The Reasonable Contractor

Reasonable Tech Dad
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  • Entrepreneurship

Real talk with Twin Cities contractors about running a service business. No corporate BS, just honest conversations with the people who actually do the work. I'm Ryan, the Reasonable Tech Dad, and I talk with carpenters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, HVAC techs, and other skilled trades about what it really takes to build a successful contracting business in Minnesota. Every week, hear from contractors who've figured out how to find good customers, grow their business, and navigate the challenges of running a service company. Whether you're just starting out or you've been swinging a hammer for 20 years, you'll get practical advice from people who've been where you are. This is contractor-to-contractor conversation that helps everyone in the trades succeed. New episodes every week. Real contractors. Real advice.

  1. 3d ago

    Farm Kid to MSP Tile & Floor: Zack Hofer on the ABCD of Winning Jobs

    Zack left a conservative Anabaptist community with a wife, four kids, and nothing else. No money, no credit history, no bank account, and no work experience outside of farming and livestock. This episode is the whole climb: an electrician apprenticeship that couldn't feed a family of six, door-knocking for handyman work, a concrete pour that went sideways and accidentally landed him with a custom home builder, losing it all when that builder went bankrupt during COVID, and the coaching program that helped him rebrand as MSP Tile & Floor. Today he's booked out weeks in advance on Google reviews and referrals alone. He hasn't paid for a lead in years, and he walked me through the exact sales system that got him there. What we get into: • Leaving with nothing and feeding a family of six on an apprentice wage • Farming to electrician to handyman to tile, and why he finally picked one trade • The concrete driveway disaster that turned into custom home work • Getting stiffed in a builder bankruptcy and starting the lead hunt over • The Google Business Profile playbook: reviews, replies, and years without paying for a lead • The ABCD of winning jobs: appearance, behavior, communication, digital footprint • Choice psychology on sales calls: show two options, never fifteen • Needs-based work: turning down vanity remodels, cutting prices for single moms Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Zack's background 01:00 Transition from farming to construction 01:57 Pivoting into electrical work and hustling for leads 03:55 Building credit and business structure 04:56 Rebranding and marketing strategies 07:03 Handling setbacks and business challenges 09:53 Specializing in tile and flooring 13:48 Using digital marketing and Google reviews 18:07 The ABCD sales principles: appearance, behavior, communication, digital footprint 23:49 Psychology of decision-making and simplifying choices 32:00 The power of small gestures: mints and tips 35:58 Building trust and reputation through consistency 39:56 Challenges in the digital landscape and staying compliant 45:04 Advice for the next generation in trades 50:03 Patience, learning, and resilience in business 🧠 FREE 15-MINUTE AI ASSESSMENT: I'll find the one spot AI can save your business the most time and point you at the exact tool to do it, no charge. Message me on Facebook or Instagram and we'll set it up. 📱 CONNECT WITH THE REASONABLE CONTRACTOR: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reasonabletechdad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584817796278 Website: http://reasonabletechdad.com/ 👤 CONNECT WITH ZACK: MSP Tile & Floor: https://msptileflooring.com/

