In a new episode of And So It Flows, Chris Buttenham discusses how retention planning can help plumbing contractors protect company value before a future sale.
Buttenham says plumbing business owners should start thinking about retention years before a sale, especially if they want the company to thrive after they step away.
New integration with performance incentive platform comes as skilled trades face turnover crisis.
April 28, 2026
The integration connects Linxup’s driver safety data directly into Applause’s technician scorecard, making it easier for field service businesses to recognize good performance, reinforce safe behavior, and reduce turnover
This session aims to empower home service contractors to build stronger teams.
April 14, 2026
The Warrior Trades Academy will bring together contractors for hands-on training, strategic planning and peer collaboration focused on finding and keeping skilled employees.
Faced with costly turnover and a tightening labor market, Cooper’s Plumbing & Air partnered with Reins to launch an equity-based incentive system that gives employees real ownership in the business. The approach has boosted retention, strengthened culture, and offers a model for how contractors can keep teams engaged beyond paychecks alone.
Reverse mentoring is transforming the plumbing contracting industry by pairing seasoned professionals with younger employees. This innovative approach fosters cross-generational learning, enhances adaptability, and drives growth for the business's future.
Retaining skilled employees is vital for plumbing and HVAC contractors. High turnover leads to disruptions and decreased customer satisfaction. To address this, many are finding innovative ways to encourage retention, including unique approaches from new companies.
Things like timeliness, on-budget delivery, superb communication skills and flexibility all convey a contractor’s approach and their execution capabilities. As such, the success of every project boils down to planning.