Podcast
Next Level Pros
Hosted by Chris Lee · EN
Welcome to Next Level Pros, where we explore the journeys of some of the most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs from around the world. I'm your host, Chris Lee.
Throughout my career, I've founded multiple nine-figure companies and learned a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in the world of business. Now, I want to share those lessons with you by bringing on guests who have their own incredible stories to tell. I'm on a mission to find the most unique and entertaining individuals that have done it the right way.
57episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How to Make Your Company Impossible to Forget
4w ago00:51:27Summary readyMost companies don’t have a service problem… they have a perception problem.In this episode, Chris Lee sits down with Dan Antonelli, founder of KickCharge, to break down what actually makes a brand unforgettable—and why most home service companies get it wrong from day one.From naming your business to designing your trucks, website, and overall customer experience… every piece of your brand is either building trust or costing you opportunities.Dan shares what he’s learned from building over 3,000 brands, including:The #1 mistake owners make when naming their companyWhy “looking average” is silently killing your growthHow branding lowers your cost to acquire customersThe real reason customers are willing to pay a premiumWhy weak brands rely on Google… and strong brands don’tHow branding impacts recruiting, close rates, and even your exit valuationIf you want your company to stand out, charge more, and become the obvious choice in your market… this conversation will change how you think about branding.Connect with Dan Antonelli:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dan.antonelliBranded Not Blanded: https://www.kickcharge.com/tips-tools/our-books-on-branding/Website: https://www.kickcharge.com/
SummaryHow To Use Social Media To Generate Endless Leads For Your Home Service Business | Jade Sprake
Mar 2600:31:49Summary readyMost home service companies post finished work and five star reviews, then wonder why nobody cares or calls. In this episode, Jade Sprake breaks down how she generated over 10 million views by making content that feels human, story driven, and actually social, even without a camera crew. You’ll learn what to film day to day, how to make homeowners feel connected to you, and why a personal brand can win jobs even when you’re not the cheapest.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqbPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
SummaryHow This HVAC Tech Sold $4.1M in One Year (Do This To ACTUALLY Increase Your Sales!) | Zack Reynolds
Mar 1200:49:45Summary readyMost techs fail because they lead with a price tag, but Zack Reynolds just proved that slowing down is the fastest way to hit $4.1 million in a single year. We’re diving deep into the exact "front door" psychology he uses to dismantle a homeowner’s guard and turn simple maintenance calls into massive, high-margin victories. If you want to stop being a "parts changer" and start building real authority in the field, this is the masterclass you’ve been waiting for.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqbPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
SummaryWhy Most Trades Owners Can’t Scale Sales (And the Fix) Built on Doors, Not Google: The $500M Growth Playbook How Door-to-Door Scaled a $500M Company and Why It Works Anywhere
Jan 2200:45:56Summary readyIn this episode, Chris Lee sits down with David Royce — founder and former chairman of Aptive — to break down how a $500M+ pest control business was built (and scaled) through door-to-door, culture, and a recruiting system that translates to any home service company.If you’re in HVAC, plumbing, roofing, solar, or electrical, this isn’t a “pest control story” — it’s a blueprint for raising your growth ceiling by building a team that can win year-round (including shoulder season).You’ll hear why door-to-door puts you back in control when demand drops, how to make the shift from technician to manager to true scaler, and how the best companies turn “secret sauce” into systems, training, and repeatable process. David also breaks down what he means by “obsession,” why it shows up in every high performer, and how Aptive created real buy-in with a 25% employee equity pool that produced life-changing payouts for key people.If you want to stop relying on luck, seasonality, and “hoping the phone rings,” this conversation will change how you think about growth.Connect with David Royce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-royce-22539425/CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqbSPONSORSPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
SummaryContractors Are Sitting on a 90% Margin Service (And Don’t Know It Yet)
Jan 1600:41:32Summary readyYou’ve got an add-on service sitting right under your customers’ feet — and it can save lives and add serious profit to your business.In this episode, Chris Lee sits down with Jeff LeBlanc to break down the “invisible” threat most homeowners don’t even know they’re living with: radon gas. Jeff explains what radon is, why you can’t see/smell/taste it, and why it’s tied to a shocking percentage of lung cancer. Then they shift into the contractor opportunity: how testing works, why it’s such an easy loss-leader, what mitigation actually involves, and why this can be a high-ticket, high-margin service that most home service companies still aren’t offering.They also talk through real-world install time, basic certification requirements, how to sell this through education (not fear), and why this vertical is wide open for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and general contractors who already have a customer database and membership plans.Connect with Jeff: jeff@radonrepair.caCONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/...FACEBOOK: / chrisleeqb TIKTOK: / chrisleeqb Partner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
