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.
63episodes
Episodes
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Is Your Business Worth Having?
1w ago00:08:36Tap to summarizeCheck out The Fight: www.thecontractorfight.comIs Your Contracting Business Actually Worth Having?Most contractors are chasing more revenue, more trucks, more employees, and more jobs.Wrong scoreboard.You can build a $3M company and still be broke, stressed, overweight, disconnected from your family, and chained to the business you created.In this video, Tom Reber breaks down the real test:Is your business actually worth having?A business worth having should:Make real profitGive you more choicesFunction without you being the heroMake your life better—not consume itRevenue matters. Growth matters. But if the business owns your ass, you’re not winning.Strong You. Strong Home. Strong Business.The first fight is always with yourself.Chapters0:00 Is Your Business Worth Having?0:29 When “Successful” Contractors Are Miserable1:16 Bigger Doesn’t Fix Broken2:27 Test #1: Does It Make Real Money?3:41 Test #2: Does It Give You Choices?4:39 Test #3: Can It Run Without You?5:35 The Biggest Test: Who Are You Becoming?6:20 Strong You. Strong Home. Strong Business.6:36 Ask Better Questions About Your Business7:27 The Five-Year Gut Check7:42 Start Fixing the Next Thing8:05 Build a Business Worth HavingTom Reber is the founder of The Contractor Fight, host of Contractor Fight TV, entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and former HGTV host.For over 20 years, Tom has helped hundreds of thousands of contractors build businesses worth having by becoming the kind of people capable of building them.On this channel you'll find straight-talk training on sales, pricing, profit, leadership, marketing, mindset, and what it really takes to build a Strong You, Strong Home, and Strong Business.The first fight is always with yourself.Join The Fight. 👊
Transcribe →3 Things That Make Customers Accept Premium Pricing
2w ago00:16:48Tap to summarizeBusiness training for Contractors: https://thecontractorfight.com/battlegroundContractors hear it every day: “Your price is too high.” But most of the time, price isn’t actually the problem. The problem is that you haven’t given the customer enough evidence to believe you’re worth more.In this episode of Contractor Fight TV, Tom breaks down the 3 things that justify a higher price without defending it, apologizing for it, or trashing the cheaper contractor.You’ll learn how to use:• Communication to build trust before the sale• Content to establish authority before you ever meet• Customer experience to prove you’re worth the premiumYou don’t get to SAY you’re worth more. You have to prove it. And if you’re constantly hearing that your prices are too high, it might be time to stop blaming cheap customers and start looking at the experience your company is creating.CHAPTERS00:00 — “Your Price Is Too High”00:23 — Stop Defending Your Price01:04 — What “Justifying Your Price” Actually Means01:29 — #1: Your Communication Justifies Your Price02:24 — Your Website Is Part of the Sale03:02 — Bad Follow-Up Kills Trust04:18 — Confidence vs. Arrogance04:43 — Speed Is King05:32 — Price Isn’t the Only Thing Customers Care About06:12 — #2: Your Content Justifies Your Price06:30 — Become the Best Educator in Your Market07:19 — Stop Making Excuses and Create Content08:17 — “It Takes What It Takes”08:39 — What Contractors Should Create Content About09:38 — #3: The Customer Experience Justifies Your Price10:22 — Your Team Is Part of the Experience11:18 — Make Your Company Easy to Work With11:34 — How Pre-Planning Builds Trust12:39 — Stop Leaving Customers Loose Ends13:14 — Warranty Problems Are Opportunities13:45 — Trust Is What Makes the Higher Price Make Sense14:25 — “People Are Just Cheap” Is an Excuse14:54 — The Real Reason You’re Getting Price Pushback15:30 — Why Tom Gets So Fired Up About This16:08 — Take the Next Step Ready to build a stronger, more profitable contracting business?👉 https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground
Transcribe →Family Business Going Wrong? Here's What You're Missing
