Are you concerned that college tuition fees will deplete your savings? In today’s episode of PowerTips Unscripted, we have Brad Baldridge on the show to assist business owners in planning for their children’s college education without sacrificing their retirement funds. Brad discusses how owning a business can impact college finances and whether there are any benefits that business owners can leverage to aid in paying for college expenses.

Brad Baldridge is one of the nation’s leading college financial experts. He teaches families the best ways to plan, save, and pay for college so they can make their children’s college dreams come true without wiping out their finances or their retirement.

Brad, Vicotria, and Mark talk more about:

• Are things different for business owners when it comes to planning and paying for college?
• And more…

The post How Business Owners Can Tame the High Cost of College with Brad Baldridge – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The remodeling industry is highly competitive and some may be tempted to break the rules. Although some may do it intentionally, others may start with good intentions, but over time the line between right and wrong becomes blurred. Thomas Croessmann will be joining the show to discuss the consequences of breaking the rules, which in some cases can result in jail time.

Thomas Croessmann is the Managing Partner of Croessmann & Westberg, P.C., a construction law firm in the DC area. The firm is a full-service law firm for construction contractors. Thomas has worked with many of the Remodelers in the Metro D.C. area.

Thomas, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• What are the dangers of hiring an undocumented worker?
• What are the legal concerns with a contractor front-loading the payments of a project?
• What is a Captive Trade Contractor?

The post The Fine Line: The Legal Consequences to Questionable Business Practices with Thomas Croessmann – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Accurately estimating a project is critical to profit,  and one of the most challenging components of that estimate is labor. 

Can you estimate labor simply and accurately? Are you spending too much time estimating labor for each job?  Guest Chad Vincent thinks so.  Tune into this episode to hear all about his new method towards becoming more effective in the estimation process.

Chad is the CEO and owner of Renaissance Remodeling in Boise, Idaho. He began his remodeling and construction career at a young age working for his dad in the family business and has been expanding his presence, expertise, and success in the field ever since. Chad values staying ahead of the curve and accepting nothing but the best in an ever-changing industry. He’s been a Roundtables Member since 2017 and is a member of the Krypton group! 

Victoria, Mark and Chad talk more about:

• Dealing with “slips” in estimating
• Educating designers on this process
• Cutting back on the time it takes to estimate
• And more…

The post A Secret Shortcut to Estimating Labor with Chad Vincent – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

When it comes to the employees who are responsible for onboarding and managing your clients, providing consistent coaching and training to your team is crucial for achieving success. One of the most effective techniques for training your team is through the ‘ride along’ or shadowing method. Although this process can be time-consuming, Jef Forward has introduced a new approach to the ride-along. Additionally, he discusses how he employs AI during training and the sales process to help improve the effectiveness of their sales team.

Jef is the Owner of Forward Design Build located in Ann Arbor, MI. He has been a facilitator for Remodelers Advantage Roundtables for numerous years and has been a member of the Roundtables family for even longer. Jef is known as a visionary, an idea guy, and ahead of the curve in most things tech.

Victoria, Mark, and Jef talk more about:

• How has the use of AI affected the business?
• AI trackers and how to use them effectively?
• Using AI apps in a face-to-face meeting
• And more…

The post Improve Team Performance with Virtual Ride-Alongs with Jef Forward – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Worried about a steady flow of leads? If referrals are your main source of business, a structured, reliable process for generating them is essential! Many companies claim their top leads come from referrals, yet few have a formal strategy in place. In today’s episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Doug Howard shares a proven method for building a consistent referral system that works.

Doug Howard, a senior consultant with Remodelers Advantage since 2017, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Having facilitated over 8 Roundtables meetings each year, Doug has worked with hundreds of remodeling clients to help them master their financials, refine processes, and boost profitability.

Doug, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• What is a referral engine?
• Who should be responsible for generating referrals?
• What will cause people who already like us to send more referrals?
• And more…

The post The Steady Referral System with Doug Howard – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E4 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Today on PowerTips Unscripted, we’re excited to welcome Bjorn Johnson to the show! As General Manager at TraVek Remodeling and Roofing, Bjorn shares insights into the company’s journey as one of Arizona’s most trusted leaders in remodeling and roofing. Tune in to hear about TraVek’s dedication to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, which has cemented its strong reputation in the industry.

Bjorn, who is passionate about sales and supporting his team’s growth both in and out of the office, joined TraVek for its solid foundation, core values, and great culture. He finds fulfillment in helping others succeed and is committed to making a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Join us as he unpacks the challenges, successes, and secrets behind TraVek’s top-tier service!

Bjorn, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• How is TraVek different from competitors?
• What do you attribute your success to?
• What is in the future for TraVek?
• How are you handling these trying economic times in the construction industry?
• And more…

The post How to Build a Reputation That Stands the Test of Time with Bjorn Johnson – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E3 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Successful organizations rely on accurate financial information to make informed decisions. But what sets great organizations apart is having a formal month-end close process in place. This ensures that financials are completed, reviewed, corrected, and ready for leaders and managers to use confidently in decision-making. In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Doug Howard joins us to break down what a strong month-end close process looks like and how to implement it effectively.