  2. Aug 29

    Transparent Pricing, Real Profit Numbers, and Design-Build with Denny Meints

    Denny Meints of Red Fox Remodeling (Minneapolis, MN) went from building tree houses and roofing houses in the summers to a double major at Bethel, five years of ministry work in Central America building alongside local craftsmen, and a sales job at a construction company that made him its general manager within a couple of years. Then a buddy called out of the blue with three massive second-story additions, and instead of taking the project manager job he countered: contract my brand-new company instead. That was 2022. Now Red Fox runs design in-house, signs guaranteed maximum price contracts instead of cost plus, and bids with 100% transparency: every line item, every hour, overhead, and profit right on the page. Denny gets into why he named the company after the thing people fear about contractors, how a corroded sewage stack behind a kitchen wall becomes an honest change order under a GMP contract, why he's pushing past his resistance to self-promotion, and where he's really at with AI. What we get into: - How a Bethel double major ended up back in the trades - Five years building alongside craftsmen in Central America - Countering a job offer into his first three luxury remodels - Why Red Fox brought design in-house - Guaranteed maximum price vs cost plus, and who carries the risk - 100% transparency bids: overhead and profit on the page - The corroded sewage stack story and how change orders should work - Getting over self-promotion, AI in construction, and advice for the next generation 00:00 Introduction to Denny and Red Fox Remodeling 01:05 Denny's journey from college to construction 02:26 Early experiences in Central America and lessons learned 03:48 Starting in sales and transitioning to general contracting 05:16 Securing large projects early in business 07:24 Scaling to luxury home remodels 09:09 The importance of in-house design 11:16 Streamlining projects for better outcomes 13:17 The value of transparency and risk transfer 15:16 Handling unforeseen issues during projects 18:29 Transparency in bids and pricing details 21:04 The philosophy behind transparent profit and costs 23:25 Complexity of large-scale remodels 24:30 Challenges and realities of running a business 25:30 Marketing, self-promotion, and social media 26:25 The role of AI and technology in construction 28:51 Advice to the next generation of tradespeople 🧠 FREE 15-MINUTE AI ASSESSMENT: I'll find the one spot AI can save your business the most time and point you at the exact tool to do it, no charge. Message me on Facebook or Instagram and we'll set it up. 📱 CONNECT WITH THE REASONABLE CONTRACTOR: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reasonabletechdad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584817796278 Website: http://reasonabletechdad.com/ 👤 CONNECT WITH DENNY MEINTS: Red Fox Remodeling: https://www.redfoxremodeling.com/

  3. Aug 20

    Andy Misiura - How a Window Cleaner Built to 45 Employees and Got Hooked on AI

    Andy Misiura started cleaning windows in high school as a way to make extra money, and 18 years later Kahuna Window Cleaning runs 45 full-time employees and does roughly 2.5 to 3 million a year out of one location in Minneapolis. The through-line he keeps coming back to is simple: he decided young that he was a window cleaner, this was his business, and he was going to become the best at it, instead of starting this and that and chasing the next thing. We get into how he grew it the slow, steady way, the brutal Minnesota seasonality, and keeping a crew together through the winter. Then the back half turns into one of the best AI conversations we have had on the show, from a guy who has only been dabbling about a year. What we get into: • Building a window cleaning business from a high school side hustle to 45 employees and one location • The one biggest secret to lasting: pick one thing and become the best at it, instead of chasing the next shiny thing • Doing 80 percent of the year's revenue in four months, and the real problem of keeping a crew through a Minnesota winter • Only wanting people around who are happy to be there, and building every decision around that • The window cleaning boom, TikTok, and buying a company just to get its door knockers • Getting hooked on AI, and why switching from ChatGPT to Claude was night and day • Asking Claude for a spreadsheet and getting a whole working website instead • Giving your AI a second brain so it actually knows your business, and why it is easy to set up 00:00 Introduction and Andy's background 00:21 From a high school side hustle to committing to the trade 01:14 Growing Kahuna to 45 employees, one location 01:51 The one biggest secret: pick one thing and become the best 03:34 Humility, comparison, and not chasing the next thing 05:32 Early to the web in 2007, and the TikTok window cleaning boom 07:38 Buying a company just for its door knockers 09:16 The water-fed pole boom and door-to-door saturation 11:46 Seasonality: 80 percent of revenue in four months 12:44 The off-season problem and keeping the crew year round 15:04 Building a culture people are happy to show up to 17:08 Getting into AI and the models turning a corner 18:28 Switching from ChatGPT to Claude 19:02 Asking AI for a spreadsheet and getting a whole website 24:17 Give your AI a second brain 29:23 AI for marketing, SEO, and high-rise prospecting with Fable 5 32:07 AI and jobs: we won't run out of problems to solve 34:23 Innovation, abundance, and the room to improve in the trades 🧠 FREE 15-MINUTE AI ASSESSMENT: I'll find the one spot AI can save your business the most time and point you at the exact tool to do it, no charge. Message me on Facebook or Instagram and we'll set it up. 📱 CONNECT WITH THE REASONABLE CONTRACTOR: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reasonabletechdad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584817796278 Website: http://reasonabletechdad.com/ 👤 CONNECT WITH ANDY MISIURA: https://kahunawindowcleaning.com/