3w ago00:27:22Tap to summarizeSales training for Contractors: https://thecontractorfight.com/command Grab Tom's book FREE: https://thecontractorfight.com/book/ Running a business with your spouse, kids, parents, or other family members can be incredible.It can also get messy fast.When nobody knows exactly what they're responsible for, business problems become family problems. Roles overlap. People start micromanaging each other. Work follows you home. And suddenly you're talking about customers and employees while lying in bed at night.In this episode, Tim and Derek get into what they've learned from building businesses with family—and the mistakes they wish they'd avoided.They break down why clear roles matter, how to keep business out of your personal life, why every family member needs ownership and autonomy, and how a shared vision can get everyone rowing in the same direction.Chapters00:00 The Reality of Family Businesses00:34 Why We Started Our Own Businesses03:29 What Employees Don't See About Ownership05:24 The Hidden Cost of Running a Business07:35 What Your Employees Actually Need09:32 Why Business Owners Need an Outlet10:44 How Family Gets Pulled Into the Business11:40 Family and Business Relationships Are Different12:02 The Biggest Family Business Mistake12:23 Define Everyone's Role13:52 Communication Changes Everything15:28 Keep the Business Out of the Bedroom16:33 You Need a Life Outside the Business17:59 Respect Each Other's Time18:44 Get Clear on Responsibilities18:50 Build a Shared Family Business Vision19:40 Look in the Mirror First20:01 Treat Family Members With Respect21:16 Stop Assuming You Have All the Answers23:12 Let Other People Solve the Problem24:54 The Simple Advice for Family BusinessesWorking with family doesn't have to destroy your relationships.Get clear about who's responsible for what. Give people ownership. Communicate like professionals. Build a shared vision. And create boundaries so the business doesn't consume the family you built it for in the first place.Subscribe to The Contractor Fight for straight-talk conversations about sales, leadership, profit, people, and building a contracting business worth owning.Tom Reber is the founder of The Contractor Fight, host of Contractor Fight TV, entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and former HGTV host. For over 20 years, Tom has helped hundreds of thousands of contractors build businesses worth having by becoming the kind of people capable of building them. On this channel you'll find straight-talk training on sales, pricing, profit, leadership, marketing, mindset, and what it really takes to build a Strong You, Strong Home, and Strong Business. The first fight is always with yourself. Join The Fight. 👊
Transcribe →Stop Negotiating Against Yourself
3w ago00:08:11Tap to summarizeSales training for Contractors: https://thecontractorfight.com/command Grab Tom's book FREE: https://thecontractorfight.com/book/ Before the customer ever asks for a discount, most contractors have already given them one. You lower the labor hours. You shave the material costs. You cut your markup. You manipulate the number until you finally land on a price you feel comfortable saying out loud. Meanwhile, the customer hasn't rejected your price. They haven't questioned it. Hell, they haven't even heard it yet. You're negotiating against yourself. In this video, Tom Reber exposes four of the biggest lies contractors believe about pricing and why undercharging usually has less to do with math and more to do with fear. You'll learn why chasing the "going rate" is dangerous, why more volume won't fix bad margins, why cheap pricing doesn't actually serve your customers, and how to finally build the confidence to say your price and stand behind it. Because your pricing problem probably isn't a math problem anymore. It's whether you're willing to trust the number. Chapters00:00 You're Discounting Before They Even Ask 00:32 This Isn't an Estimating Problem—It's Fear 01:12 Lie #1: "I Need to Be Competitive" 02:05 Lie #2: "I Have to Charge the Going Rate" 03:26 Lie #3: "I'll Make It Up in Volume" 04:19 Lie #4: "Charging More Isn't Fair" 05:18 Your Family Is Subsidizing Your Low Prices 05:58 You're Protecting Yourself From Rejection 06:06 The Math Is Easy. The Courage Isn't. 06:59 How to Build Price Confidence 07:23 Look at the Money You Gave Away 07:33 Set a New Pricing Floor 07:49 The First Fight Is Always With Yourself Stop trying to outwork bad math. Know your numbers. Charge what your business needs. Say the price clearly. Then shut up and let the customer make their decision. The first fight is always with yourself. Subscribe to The Contractor Fight for straight-talk training on contractor sales, pricing, leadership, profit, and building a business worth owning. Tom Reber is the founder of The Contractor Fight, host of Contractor Fight TV, entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and former HGTV host. For over 20 years, Tom has helped hundreds of thousands of contractors build businesses worth having by becoming the kind of people capable of building them. On this channel you'll find straight-talk training on sales, pricing, profit, leadership, marketing, mindset, and what it really takes to build a Strong You, Strong Home, and Strong Business. The first fight is always with yourself. Join The Fight. 👊