Doug Howard, a senior consultant with Remodelers Advantage since 2017, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Having facilitated over 8 Roundtables meetings each year, Doug has worked with hundreds of remodeling clients to help them master their financials, refine processes, and boost profitability.

Doug, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• What is included in a good month-end process?
• How should financials be reviewed to know they are correct?
• Who should be involved in the financial process?
• And more…

The post A Month-End Close You Can Actually Make Business Decisions From with Doug Howard – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E2 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

We’re big believers in the power of blogging to generate interest and business. Today we’re talking to someone in the trenches who’s also a believer, because it’s helped him in growing his business, gaining credibility, elevating customer loyalty, and  — most importantly — generating cost-effective, exclusive leads.

In this episode, Mike Foti discusses his business case for blogging with Victoria and Mark, and tells you how you can do the same.

Mike is president of Innovate Building Solutions of Cleveland, OH, a regional remodeling and nationwide wholesaler of grout-free shower and tub wall panels, wet room systems and glass floors, and also of Innovate Home Org, a designer and installer of custom home organization systems. In the eight years he’s been blogging on his News from the Block blog, it’s grown to 85,000 visitors per month and 19,000 email subscribers — and he has two other blogs. Mike is a self-described DMG (Digital Marketing Geek) and loves learning how to increase traffic and leads without forking over big bucks to “Mr. Google.” He’s also a crazy one-hour-a-day runner – even after suffering two heart attacks over the last two years. Finally, Mike is a reinvigorated Cleveland Browns fan and says (just like Baker Mayfield) he’s feeling a little dangerous today.

Mike started blogging after a digital marketing consultant told him how it would help his business, and he admits his first attempts weren’t so good. Mike shares his five reasons to blog, tips for finding the time to do it, and the benefits, including:

• Avoiding pay-per-click costs
• Why he doesn’t do Facebook ads
• Becoming known as an expert and building a following
• Why it works for project-based businesses
• The importance of being consistent
• Attracting tire-kickers and turning them into leads
• The power of information, influence, and education
• If you can’t write, finding someone who can
• Giving yourself permission to not be very good at first
• How to generate ideas — taking questions from your sales calls and answering them
• Why the weirdest jobs make the best stories
• Writing awesome headlines
• Sharing who you are for a personal connection
• How to entertain while educating
• And more …

The post How to Capture Cost-Effective, Exclusive Leads by Blogging with Mike Foti – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Season 6 of PowerTips is here!

Every business owner knows that the road to growth is filled with challenges—some of which can feel overwhelming. But in this episode, we’re talking to an entrepreneur who’s not only faced those obstacles but has led his business to remarkable success.

Join hosts Victoria and Mark as they sit down with Greg Harth, president of Harth Builders—a nationally recognized, award-winning design-build firm in Greater Philadelphia. Recorded live from the 2024 Remodelers Summit, Greg, a longtime Roundtables member since 2012 and second-generation owner, shares his journey of taking the reins from his father Allyn and building on the company’s legacy.

Victoria, Mark, and Greg talk more about:

• Navigating the challenges of generational business transitions.
• How a commitment to professional development helped Greg lead Harth Builders to new heights.
• Practical tips for overcoming setbacks and staying focused on growth.

The post Live From Summit with Greg Harth – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E1 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Victoria and Mark are just back from their own peer group meeting, and were inspired by what they learned. In particular, they were excited by something they heard from another member, Wayne Rivers.

Wayne has a video blog, and we’re picking up one of his episodes about leadership. He says leaders tolerate bad behaviors in their organizations too often, and it can cost you money and time. The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate. You may hear some things that hit home for you in his talk.

Wayne Rivers, the co-founder and President of Performance Construction Advisors, and celebrated for his four influential books. He’s a sought-after media figure, appearing on Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and “BusinessWeek: WEEKEND,” and serves as a Wall Street Journal Expert Panelist. In addition, Wayne’s wisdom is featured in Forbes, Fortune, BusinessWeek, and The New York Times. With a wealth of articles, a 15-year blog, and workshops for prestigious organizations like Harley-Davidson and YPO, he brings a wealth of experience to PCA. Honored as a Fellow of the Family Firm Institute, Wayne’s dedication reflects his passion for building better contractors.

Wayne gives examples of toxic employee behavior in his talk today, and tells you how you can curb them, including:

• The reasons you keep bad employees
• Why you need to have performance reviews
• The definition of stewardship
• Why you need to have a recruiting system
• Developing your spine
• The benefits of outside support for leaders
• The improve or remove system
• And more …

The post A Leader’s Inactions Are Just as Important as Actions with Wayne Rivers – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Small business owners spend a lifetime building a company and have one shot at getting their exit right. Yet waiting to pounce on this unsuspecting group is a legion of financial mercenaries, private equity predators and corporate giants set up to prey on owner’s lack of experience when it comes to mergers and acquisitions. These...

The post How to Build, Accelerate and Harvest the Value of a Company with John Warrillow – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.