  4. Aug 14

    Episode 17: The Truth About Roofing Insurance, With Jon 'Wayne' Weight

    Jon "Wayne" Weight came into roofing from the music world, and he talks about the trade like a guy who likes people more than he likes the sale. He tells the story behind the "John Wayne" name, how a friend's company in Wisconsin got him started, and why the part of the job he actually loves is meeting homeowners and building relationships that outlast the project. He walks through a roof and siding job that went sideways over a misquoted price and an insurance supplement, and how honest communication and one hard conversation turned it into one of the best paying jobs he ever had. What we get into: • Why a good business is neither all emotion nor all profit, and how to walk the middle • The insurance-supplement blowup that nearly killed a job, and the hug that ended it • Texts vs calls, and knowing which conversations have to happen on the phone • Why walking away from a bad fit job is service, not ego • The roofing "gold rush" that's dead: 700 dollars a square is gone, and you supplement nearly every claim now • Why he won't file a claim on a roof that isn't actually damaged • Straight advice for the next generation looking at the trades 00:00 Introduction and Jon's background 00:23 The story behind the "John Wayne" nickname 01:05 Transition from music to roofing 02:25 Getting into the trades and initial experiences 03:11 Building relationships with homeowners 04:37 Project management and customer interaction 05:56 A memorable roofing crisis story 08:22 Dealing with insurance and cost surprises 10:11 The homeowner's reaction and resolution 12:30 Communication: texts vs calls 13:56 What makes Jon a good contractor 16:03 Closing deals with integrity 17:55 Balancing profit and service 19:19 Walking away from bad jobs 20:48 Advice for the next generation in trades 24:24 The changing insurance landscape 27:18 What homeowners should know about insurance and roofing 28:31 Final thoughts and life outside of work 📱 CONNECT WITH THE REASONABLE CONTRACTOR: Website: http://reasonabletechdad.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reasonabletechdad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584817796278 👤 CONNECT WITH JON "WAYNE" WEIGHT: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jon.wayne2

  5. Aug 9

    Episode 16: Pete Cicconi Built Twin Cities Electric on Trust, Not Sales Pitches

    Pete Cicconi of Twin Cities Electric joins the show to walk through his path from a 17-year-old vocational student in Pennsylvania to owning his own electrical company in Shakopee. He talks about a five-year apprenticeship, a health crisis that led to an ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis and a move to Maine, and how he ended up in Minnesota after meeting his wife. He opened Twin Cities Electric right before COVID hit and pushed through it with low overhead and no employees. Pete gets into rebranding the business in 2024 around his golden retriever Bruno, why he's hit a ceiling trying to grow past himself and one apprentice, how he wins bids by leading with trust and transparency instead of price, and why he still writes every estimate custom instead of using estimating software, leaning on AI for cleanup and voice-to-text. He closes with a message to the next generation: drop the college-only stigma and dream big in the trades. 00:00: Introduction and Pete's background 01:16: Early influences and vocational school 02:30: Starting his apprenticeship and moving to Maine 03:55: A health crisis and an ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis 05:56: Relocating to Minnesota and getting licensed 08:02: Starting Twin Cities Electric and navigating COVID 09:59: Building the business and rebranding 12:00: Hiring, training, and growing the team 14:59: Branding, the logo, and the family connection 17:59: The challenges of hiring and how to improve it 20:05: Winning bids and building customer trust 23:01: Using technology and AI in the business 27:03: Explaining the bid process and customer communication 29:55: Advice for young people and future tradespeople 32:58: Encouragement to dream big in the trades 34:56: Closing remarks and contact info 📱 CONNECT WITH THE REASONABLE CONTRACTOR: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reasonabletechdad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584817796278 Website: http://reasonabletechdad.com/ 👤 CONNECT WITH PETE CICCONI: Twin Cities Electric: https://twincitieselectricllc.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twincitieselectric/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063893058090