Transcribe →The First Fight is Always with Yourself
4w ago00:20:44Tap to summarizeThe First Fight is Always with YourselfReady to grow your life & business? http://bit.ly/4fbjCgoMost contractors think the fight is with the economy.Cheap competitors. Bad employees. Price shoppers. They're wrong.The first fight is always with yourself.In this video, Tom Reber shares the philosophy behind The Contractor Fight and the journey every contractor must take to become the leader, business owner, spouse, parent, and person they were created to be.This isn't about tactics. It's about identity. You'll learn why every transformation begins with the mirror, why your future is won in everyday moments, and how pursuing truth leads to the confidence and freedom you've been chasing. If you've been feeling stuck in your business or your life, this may be the most important video you've watched all year.Chapters00:00 The First Fight Is With Yourself00:22 What The Contractor Fight Really Means01:01 The Mirror Never Lies02:14 The Story That Changed My Life04:38 Knowledge Isn't Enough—You Must Choose07:10 The Three Choices We All Make08:01 Your Life Is Won in the Moments10:38 How Fighters Are Forged11:29 Running Into the Punch14:17 Lethal Confidence Is Earned15:19 What It Really Means to Be a Fighter17:54 When the Fight Stops Being About You18:47 The Legacy Worth Fighting ForIf you're ready to stop settling and become the contractor, leader, spouse, parent, and person you were meant to become, subscribe to The Contractor Fight.New videos every week on business, sales, leadership, mindset, and building a profitable contracting business that gives you freedom.Tom Reber is an entrepreneur, business coach, podcaster, leader of The Contractor Fight, creator of Contractor Fight TV and HGTV host. Tom's content has helped hundreds of thousands of home improvement contractors improve their lives and businesses. The Contractor Fight is the ultimate sales training resource for contractors!Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.
Transcribe →Your Business Owns YOU (Here's How to Take It Back)
Jul 900:26:08Tap to summarizeYour business was supposed to give you freedom. So why does it feel like you're working more than ever? Too many contractors build themselves into the center of everything. Every estimate. Every phone call. Every problem. Every decision.In this episode, Tim and Derek break down why that happens and what it actually takes to build a business that runs without depending on you.We cover: • Why most contractors accidentally build themselves another job• The biggest mistake owners make when building a team• Why every business needs clear roles and accountability• How to stop being the bottleneck• The $100,000 minimum every business owner should expect to earn• Why systems create freedom, not restrictions• How to build a company that gives you choices instead of stressIf you're tired of your business controlling your life, this conversation is for you. 👊Learn more about Battleground and build a business that works without owning you. #contractorfight #contractorbusiness #smallbusiness #construction #contractor #leadership #businessgrowth #entrepreneur #freedom #businessownerChapters 00:00 Your business should create freedom01:10 Why contractors become the bottleneck02:40 Building a business that doesn't depend on you04:30 Finding the right people for the right seats06:00 Discover what your employees really want07:40 The $100,000 contractor rule10:00 Build the business you actually want11:30 Why money creates choices13:00 Stop controlling every part of your company16:00 Most contractors never build a real plan18:00 Build the foundation before you scale20:00 Why most owners stay stuck22:20 Your future depends on today's decisions24:10 The guy in the mirror is the problemTom Reber is an entrepreneur, business coach, podcaster, leader of The Contractor Fight, creator of Contractor Fight TV and HGTV host. Tom's content has helped hundreds of thousands of home improvement contractors improve their lives and businesses. The Contractor Fight is the ultimate sales training resource for contractors! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.
