Podcast
The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber
Hosted by Tom Reber · EN
Stop stressing out about your contracting business and take back control. The Contractor Fight is bringing respect and dignity back to the trades one contractor at a time. Discover how to market, sell, and consistently produce your projects at a profit with industry expert and powerful motivator Tom Reber.
Stop stealing from your family.
Earn what you're worth.
Build a business that serves you.
53episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Do This When You’re Frustrated With Your Team
3d ago00:14:23Tap to summarizeDo This When You’re Frustrated With Your TeamWhen business gets hard, morale gets weird, and your team starts slipping, it’s real easy to let your frustration lead the room.That’s a mistake.In this episode, Tim and Derek talk about what contractors need to do when they’re frustrated with their team, when the business is in a low, and when they feel like snapping instead of leading. They get into the reality that leadership still starts at the top, why your people may be carrying more than you realize, and how to handle team issues without becoming the problem yourself.This is a conversation about self-regulation, accountability, and doing the thing you don’t want to do when you don’t want to do it. Because when your company hits a rough patch, your team still needs leadership — not your bad mood.Tim and Derek also talk about what to do when business slows down, why fun and reset matter more than most owners think, and how to lead people in a way they’ll remember for the right reasons.In this episode:What to do when you’re frustrated with your teamWhy team problems usually lead back to the ownerHow to lead when morale is low and business is hardWhy your employees may need more from you than you realizeHow to address behavior without blowing up your cultureWhat to do when business is slow and your team needs a resetWhy your people will remember how you made them feelIf you’re a contractor trying to build a stronger team, become a better leader, and stop letting frustration run your business, this one’s for you.Ready to scale your contracting business? Check out The Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com
Transcribe →Stop Letting Marketing Companies Rob You Blind
6d ago01:04:49Tap to summarizeJoin us in Colorado: https://go.thecontractorfight.com/forgeContractors don’t just get screwed by bad marketing agencies.They get screwed because they hand over money, stop asking questions, ignore their numbers, and hope some “expert” is going to save their business.In this episode, Tom Reber sits down with Josh Osborne for a raw conversation about contractor marketing, business ownership, resilience, and why so many contractors keep getting bled dry by people who don’t understand the trades.Josh is Tom’s partner at No Excuses Media, and together they break down what contractors need to stop doing if they want their marketing to actually work. They talk about the mistakes contractors make when hiring marketing help, why your message matters more than your tactics, and why no lead source in the world can fix weak leadership and a victim mindset.Tom and Josh also dig into Josh’s backstory...getting given up for adoption at 12, building a multi-million-dollar business, suffering a heart attack at 28, losing everything, and rebuilding his life and business from the ground up.This one is about marketing, but it’s also about ownership.About getting punched in the face and getting back up.About stopping the excuses, leading from the front, and building a business that doesn’t keep draining your wallet and your life.In this episode, Tom and Josh cover:Why most contractors get burned by marketing agenciesThe biggest mistakes contractors make when hiring marketing helpHow to know if a marketing company actually understands your businessWhy your message is more important than the latest marketing tacticHow victim thinking wrecks your growthWhy owning your numbers is still non-negotiableJosh’s story of losing everything and rebuildingWhat contractors need to do to market smarter and stop getting bled dryIf you’re tired of wasting money on marketing, tired of guessing, and tired of getting sold a bunch of crap by people who’ve never run a contracting business, this episode will hit home.Share it with another contractor who needs to hear it and make sure you subscribe to The Contractor Fight for more no-BS conversations on sales, profit, leadership, and building a business that actually works.About The Contractor FightThe Contractor Fight helps home improvement contractors make more money, sell better, lead stronger, and build businesses that actually support the life they want. Through coaching, training, content, and community, Tom Reber and The Fight have helped thousands of contractors stop undercharging, stop winging it, and start building profitable companies with intention.If this episode hit home, share it with another contractor and subscribe for more straight-talk business advice from The Contractor Fight.
Transcribe →One Phrase...$35,000
1w ago00:25:55Tap to summarizeCheck out BATTLEGROUND: https://thecontractorfight.com/battlegroundTim and Derek get into the real numbers behind running a profitable contracting business, why most owners have no idea what their overhead actually costs them, and how that blind spot kills their confidence at the table.They share the $5,000 retainer move that locked in a $35,000 job, why scheduling for profit beats scheduling by calendar, and the uncomfortable client conversation that turned a $7,000 mistake into a $23,000 opportunity.If you don't know your numbers, you're not running a business. You're guessing.Ready to grow to a couple million in revenue with higher profits? Book a call here.
