why this approach is showing up right now. Insurance deductibles are rising, more roofs are covered on an actual cash value basis, and homeowners are treating their houses like long term assets. Will walks through how those forces break the “replacement only” script and why itemised pricing matters. He explains how Roof Revival shows materials down to the penny, labor at the installer’s price, and then adds a flat fee that doesn’t change based on shingle choice or add ons, so you can see where every dollar goes. The conversation goes beyond roofing into the everyday reality of entrepreneurship: the hard lesson that customers care most about what benefits them, the myth that owning a business automatically means easy money, and the systems that let an owner step away without the company stalling. Will shares how they hire for character and integrity, how they stay engaged with their team during stressful seasons, and the “find the gap” advice that guides their next phase of growth across the Upstate of South Carolina and into nearby markets. If you found value here, subscribe so you don’t miss the next conversation, share this with a business owner who needs a clearer playbook, and leave a review telling us the biggest takeaway you’re putting into action. Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/All the best!Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

    Roof Revival Shows Homeowners Where Every Dollar Goes with Will Welborn

  8. Jul 15

    What Happens When You Assume You Will Not Get Hacked with Sheldon Mellon

    If you think “we’re too small to be a target,” you are exactly who attackers count on. We’re joined by Sheldon D. Mellon of Paladin Business Consulting, an IT consulting and cybersecurity firm serving companies across the Carolinas, to unpack what really happens behind the scenes when compromise attempts hit and why cybersecurity has to live inside your business plan from day one. Sheldon breaks down the practical goals: protect the business, prepare for disaster recovery, and make sure you can get your data back when the worst happens.  We also go beyond tech and talk about the parts of entrepreneurship people do not put on Instagram. Sheldon shares what it feels like to watch the bank account, manage cash flow, and carry responsibility for employees who have families and bills. We dig into work life balance, why late nights become the only quiet time, and how to recognise burnout before it takes you out. If you are building a startup or scaling an established company, you will hear clear lessons on discipline, leadership, and when growth becomes real.  On the sales side, Sheldon explains what moves the needle in cybersecurity consulting today: customer education. Most owners have heard the word “cybersecurity,” but they do not know the true cost of downtime, outages, and lost trust. He shares why face-to-face meetings still win, how to uncover a company’s pain points, and why long-term relationships and recurring revenue are everything in managed services.  If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with a business owner who needs it, and leave us a review so more entrepreneurs can find the show. What is the one security risk you want to understand better this year? CONTACT INFO: sheldon@paladinbc.net https://www.paladinbc.net/ Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/All the best!Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

    What Happens When You Assume You Will Not Get Hacked with Sheldon Mellon
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About

Welcome to Epic Entrepreneurs! What does it take to build a real and thriving business in today’s world? As entrepreneurs and business owners, we went into business to have more freedom of time and money. Yet, the path of growing a business isn’t always filled with sunshine and rainbows. In this chart-topping show, host Bill Gilliland; author of the best-selling book “The Coach Approach” leverages his decades of experience coaching proven entrepreneurs to make more money, grow the right teams, and find the freedom of EPIC Entrepreneurship.

Information

  • Creator
    Bill Gilliland
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    299
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Epic Entrepreneurs
  • Show Website
    Epic Entrepreneurs