  6. Aug 7

    Episode 15: Josh Stensgaard - Shotgun Stories, College Dropout, Building Sky Armor

    Josh Stensgard of Sky Armor Roofing Siding Windows (Woodbury, MN) walks through how he went from a college dropout and exterior house painter to running a roofing business built entirely around specialization. He talks about learning to hone in on one thing after a conversation with a business mentor at a Grant Cardone event, why leading with a class four impact-resistant shingle saves homeowners money on insurance, and why he treats roofing clients as one-time customers by design: do the job right once and you never have to go back. Josh gets into what door-knocking actually costs you, including getting a shotgun pulled on him on a call, and why finding a real "why" (not money) is what gets you through it. He closes with how he actually uses AI day to day: ranking for local search, building content, and writing hyper-detailed prompts to get real work out of it, plus why he still pays for a coach even with everything AI can do. He also name-checks Adam Bensman's Roofing Sales Survival Guide and Hormozi's Money Models as reads that shaped how he thinks about the business. 00:00: Introduction and Josh's background 00:28: Josh's journey from college dropout to roofing entrepreneur 02:16: Why Josh chose to specialize in roofing, siding, and windows 04:56: What sets Josh apart in high-end roofing bids 06:46: The importance of experience, attention to detail, and transparency 08:15: Using insurance benefits as a sales advantage 09:16: The significance of a strong 'why' and personal goals 12:03: Challenges of door knocking and building grit 14:25: Crazy stories from door-to-door sales and safety concerns 16:32: The power of branding and social media in roofing 20:33: Overcoming burnout and the importance of perseverance 22:39: Setting and understanding your 'why' for motivation 27:19: The value of trades and career paths outside college 32:02: The role of AI in modern roofing and marketing strategies 36:54: Using AI for content creation, ranking, and business growth 41:38: The importance of detailed prompts and continuous learning in AI 42:44: Closing remarks and future plans 📱 CONNECT WITH THE REASONABLE CONTRACTOR: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reasonabletechdad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584817796278 Website: http://reasonabletechdad.com/ 👤 CONNECT WITH JOSH STENSGARD: Sky Armor: https://skyarmor.us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyarmorexteriors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584528734519

  7. Aug 4

    Episode 14: Four Years, No Website, No Ads: How Lucas Mark Wins Every Bid on Communication

    Lucas Mark has run Freedom Mitigation and Restoration for four years with no website and no advertising. Every job comes from communication and referrals. In this episode he breaks down exactly how: why he films every customer interaction to kill he-said-she-said disputes before they start, why a phone call still beats a text every time, and why "we'll get to it as soon as possible" is the line that kills more contractor reputations than bad work ever does. Ryan and Lucas dig into the volatility baked into remodels, why vague scope language is a trap disguised as a sales tactic, and the one habit that's saved Lucas from losing money more times than he can count: recording video with the customer, framed as "a me thing, not a you thing." Heads up: we hit some connection trouble toward the end and the recording cut off early, so this one runs short. What Lucas got into is all here, and it's worth it. 00:00 Introduction and guest background 00:29 Lucas shares his journey into construction 01:08 Transition from family remodeling to commercial projects 02:20 Choosing residential work for control and manageability 03:23 What makes a contractor successful: communication and reliability 04:34 The role of honesty and trust in client relationships 05:44 Handling scope and scope creep in remodels 07:28 The importance of setting expectations upfront 08:26 Using video to document work and set clear expectations 09:24 Leveraging phone calls and modern tech for communication 10:36 The power of early and consistent communication 12:05 How recording videos helps prevent disputes 13:00 Addressing customer concerns with video evidence 🧠 FREE 15-MINUTE AI ASSESSMENT: I'll find the one spot AI can save your business the most time and point you at the exact tool to do it, no charge. Message me on Facebook or Instagram and we'll set it up. 📱 CONNECT WITH THE REASONABLE CONTRACTOR: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reasonabletechdad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584817796278 Website: https://reasonabletechdad.com/ 👤 CONNECT WITH LUCAS MARK: Freedom Mitigation and Restoration

