Items Tagged with 'plumbing contractors'

People from all over the world came together with a shared purpose: to learn, grow, and help one another succeed. I sat with plumbers from Georgia during one session, and over lunch, I joined a group from Wisconsin. We talked about everything from the unique challenges of running a business in different regions to funny on-the-job stories that reminded us all why we love this industry.

Approximately twenty years ago, we got a call from someone who owned three identical apartment buildings in a nearby town. His name was Leonard. He recently visited an annual building-owners trade show and heard that we knew how to fix and properly adjust outdoor reset controls. Leonard called us, and we made an appointment.

As many companies adopt growth-oriented language, it’s important to explore the tactical strategies behind it. Key benchmarks to consider include: What roles do we need to fill in the next few years? How do we retain our experienced employees? Who is our ideal customer and how many will we have in three years? What are our projected revenues in 5 and 10 years? Are our plans aligned with healthy gross and EBITDA margins?

We didn't fully grasp the dangers since no one was OSHA certified or required to comply. It wasn't until one employee reported feeling faint while testing backflow preventers in a large underground pit that I recognized the risks. My right-hand man, also the Deputy Chief of the local hazmat team, had expertise in air quality testing.

Not every ride-along ends in a hire, and that’s by design. Last year, a candidate with over 20 years of experience applied. On the phone, he nailed every question with the right answer and knew what to say to capture my attention. His resume looked solid, so I invited him for a ride-along. But when he joined our team, the cracks appeared.

Not every ride-along ends in a hire, and that’s by design. Last year, a candidate with over 20 years of experience applied. On the phone, he nailed every question with the right answer and knew what to say to capture my attention. His resume looked solid, so I invited him for a ride-along. But when he joined our team, the cracks appeared.

If you’re leading a plumbing team today, you’re probably dealing with a whole mix of generations, attitudes, and learning styles. The top-down, “Because I said so,” approach may have worked in the past (barely), but it’s not cutting it now. The truth is, people don’t want to be managed—they want to be developed.

It’s about clarity and consistency. Are your techs empowered to say no to unreasonable requests? Do they feel supported when a client pushes back? Do your customers understand the value behind your pricing, and the fact that your team isn’t just delivering a service, they’re delivering their skill, time and care?

Too many plumbers overlook the opportunities presented by home and garden shows. Attendance at shows has been increasing every year since the pandemic. Up to 90% of attendees are homeowners. Attendees are typically 35-64 years old and affluent. They attend the show because they want to make improvements in their homes and yards.

On large jobs, we sometimes hire subcontractors to help us out. Other times, we will do all of the work in house. Often, we rent tools that make the job easier.