Transcribe →Say This When They Say "We Need to Think About It"
Jul 600:08:18Tap to summarizeThe Command: https://thecontractorfight.com/command"I need to think about it."If you're hearing that over and over on your sales calls, here's the truth: it's probably not the objection you think it is. In this video, Tom Reber explains why "I need to think about it" is usually an out...not an objection and how contractors accidentally create it themselves.You'll learn the exact question to ask when a homeowner says they need more time, plus how to fix the sales process that's causing this objection in the first place.If you're tired of chasing prospects, lowering your price, and following up on deals that go nowhere, this episode will change the way you sell.Chapters 00:00 Why You're Hearing "I Need to Think About It"00:25 It's Not an Objection—It's an Out01:21 How Contractors Create This Problem02:02 Stop Earning This Objection02:32 What's Really Going Through the Homeowner's Mind03:22 The Exact Response to Use04:37 Fix the Sales Process, Not the Comeback05:34 Stop Selling Like a Quote Machine06:06 The Sales Process That Prevents It07:00 The Script to Use Every TimeIf you want to close more jobs at full price, build more trust with homeowners, and stop hearing the same objections over and over, subscribe to The Contractor Fight for weekly videos on sales, pricing, leadership, and building a profitable contracting business.Follow Tom on Instagram
Transcribe →The Contractor Leadership Mistake Nobody's Talking About
Jul 200:11:57Tap to summarizeBecome More: https://www..thecontractorfight.com/battleground Most contractors think their biggest leadership problem is finding good people.They're wrong.The real problem is how they respond when good people make mistakes.In this episode, we unpack one of the most overlooked leadership lessons in business: knowing when to hold people accountable...and when to give them another shot.You'll hear the true story of a $100 mistake that could have cost an employee his future—and how choosing to coach instead of condemn led to a $6,500 win just days later.If you're building a team, this conversation might change the way you lead forever.Chapters00:00 The contractor leadership problem00:53 The real battle is between your ears02:00 Why second chances matter03:14 What if you had unlimited second chances?04:12 Remember the people who believed in you05:07 The $100 mistake that changed everything07:40 Coaching instead of criticizing08:36 Why grace creates better employees09:26 The power of your own second chance10:09 When enough is enough10:40 The UIT that landed a huge job11:12 The leadership lesson every contractor needsThe Contractor Fight exists to expose the truth, call you up, and help you become the person your business, your family, and your future deserve.We refuse to settle.We pursue the truth.We own our crap.We earn confidence.We build a Strong You. Strong Home. Strong Business.If that speaks to you…Welcome to The Fight.Subscribe for weekly no-BS advice on leadership, sales, profit, and growing a contracting business.Become who you are meant to be: https://thecontractorfight.com
Transcribe →What to Say When They Say "We're Getting More Bids."
Jun 2900:04:32Tap to summarizeCheck out THE COMMAND: https://go.thecontractorfight.com/command"We're getting a few more bids."Every contractor has heard it.Most immediately assume the homeowner is shopping for the cheapest price.That's usually not what's happening.In this episode, Tom Reber explains why getting more bids is often a sign that the homeowner is still looking for clarity not a lower price. He shares the exact question he asks to uncover what's really driving the decision and how to turn a stalled sales conversation into a productive one.In this episode you'll learn:Why "we're getting more bids" usually isn't the real objectionThe biggest mistake contractors make after hearing itThe early questions that reveal where a prospect really is in the buying processThe exact response Tom uses when homeowners mention other estimatesHow to uncover whether they're looking for price, certainty, or understandingWhy building value around the homeowner's motive matters more than defending your priceHow to stop being "just another bid"If you want higher close rates, bigger profits, and fewer price shoppers, this episode gives you a practical conversation you can use on your very next sales call.Stay Connected: https://www.thecontractorfight.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fightwithtom
Transcribe →Do This When You’re Frustrated With Your Team
Jun 2500:14:23Tap 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 →