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. What Numbers Drive HVAC Growth? - Lawrence Castillo

    15h ago

    What Numbers Drive HVAC Growth? - Lawrence Castillo

    Lawrence Castillo helped grow Brody Pennell from a roughly $6 million HVAC company into a business approaching $70 million in annual revenue. In this episode of Profit & Grit, Tyler Martin sits down with Lawrence to discuss what changed inside the company as it scaled. He shares the challenges he found when he first arrived, the systems that were built along the way, and the operational discipline required to support that level of growth. The conversation covers recruiting, branding, technician performance, customer experience, pricing, leadership, and the daily metrics that helped the company make better decisions as it expanded. Whether you're running an HVAC company or another trades business, Lawrence offers a firsthand look at what it takes to move beyond the early stages of growth and build a company capable of operating at a much larger scale. What You Will Learn in This Episode How Lawrence Castillo got into the HVAC industry and built a long career in the tradesWhat Brody Pennell looked like when he first stepped into the businessHow the company grew from about $6 million to around $70 million in revenueWhy Lawrence says growth has to be planned carefully before adding more laborWhy his first hire at Brody Pennell was a dedicated recruiterHow recruiting supports HVAC growth before the shop is ready to scaleWhy daily numbers matter more than waiting for month-end reportsThe technician KPIs Lawrence watches, including old call success rate, club conversion, and zero ticketsHow Brody Pennell uses scoreboards and daily reports to create accountabilityWhy mild-weather HVAC markets require stronger customer experience and better maintenance callsHow personality, communication, and training help technicians build trust in the homeWhy large jobs can create risk when they are not priced and managed correctlyHow branding, Google reviews, uniforms, truck wraps, and photos helped rebuild Brody Pennell’s reputationWhat $5 million to $10 million HVAC companies should focus on before chasing the next stage of growthMore 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

    51 min
  2. How to Reduce Fleet Costs in the Trades - Renee Milum

    Jun 9

    How to Reduce Fleet Costs in the Trades - Renee Milum

    For many trades owners, trucks are one of the biggest expenses in the business, but fleet decisions are often made by habit instead of strategy. A paid-off truck can feel like a smart move until repairs, downtime, fuel, maintenance, and lost production start costing more than expected. In this episode, Tyler sits down with Renee Milum, Fleet Advisor at JumpSpark, to talk about how HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and home service company owners can make better decisions around their vehicles. Renee explains what a fleet advisor does, how to think through lease versus buy, and why the true cost of a truck goes far beyond the monthly payment. They also discuss when to replace vehicles, why the 80,000 to 100,000 mile range matters for many gas engines, how downtime quietly impacts revenue, and why fuel cards, cameras, and maintenance management can help owners protect the business. If your shop depends on trucks to generate revenue, this conversation will help you look at fleet management as a business strategy, not just another operating expense. What You Will Learn in This Episode What a fleet advisor does for trades and home service companiesWhy paid-off trucks are not always the cheapest optionHow downtime affects revenue, labor, repairs, and customer serviceWhy owners should look beyond the monthly paymentWhat total cost of ownership means for service vehiclesThe difference between retail leases and commercial fleet leasesHow leasing can help preserve cash for other areas of the businessWhy upfitting, wraps, ladder racks, and shelving should be part of the vehicle planWhen gas vehicles should typically be reviewed for replacementWhy diesel vehicles may have a different replacement timelineHow maintenance management programs help control repair costsWhy fuel cards are useful for fleets of any sizeHow cameras can support safety, accountability, and liability protectionWhy proactive fleet planning is better than waiting for a breakdownHow AI and fleet data are helping owners make smarter replacement decisions 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

    42 min
  3. Why This Plumbing Company Shares 50% of Profits - Dustin Marx

    Jun 2

    Why This Plumbing Company Shares 50% of Profits - Dustin Marx

    After building and exiting a $100 million company, Dustin Marx chose a very different next move: buying a small plumbing company doing around $15,000 a month. In this episode, Dustin shares how that business grew into a company running at roughly a $10 million pace, and why the growth came from listening to the field, building around the right people, and creating a culture where the team understands the numbers. He talks about why Mother Modern Plumbing focuses on one trade, how they put plumbers at the top of the org chart, and why open book management has helped the team make better decisions. We also discuss the 50% profit sharing model, why every truck forecasts its own performance each Friday, how Dustin thinks about gross profit and cash, and what trades owners can learn from building a company where employees are treated like true partners in the business. What You Will Learn in This Episode How Dustin went from building a $100 million company to buying a small plumbing shopWhy he chose to focus on one trade instead of adding HVAC or electrical too earlyHow Mother Modern Plumbing grew from $15,000 a month to a $10 million run rateWhy Dustin believes being a student instead of the expert helped the company growHow listening to plumbers led to a major shift in the service modelWhy putting the field team at the top of the org chart can improve the customer experienceHow open book management helps employees understand revenue, costs, cash, and profitWhy every truck forecasts its own performance every FridayHow forecasting helps the team adjust before the month is already overWhy Dustin focuses on getting each truck to produce around $50,000 per monthHow profit sharing can change team behavior and encourage better business decisionsWhy managing cost of goods sold matters for protecting profitabilityHow the team responded when Local Service Ads traffic droppedWhy Dustin sees adversity as part of building long-term business strengthWhat trades owners can learn from creating a company people would actually want to work in 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

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

    May 26

    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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
See All (68)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
7 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
    68
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Profit & Grit with Tyler
  • Show Website
    Profit & Grit with Tyler

You Might Also Like