Transcribe →Exactly What to Say When You Hear: "You're Too Expensive."
2w ago00:07:36Tap to summarizeCheckout The Command: https://thecontractorfight.com/commandContractor sales training for handling price objections. If you've ever heard "you're too expensive," this video shows exactly what to say, how to uncover the real objection, and how to close more contractor jobs without discounting your price.Every contractor hears it. You spend time building rapport, inspecting the project, and putting together a professional proposal—only to hear: "You're too expensive." Most contractors immediately start defending themselves, explaining their materials, experience, reviews, and warranties. That's usually the fastest way to lose profit and lose control of the conversation. In this episode, Tom Reber breaks down exactly what to say when a prospect tells you you're too expensive, how to uncover what's really behind the objection, and how to handle price concerns without discounting your work. You'll learn: • The simple question that changes the entire conversation • Why price is rarely the real objection • How to diagnose instead of defend • The difference between a price problem, budget problem, comparison problem, and decision-maker problem • Why discounting too early kills deals • How to uncover the real reason prospects hesitate If you're tired of hearing "you're too expensive" and losing jobs you should be winning, this podcast is for you. 🔥 Want to master sales conversations, objections, pricing, and closing more profitable work? Join The Command: https://thecontractorfight.com/command
Transcribe →Contractor Sales Has Changed. Have You?
2w ago00:30:29Tap to summarizeContractor Sales Has Changed. Have You?The way homeowners buy today is different than it was just a few years ago.They're researching more. Comparing more options. Taking longer to make decisions. Visiting your website multiple times before they ever reach out. And when they do reach out, many aren't ready to buy—they're gathering information.Unfortunately, many contractors are still selling like it's 2014.In this episode, Derek and Tim discuss the real-world changes they're seeing in today's market and what contractors must do to adapt. From follow-up systems and video communication to AI tools and trust-building conversations, they break down what it takes to win more jobs in an era where buyers have more information and more hesitation than ever before.In This Episode:Why homeowners are taking longer to make buying decisionsThe importance of speed in your sales processHow better follow-up can dramatically increase your close rateWhy FaceTime and video calls build trust fasterThe role AI should (and shouldn't) play in your sales processHow to stay top-of-mind without becoming a pestWhy educating prospects is now a competitive advantageThe communication skills every contractor must developHow to handle prospects who aren't ready to buy todayWhat today's buyers really need before they'll say yesThe Bottom LineThe contractors who thrive over the next few years won't necessarily be the cheapest, the biggest, or even the most talented.They'll be the ones who adapt.They'll be the ones who communicate better.They'll be the ones who follow up consistently.They'll be the ones who build trust before asking for a commitment.Contractor sales has changed.Have you?👊 Ready to level up your sales game?Check out The Command, our live sales training program built specifically for contractors:The Command Sales Training ProgramFollow us on Instagram for daily content, sales tips, and contractor business insights:@contractorfightLearn more about The Contractor Fight:The Contractor Fight
Transcribe →AI Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Contractors
3w ago00:05:24Tap to summarizeWatch This: https://youtu.be/C8Me5SpjcPY?si=CSMLN4e7FNfSvXMCEveryone is talking about how AI is going to replace jobs.Lawyers are worried.Writers are worried.Marketers are worried.Accountants are worried.Meanwhile, you're in one of the safest industries on the planet.AI can't paint a house.AI can't install a roof.AI can't build a deck.AI can't sit across from a homeowner and earn their trust.In this episode, Tom explains why AI may actually be the greatest opportunity skilled trades professionals have ever seen.You'll learn:• Why contractors are uniquely positioned to benefit from the AI revolution• How smart contractors are using AI to save hours every week• What tasks should be automated and what should never be automated• Why trust, communication, and sales are becoming more valuable than ever• The one skill that will separate winning contractors from everyone else over the next decadeThe contractors who thrive won't be the ones who ignore AI.They'll be the ones who use it to eliminate busy work while doubling down on the human skills that technology can't replace.Because at the end of the day, homeowners don't buy paint, roofs, kitchens, or remodeling projects.They buy certainty.They buy confidence.They buy trust.And trust is still a human game.If you're ready to improve your sales process, close more profitable work, and build a stronger business, check out THE COMMAND at https://go.thecontractorfight.com/command
Transcribe →He Broke His Leg on a Sunday. I Was at the Hospital on Monday.
