Podcast
To The Point - Home Services VIP Room Podcast
Hosted by RYNO Strategic Solutions · EN
The Home Services podcast that gets to the point, with solutions to help your service company grow. Our focus is to help HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Roofing, etc. companies learn how to grow their companies with marketing & operational solutions.
103episodes
Episodes
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From $6/Hour to Building a $30M Home Services Business
2d ago00:56:10Summary readyFrom a $6/hour plumber to leading a nearly $30 million home services company, Rich Bogda has built Service Professionals into one of New Jersey's most respected HVAC, plumbing, and electrical businesses.In this episode of the To The Point Home Services VIP Room, Chris Yano, Chad Peterman, Aaron Gaynor, and special guest co-host Abdul Al-Asaad (Basic Capital) sit down with Rich to discuss:Building a family-owned business over 30+ yearsTransitioning leadership to the next generationKnowing when owners need to get out of the wayDeveloping young leaders while keeping experienced employees engagedRecruiting and retaining top talentUsing AI to improve operationsCreating a company culture people don't want to leaveWhy technical training is becoming the industry's biggest challengeWhether you're running a $2M company or scaling toward $30M+, this episode is packed with practical leadership lessons from someone who's lived every stage of the journey.00:00 - Intro 04:18 - Meet Rich Bogda & Special Guest Abdul Al-Asaad 08:12 - From a $6/Hour Plumber to Building a $30M Business 14:45 - The Leadership Changes That Fueled Growth 21:18 - Why Young Leaders Are Changing the Company 29:10 - AI, Innovation & The Future of Home Services 35:42 - Retaining Employees & Building Long-Term Wealth 44:30 - What's Wrong With the Home Services Industry? 52:35 - Final ThoughtsThank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipSales Ask: https://www.salesask.com/ Chiirp: https://chiirp.com/Send It! Email Marketing: https://www.withsendit.com/Can’t Stop The Growth: https://cantstopthegrowth.com
SummaryYelp Responds To Contractors' Biggest Complaints | Part 2
1w ago00:42:06Summary readyContractors asked. Yelp answered.In Part 2 of this special two-part VIP Room series, Chris Yano, Chad Peterman, and Aaron Gaynor continue their conversation with Yelp COO Jed Nachman and Hatch CEO Chris Bache to answer some of the biggest questions contractors have about Yelp.After covering reviews and reputation in Part 1, the discussion shifts to lead transparency, lead quality, geographic performance, AI-powered customer experiences, speed to lead, contractor success stories, and what top-performing companies are doing differently. The group also explores where Yelp, Hatch, and AI fit into the future of home services marketing and customer acquisition.Whether you're currently using Yelp or simply curious about where the industry is headed, this episode provides an inside look at the technology, strategy, and challenges shaping the next generation of home services growth.If you missed Part 1, be sure to check it out first for the discussion on reviews, reputation management, and the Hatch acquisition.00:00 - Intro01:08 - How Yelp Defines a Lead07:15 - How to Measure Marketing ROI13:40 - Why Yelp Performs Better in Some Markets18:55 - Tips for Contractors Using Yelp27:05 - AI Search & the Future of Home Services34:40 - Building Trust With Contractors38:20 - Special Offer, Listener Feedback & Closing Thoughts SPECIAL OFFER FROM YELPNew multi-location advertisers on Yelp may qualify for a 20% bonus advertising budget when they start campaigns before September 30. That means Yelp adds extra advertising dollars on top of what you spend.To see if you qualify, fill out the form at:https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipA member of the Yelp team will reach out to help you get started.Offer is available to new multi-location Yelp advertisers only.HAVE FEEDBACK FOR YELP?As discussed in the episode, Yelp welcomes feedback from contractors. If you have questions, suggestions, or feedback on your experience with Yelp, you can reach the team directly at:listenerfeedback@yelp.comThank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipSales Ask: https://www.salesask.com/ Chiirp: https://chiirp.com/Send It! Email Marketing: https://www.withsendit.com/Can’t Stop The Growth: https://cantstopthegrowth.com
SummaryYelp Responds To Contractors' Biggest Complaints | Part 1
