In this episode of The Reasonable Contractor podcast, host Ryan Templin interviews Jake Iskierka, President of 10K Construction in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Jake recounts his journey from HVAC trade school at Hennepin Tech to co-founding a full-service general contracting company during COVID. He shares insights on customer service philosophy, insurance industry changes, building company culture, and why the competition makes it easy to win by simply answering the phone. Key discussions include the Randy Shaver Foundation partnership, navigating Minnesota's insurance regulation changes, and advice for the next generation considering trades.

TAKEAWAYS:

Never telling customers "no" builds loyalty—even for problems outside your wheelhouse, tap your network to solve it.
Answering the phone fast wins jobs; most competitors don't even call back when homeowners reach out to 6-7 companies.
Minnesota insurance policies are changing significantly—deductibles shifting from flat rates to percentage of home value, and roofs over 10 years may only get actual cash value instead of full replacement cost.
Profit matters more than revenue; you can sell $10M at 10% profit or $5M at higher margins and come out ahead.
A real person answering phones beats AI automation—customers need the "warm and fuzzies" from that first contact.
White glove service and turnkey processes keep quality consistent as the company grows.
Building a business isn't easy—it takes long nights, family sacrifice, and learning from mistakes.
Owner-operators in skilled trades (electricians, HVAC, plumbers, concrete, masonry) can make hundreds of thousands per year.
10K Construction supports team members who want to eventually start their own companies—they see themselves as a stepping stone.

SOUND BITES:

"Our competition really makes it easy sometimes to win because they don't even show up."
"No one else will care as much as you."
"We're a customer first company."
"Why not you? What do you want to be when you grow up? Well, why not you?"
"There's a shit ton of money to be made in construction." (Ryan)

CHAPTERS/TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction and Jake's Background 01:17 – From HVAC Trade School to Construction 02:10 – What 10K Construction Does 02:42 – The "Never Say No" Philosophy 04:09 – Randy Shaver Foundation Partnership 06:13 – How the Partnership Came Together 09:04 – Winning Jobs by Answering the Phone 11:23 – Building the 10K Team and Culture 12:14 – Why Real People Beat AI for Customer Contact 13:47 – Minnesota Insurance Changes Explained 17:55 – Understanding Your Coverage vs. Premium 19:52 – Business Goals and Hiring Plans 21:43 – Growing at the Right Pace 23:27 – Profit vs. Revenue Mindset 25:20 – Work-Life Balance in Construction 28:11 – Challenges: Learning Your Way Isn't the Only Way 30:40 – Hiring for 2026: Two Project Managers 31:53 – Advice for the Next Generation 35:08 – Opportunities in the Trades 35:40 – Wrap-up

Keywords/Tags: 10K Construction, general contractor, insurance restoration, Coon Rapids, Twin Cities contractor, Randy Shaver Foundation, customer service, hiring, trades careers, Minnesota insurance, exterior remodeling, hail damage, insurance claims, construction business, skilled trades