Business Management

Funding the Future: Smart Financing Strategies for Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:43:20 -0400

Whether you're looking to acquire a retiring owner's book of business or simply need working capital to bridge the gap between completing a job and getting paid, understanding your financing options is one of the most important business skills you can develop.

The TV Strategy That Builds Trust and Makes the Phone Ring

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:30:39 -0400

TV ads can build awareness, but earned media builds trust. Learn how a strong public relations strategy can position your company as the local expert, increase credibility, and keep your business top of mind when customers need to make a call.

Reins and ProfitWorks Announce Partnership

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:01:46 -0400

The partnership reflects a joint commitment to helping privately owned businesses compete for talent, improve employee engagement and increase enterprise value.

Are “Emergency” Jobs Costing You Money? Rethinking Dispatch Decisions

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Emergency demand will always be part of plumbing and mechanical work. Systems fail. Weather intervenes. Customers need help quickly. But treating urgency as an emotional reflex rather than a validated signal creates inefficiencies that compound as organizations scale.

Nearly 60% of Gen Z Is Considering Skilled Trades Careers

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:33:05 -0400

Industry leaders say Gen Z sees something previous generations may have overlooked: the trades offer purpose, opportunity and a chance to make a tangible impact every day.

Visibility Matters for Contractors During Home Improvement Season

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:20:26 -0400

For contractors, summer is the perfect opportunity to build trust and establish themselves as the experts homeowners can turn to when those projects become more complicated and they need professional support. Home service professionals who have already built credibility and visibility are far more likely to earn that business.

The Execution Gap: Why Great Ideas Die in the Field

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:11:01 -0400

Here is the truth I have seen time and time again: most businesses do not struggle with ideas, they struggle with execution. The gap between what we know and what we consistently do is where businesses either grow or stall.

The Benefits Package Your Best Technicians Are Quietly Comparing You Against

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In a hyper-competitive market, talent poaching happens instantly. Salary matches provide short-term retention, but fail to build long-term loyalty. The true competitive advantage comes from the daily workplace experience.

How a New PHCC Program is Turning Inmates into Tomorrow’s Plumbers and HVAC Techs

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:26 -0400

A new PHCC-backed program inside Hamilton County Jail is equipping inmates with hands-on HVAC and plumbing skills.

The Hidden Cost of Material Procurement in Plumbing Projects

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

While managing field productivity is critical, many contractors routinely overlook a silent profit killer hiding in plain sight: material procurement.

PHCP-PVF Price Increases: June 2026

bellolih@bnpmedia.com (Hannah Belloli-Oster) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Manufacturers announced another round of PHCP-PVF price increases in June, with adjustments affecting insulation, valves, fittings, pumps, water heating products, and specialty plumbing components. See which suppliers raised prices and when the changes take effect.

Clear the Clutter and Make Your Company Ready to Sell

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:29:41 -0400

Whatever the reason, preparing to sell the company you have created and managed is a major decision that requires careful planning.

The New Front Line of Customer Service

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

AI-powered receptionists are emerging as a tool that can help businesses improve responsiveness, streamline operations, and compete more effectively in an increasingly fast-paced market.

Beyond Revenue: The KPIs That Drive Plumbing Profitability

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Revenue may show growth, but KPIs such as gross profit per technician, utilization rates and cash flow provide a clearer view of business performance.

PHCP-PVF Price Increases May 2026

bellolih@bnpmedia.com (Hannah Belloli-Oster) — Mon, 18 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Plumbing and PVF manufacturers announced another round of price adjustments in May, with most increases falling in the low- to mid-single-digit range, while select product categories, including press fittings, grooved products, valves, PVC fittings, and specialty piping systems, saw larger increases.

87% of HVAC and Plumbing Contractors Are Invisible When Homeowners Ask AI

Thu, 07 May 2026 09:30:22 -0400

When a homeowner under 50 opens ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews and asks "my AC stopped working — who do I call" or "best plumber in my city," the answer is almost never one of the 230,000 small or independent contractors in the U.S.

How Plumbing Contractors Can Grow Without Losing Their Team

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Mon, 04 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400

As contractors focus on growth, strong supervisors and clear communication are becoming essential to workforce stability.

The biggest interview mistakes plumbing contractors make with journalists

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

As a contractor, one area you may overlook or may not fully understand is how media visibility can promote your business more effectively than traditional marketing or advertising.

AI can't fix a leak

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

A recent interview with the former CEO of Uber shows that jobs in the trades are on their way to being seen in a new way.

How manufacturers are reframing risk, resilience and return in 2026

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Bryan O'Toole and Paul Spradling weigh in on the state of the manufacturing market, and what it means for contractors.

Rethinking upselling: guide, don't sell

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

When options are framed around lifestyle improvements rather than just technical fixes, customers are far more likely to engage, understand the value and ultimately choose what’s right for them.

What's the best-paying state for a plumber?

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:30:27 -0400

Plumbing remains a stable and essential career, but the competition for talent is increasing. Contractors who understand regional wage trends and adjust accordingly will be better positioned to attract and retain the workforce they need.

Podcast: Rethinking Upselling

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Editor Kristen Bayles spoke with Blake Turner, master trainer at Nexstar, to discuss the misconceptions surrounding "upselling," and how through a few simple steps — focusing on communication, presenting options, and helping customers make informed decisions — contractors can improve both the customer experience and their business outcomes, without ever feeling like a salesperson.

PHCP-PVF price increases April 2026

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:30:40 -0400

The latest round of adjustments, effective from mid-March through mid-April, reflects that same trend, with measured increases across venting systems, brass and PVF components, HVAC parts, controls and copper fittings.

Amplify the trades: How technology and leadership multiply performance

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

One often-overlooked factor in technology adoption is how the human brain responds to change. We’re naturally wired to seek familiarity and avoid uncertainty, especially in high-pressure environments like the trades. When new systems are introduced without context or preparation, the brain reads that change as a threat, triggering resistance or disengagement. That reaction isn’t stubbornness; it’s human nature.

ServiceTitan report finds AI adoption more than doubles among commercial contractors

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:10:13 -0400

Nearly 40% of contractors report measurable AI impact, up from 17% in 2025, signaling a shift toward technology-driven operations.

Building a profitable plumbing business in an uncertain market

chris@reputationigniter.com (Chris Lollini) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The next era of the trades won’t be dominated solely by the most prominent brands or the loudest marketers. It will be shaped by operators who understand efficiency, protect their margins, and invest in genuine relationships.

Job switching drives biggest pay gains in construction, new ADP data shows

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

With skilled labor in short supply, contractors are facing rising wage pressure and a new reality: keeping talent may be harder than hiring it.

Podcast: The cost of missed calls

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode of And So It Flows, Kristen Bayles spoke with Jane Blanchard, head of brand and marketing at Service Forge, about a challenge many contractors underestimate: the true cost of missed calls.

Growing without breaking the business: how mechanical contractors can scale responsibly

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:00:23 -0400

It’s tempting to chase new work without fully evaluating whether the project aligns with operation capacity or financial structure. We’ve all heard, “bigger is better,” after all. However, contractors need to establish clear criteria before pursuing additional work. That includes evaluating a few key factors.