In this episode of The Reasonable Contractor podcast, host Ryan Templin interviews Jason Schmidt, owner of American Plumbing in Burnsville, Minnesota. Jason shares his unexpected journey from aspiring dentist to master plumber, including failing his journeyman test three times and taking over the family business after his father's death in 1999.

They discuss the transition from remodeling to service work, honest pricing that undercuts big companies by 50%, and the business systems that create efficiency. Jason explains why the plumber shortage drives premium pricing, and the personal transformations (becoming morning people, lifestyle changes) that support business success. The conversation concludes with direct advice for the next generation: skip expensive trade school, pursue apprenticeships, and build recession-proof careers without student debt.

Takeaways:

Jason never intended to become a plumber, initially planning to study dentistry at University of Minnesota
He failed his journeyman test three times by margins as small as 0.08% before passing
Big plumbing companies charge $3,000-$4,000 for water heaters Jason installs for $2,000
The plumber shortage creates supply-demand economics that drive premium pricing across the industry
Jason transitioned from remodeling to service work primarily for job happiness and satisfaction
Field Pulse digital management costs $99/month per user and streamlines scheduling and invoicing
QuickBooks automation eliminated year-end bookkeeping panic and auto-categorizes all business expenses
Press tool technology reduced basement bathroom plumbing from 8 hours (copper) to 2 hours (PEX)
Both Jason and Ryan became morning people after years of reprogramming late-night habits
AI cannot replace skilled trades - it won't unplug toilets or repair frozen pipes
Apprenticeships offer good pay from day one with no student debt

Sound Bites:

"I never thought I'd be a plumber."
"Your plumbing license is a license to steal."
"I just wasn't happy doing it."
"What would take me eight hours in copper, I'm home at lunch."
"AI is not gonna unplug a toilet."
"You're gonna make good money right out of the gate."
"This is the first year I'm ready. I'm just waiting for January 1st."
"Slow learners who don't quit."

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to American Plumbing
01:08 - Jason's Journey: From Dentistry Dreams to Plumbing Reality
02:38 - Failing the Journeyman Test Three Times
06:59 - Taking Over After His Father's Death (1999)
11:24 - The "License to Steal" and Big Company Pricing
12:18 - Choosing Service Work Over Remodeling for Happiness
15:01 - Real Numbers: $2,000 vs $4,000 Water Heater Pricing
18:33 - The Plumber Shortage and Market Economics
20:06 - Field Pulse: $99/Month Digital Management System 21:30 - QuickBooks Automation: Eliminating Year-End Panic
23:00 - Inventory Management and Shop Efficiency
26:36 - Copper vs PEX: From 8 Hours to 2 Hours
27:56 - Becoming Morning People: Breaking Late-Night Habits
30:05 - Slow Learners Who Don't Quit Build What They're Proud Of
34:25 - Advice for Next Generation: Apprenticeships Beat Trade School
Keywords: plumbing business, journeyman plumber, master plumber, American Plumbing, apprenticeship, trade career, business systems, Minnesota contractor, Burnsville plumber, water heater pricing, morning routine