  8. Jul 21

    Episode 13: 20 Years in Windows and Doors With Mike Bullock

    20 years installing doors and windows, and Mike Bullock has never had to bid a job or sell one. On this episode of The Reasonable Contractor, Mike tells the whole story: hauling garbage at his church, turning down a retail store in South Dakota, and learning windows from one of the best in the business at the Minneapolis Airport Commission. We get into the craft (flashing is the whole game), the grit (a table saw, a 17-foot fall, and going back to finish the floor the same day he got stitches), and why a guy who works with his hands isn't worried about AI. If you're wondering whether the trades are worth it, this one's for you. There's no ceiling. Mike runs Bullock's Home Remodeling, specializing in doors and windows across the Twin Cities. SOUND BITES: "You can talk yourself out of just about anything you don't want to do. But you can also talk yourself into just about anything you need to do." "I didn't have to bid jobs. I didn't have to sell jobs. I didn't have to lose out on jobs to other contractors." "My job's not going anywhere anytime soon. The future of trades is a really promising future." CHAPTERS: 00:00 Meet Mike Bullock, 20 years in doors and windows 00:31 From hauling garbage at church to falling in love with remodeling 01:05 Slinging jeans at the Buckle, and the South Dakota store he turned down 02:29 Getting hired as a helper: humble, quiet, show up 04:36 Why windows and doors are not as simple as they look 05:11 Learning from one of the best at the Minneapolis Airport Commission 06:38 Flashing, insulating, trimming: how a window really goes in 07:16 The specialization payoff: no bidding, no selling, steady work 08:44 The challenge: working through rain, ten below, and 100 degrees 09:49 The mental game: talk yourself into what you need to do 10:18 Andersen crews, big glass, and the danger of the job 12:04 The table saw story: stitches, then back to finish the floor 13:46 Never trust another man's ladder setup: a 17-foot fall 14:20 Shattered wrist, crew trainer, never missed a bill 16:00 Talking to the next generation about the trades 17:05 No ceiling, and why AI is not coming for the work 18:14 A pulse and a hammer versus applying yourself 19:11 Six-figure trades and killing the blue-collar stigma 21:11 Pick your level: freedom, flexibility, no annual review 23:33 Show up on time and you are in the top 10% 24:18 Wrap up KEYWORDS: trades, skilled trades, window installation, doors and windows, contractor, remodeling, trades career, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, apprenticeship, blue collar CONNECT WITH THE REASONABLE CONTRACTOR: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reasonabletechdad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584817796278 Website: http://reasonabletechdad.com/

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Real talk with Twin Cities contractors about running a service business. No corporate BS, just honest conversations with the people who actually do the work. I'm Ryan, the Reasonable Tech Dad, and I talk with carpenters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, HVAC techs, and other skilled trades about what it really takes to build a successful contracting business in Minnesota. Every week, hear from contractors who've figured out how to find good customers, grow their business, and navigate the challenges of running a service company. Whether you're just starting out or you've been swinging a hammer for 20 years, you'll get practical advice from people who've been where you are. This is contractor-to-contractor conversation that helps everyone in the trades succeed. New episodes every week. Real contractors. Real advice.

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  • Creator
    Reasonable Tech Dad
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Reasonable Tech Dad