Matt Michel is an award-winning writer and CEO of the Service Roundtable. The Service Roundtable is an organization founded to help service contractors improve their business.
Every now and then I talk with a plumber who gripes about manufacturer ads in the trade press. Usually, the plumber believes the money could be better spent elsewhere, such as consumer advertising to make it easier for the plumber to sell the manufacturer’s products. Here are seven reasons why manufacturers advertise in the trade press.
A strong banking relationship is critical for securing loans and for establishing and maintaining lines of credit. Relationships are not built overnight. Here are the steps you need to build a good relationship with a bank.
Should you hire apprentices instead of journeymen and master plumbers? Some contractors are finding more long-term success by building their team from the ground up.
You know him (or her). He is the irrational employee. The irrational employee is usually a good producer or an essential person. Here is how to manage him, instead of letting him manage you.
Here are 46 business proverbs or truths that apply to the plumbing profession, presented in no particular order. Accompanying each is a question every plumbing company owner should ask about his company.
Plumbing contractors are not known for their marketing prowess, yet marketing can drive more calls. The simplest marketing might be the sales promotion. Here are the steps.
A product with a "Made in America" label is not necessarily made in the United States. It could be made in Canada or Mexico. Do you want products made in America or the USA?
It is always a mystery why more plumbers fail to emphasize drain cleaning — if they offer it at all. Some think it fails to offer enough revenue. Others think it presents too much low-dollar competition. Here are five solid reasons every plumber should offer drain cleaning.
There has been a lot of private equity activity in the service trades since the COVID-19 lockdowns. Suddenly, boring old businesses gained monetary sex appeal when they were declared essential and could continue making money while many other local businesses were effectively shuttered. This has led to a land rush for good service contracting businesses and many plumbers have grabbed the brass ring while the grabbing was seen as good.