Field notes from the operations side.
One short, opinionated lesson at a time. What I'm seeing inside contracting shops, what I'd do about it, and what's working right now.
- May 26, 20264 min read
The quote you sent isn't dead — it's waiting for one more text
The most common job contractors lose isn't the one they bid wrong — it's the one they bid right and never followed up on. The three-touch cadence that re-opens most "lost" quotes, in under five minutes per estimate.
Read it - May 18, 20264 min read
Word of mouth still works — it just runs through Google now
"All my work is word of mouth" isn't the flex contractors think it is. The referral still happens — but the homeowner checks you online before they ever call. Here's what they find.
Read it - May 12, 20265 min read
Modernizing a trade shop isn't about buying software
Most contractors hear 'modernize' and think expensive CRM. The actual gap is much smaller — and the customer under 50 already expects you to close it. Five basic shifts you can make in a single afternoon.
Read it - May 4, 20265 min read
Why the contractor with the worse website is beating you on Google
Most owner-operators spend $5,000 on a website while their Google Business Profile sits half-finished. Five free fixes that put contractors into the local 3-pack within 60 days.
Read it - May 1, 20262 min read
The five-minute rule that doubles your close rate
If you respond to a new lead in five minutes or less, you're 5× more likely to close them than the shop that responds in an hour. Here's how to actually do it without hiring.
Read it