3w ago00:16:48Tap to summarizeWATCH THIS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/C8Me5SpjcPY?si=pgar2FOCHlNI5E2aWhen Tim's employee Zach sent him a picture of his leg at midnight, he knew something was wrong. Two broken bones, surgery scheduled, and the first thing Zach was worried about wasn't his leg. It was his job. That hit Tim hard.In this episode, Tim and Derek are recording from a hospital library while Zach is upstairs getting steel plates and screws put in. They talk about what it really means to build a business worth having. One with the margin and the war chest to take care of your people when life goes sideways.Because here's the truth. If you're running on thin margins, cutting prices, and hoping nothing goes wrong, you're one bad day away from a crisis. But when you charge what you're worth and build it right, you've got options. You can be in that hospital. You can keep your guy whole. You can handle it.They also get into why communicating up front beats backpedaling every time, why time passes whether you're building the business or not, and why the best time to start was 20 years ago but today will do just fine.In this episode: 🔥 What Zach's broken leg revealed about Tim's business🔥 How to communicate with clients when something goes sideways🔥 Why employees shouldn't fear losing their job when life hits hard🔥 Building the war chest before you need it🔥 Why time passes whether you're building or not🔥 Don't forget to hire a professional. You are not a monkey.The Contractor Fight is the ultimate sales training resource for contractors! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.
Transcribe →3 FREE Ways to Get Better Leads
4w ago00:08:59Tap to summarizeWATCH THIS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/C8Me5SpjcPY?si=pgar2FOCHlNI5E2aMost contractors think they need more leads. They're wrong. Because bad leads create bad clients. Bad clients create low margins. Low margins create stress. And stress follows you home every night.In this video, Tom Reber shares 3 completely FREE things you can do right now to attract better leads, better clients, and more profitable jobs—without spending another dollar on marketing.You'll learn:• How to turn your Google Business Profile into a lead-generating machine• Why generic marketing attracts price shoppers• The messaging mistake that's costing you better clients• How educational content builds trust before you ever speak to a prospect• Why consistency beats marketing tricks every time• The simple shifts that help contractors attract premium buyersIf you're tired of getting ghosted, losing jobs on price, or wasting time with tire kickers, this video is for you. 👇RESOURCES & TRAININGLearn how elite contractors attract and convert more of the right clients: www.thecontractorfight.com/commandInside The Contractor Fight, we help contractors:✅ Increase profit margins✅ Close more of the right jobs✅ Stop competing on price✅ Build a business worth having Subscribe for weekly videos on sales, marketing, leadership, profit, mindset, and growing a contracting business the right way.
Transcribe →What Every Contractor Mistakes for a Lead Problem
May 2800:31:55Tap to summarizeStop trying to fix your sales process when your head isn't straight.In this episode, Tim and Derek pull back the curtain on NashVegas 2026 and look at what actually happens when contractors drop the corporate ego and show up real. We don't care about polished consultant theories here. We talk about the real mental blocks, the pressure of carrying the whole operation alone, and why you keep getting trapped in the feast-or-famine cycle.If you're tired of running a business that owns you instead of you owning it, this conversation is the gut check you need.============================================================Own Your WorthReady to step up and stop playing small? Join the movement of contractors who are getting their lives back, dialling in their pricing, and building real profitability.Check out THE COMMAND™ today: https://thecontractorfight.com/command============================================================== Rate the Podcast ==Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review.Apple PodcastsSpotify
Transcribe →The Busy-Season Sales System
May 2500:07:43Tap to summarizeYou spend hours tracking down leads, burning fuel in your truck, and writing detailed proposals for homeowners who were never going to buy from you at full margin. It’s a classic trap: high close rates but your debt keeps climbing every single year.In this episode, we break down why true sales mastery isn't just reciting a script—it's about surviving under pressure. I share the story of a contractor who failed our Shin Fu black belt test seven times without making a single excuse, and why that exact level of grit is what separates the contractors stacking cash from the ones chasing bad appointments. If you want to know before you leave your driveway whether a lead is a waste of your time, you need to understand how communication alters your bank account.=================================Ready to build real skills and stop operating on hope? Step up your sales game inside battle-tested environments.Join THE COMMAND™ today: https://thecontractorfight.com/command=================================== Rate the Podcast ==Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review.Apple PodcastsSpotify
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