SummaryAI Isn’t Replacing Human, It’s Losing You Jobs
Jan 800:49:23Summary readyOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP: / 1bmudi9htk In 2025, two forces are colliding fast: AI and blue-collar trades.In this episode, Chris Lee sits down with the team from Callsource to unpack what’s actually happening when home service companies replace CSRs with AI voice/text bots — and why it can quietly destroy trust, create missed revenue, and damage your brand even when the phones are ringing.They break down real call data (including thousands of inbound calls handled by AI), the hidden “zero outcome” problem, incorrect dispositions inside the CRM, and why most owners don’t realize the damage until conversion drops and the backlog tightens. Then they get practical: what a hybrid AI + human model looks like, how to build a manual process first (even if it starts in a spreadsheet), and how fast follow-up and human empathy can recover deals your competitors would’ve taken.If you run a plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or other home service business and you’re considering AI for inbound calls, this is the episode you need before you flip that switch.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/...FACEBOOK: / chrisleeqb TIKTOK: / uc6m5_nuhcx-jdtyb4ge8giq Partner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
SummaryYOUR Prices Are the Reason Your Business Is Struggling
Dec 2300:08:19Summary readyJOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bmudi9HTK/Most business owners think charging less makes them more competitive. In reality, it’s the fastest way to stay stuck, burn out, or shut down. In this episode, Chris Lee teaches you why “affordable” pricing quietly destroys teams, margins, and long-term stability — and how one early pricing mistake led to a $2.2M bankruptcy.Pricing isn’t just a number. It’s a signal to your market, your team, and your future. If you’ve ever wondered why your business feels harder than it should, this conversation will permanently change how you think about price, profit, and positioning.CHRIS SOCIALSCONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqb
SummaryHow to Stand Out and Sell Without Competing on Price
Dec 1100:05:07Summary readyJoin our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bmudi9HTK/Can’t clearly communicate the pain you solve, who you solve it for, and why you’re the best option, you don’t have an offer… you just have a service.In this video, Chris Lee teaches you the simple structure that turns a basic service into a powerful offer customers actually buy. When you frame your message around pain, proof, and promise, your close rate goes up, your marketing hits harder, and you stop competing on price.If you want a business that grows because of your offer — not in spite of it — start here.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqbSPONSORSPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
SummaryThe First 5 People Every Trades Business Must Hire
Dec 500:06:23Summary readyJoin our Facebook Group: / 1bmudi9htk Most business owners hire because they’re exhausted. The ones who scale hire because the math says it’s time.In this video, you’ll learn the five critical hires every growing business needs — and the exact order to make them so you can scale without blowing your budget.Chris Lee breaks down the same hiring sequence he uses with hundreds of home-service and trades owners to help them buy back their time, build real teams, and remove themselves from day-to-day chaos. These five seats exist in every company from $0 to $100M, and once you understand them, you’ll know exactly where to start — and what’s been holding you back.You’ll also learn the math behind smart hiring: how to calculate your fixed costs, your gross margin per job, your true break-even point, and how to know with certainty whether you can afford a new hire. No emotion. No guessing. Just clarity.If you’ve completed the Impact Audit or watched our Impact Quadrant breakdown, this video is the natural next step. By the end, you’ll know how to move from “I need help” to building a team that runs the business with you — not because of you.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/...FACEBOOK: / chrisleeqb TIKTOK: / chrisleeqb SPONSORSPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
SummaryThe ONE Audit That Scales Your Business Fast
Dec 400:05:15Summary readyJOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bmudi9HTK/Most business owners think they’re burned out because they’re doing too much. The truth is you’re burned out because you don’t actually know where your time is going — and that’s the reason your business isn’t scaling.In this video, Chris walks you through the Impact Time Audit: the one-week process we use with trades and home-service owners to reveal exactly where their hours are disappearing. Once you see the truth on paper, everything changes. You’ll know what tasks drain your energy, which ones are below your pay grade, and what your next hire should actually be doing.You’ll also learn how to track every 30 minutes for seven days, assign Energy and Value levels, place each task into the four Quadrants, and diagnose where your time leaks are. Most owners discover 20+ hours a week trapped in low-value, low-energy work — the busywork that keeps you stuck.This audit gives you clarity. It shows you the exact tasks your next hire should take off your plate and gives you the path to scale without adding chaos.Start your Impact Audit today, and next week Chris will walk you through the five hires every real business needs — and how to know exactly when you can afford them.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqbSPONSORSPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
Summary