2w ago00:41:39Summary readyContractors asked. Yelp answered.In Part 1 of this special two-part VIP Room series, Chris Yano, Chad Peterman, and Aaron Gaynor sit down with Yelp COO Jed Nachman and Hatch CEO Chris Bache to tackle some of the biggest questions contractors have about Yelp.After collecting questions directly from contractors across the industry, the conversation dives into Yelp reviews, review filtering, reputation management, contractor concerns about fairness and transparency, and the reasoning behind how Yelp's review system works. The group also discusses Yelp's acquisition of Hatch, the future of AI in home services, and what the partnership means for contractors moving forward.Whether you're a Yelp advocate, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this is an open and candid conversation about one of the most talked-about platforms in home services.Be sure to subscribe and stay tuned for Part 2, where the conversation continues with lead transparency, lead quality, AI, customer experience, and the future of home services marketing.SPECIAL OFFER FROM YELPNew multi-location advertisers on Yelp may qualify for a 20% bonus advertising budget when they start campaigns before September 30. That means Yelp adds extra advertising dollars on top of what you spend.To see if you qualify, fill out the form at:https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipA member of the Yelp team will reach out to help you get started.Offer is available to new multi-location Yelp advertisers only.HAVE FEEDBACK FOR YELP?As discussed in the episode, Yelp welcomes feedback from contractors. If you have questions, suggestions, or feedback on your experience with Yelp, you can reach the team directly at:listenerfeedback@yelp.com00:00 - Intro02:58 - Meet Yelp COO Jed Nachman & Hatch CEO Chris Bache06:25 - Why Yelp Acquired Hatch11:00 - Why Yelp Is Focused on Home Services14:15 - Contractors' Biggest Questions About Yelp Reviews18:30 - Why Some Yelp Reviews Aren't Recommended25:15 - Should Contractors Ask Customers for Yelp Reviews?31:45 - Why Yelp Ratings Differ From Other Platforms36:30 - Building Trust Between Yelp & Contractors40:20 - Part 2 Preview Thank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipSales Ask: https://www.salesask.com/ Chiirp: https://chiirp.com/Send It! Email Marketing: https://www.withsendit.com/Can’t Stop The Growth: https://cantstopthegrowth.com
SummaryThe Highest ROI Marketing Channel Most Contractors Get Wrong
3w ago00:58:14Summary readyMost contractors spend thousands of dollars every month generating leads, but what happens after those leads become customers?This week in the VIP Room, Chris Yano, Chad Peterman, and Aaron Gaynor sit down with Zac Garside, Founder and President of Send It Email Marketing, to discuss one of the most overlooked growth opportunities in home services: staying connected with your existing customer base.The group breaks down email marketing, customer retention, CRM strategy, lead generation, offer creation, automation, and why so many contractors focus on acquiring new customers while ignoring the opportunities sitting inside their own database.Zac also shares practical examples from some of the largest home services companies in the country, including how contractors are using email to generate service calls, maintenance appointments, sales opportunities, and additional revenue without increasing their advertising spend.Whether you're running a small local shop or a multi-million-dollar operation, this episode is packed with actionable marketing and business insights you can apply immediately.Topics discussed:• Why email marketing is still one of the highest ROI channels in home services• The biggest mistakes contractors make with customer communication• Creating offers that actually generate demand• Using email to reduce dependence on paid leads• Sales estimates, maintenance, and customer retention strategies• Automation opportunities most companies miss• How AI is changing marketing and content creation• Why branding and customer relationships matter more than ever• The importance of staying top-of-mind with past customers• Marketing lessons from some of the industry's fastest-growing companiesFREE RESOURCE FOR TO THE POINT LISTENERSWant to put these strategies into action?Zac Garside and the team at Send It Email Marketing created a free swipe file featuring 20 proven email templates contractors can use to generate more demand, stay top of mind with customers, and drive additional revenue.withsendit.com/top-secret00:00 - Intro02:15 - Meet Zac Garside & Send It Email Marketing05:30 - Why Most Contractors Ignore Their Best Lead Source09:45 - The Biggest Email Marketing Mistakes Contractors Make14:20 - How To Get Customers To Open Your Emails18:40 - Why Branding Matters More Than Subject Lines22:15 - The Difference Between Google Leads and Email Leads26:50 - Creating Offers That Actually Generate Demand31:10 - The Customer Database Most Contractors Ignore35:45 - Retention vs Lead Generation40:20 - Marketing Automation Opportunities You're Missing44:30 - AI, Marketing, and the Future of Customer Communication49:10 - How Top Contractors Stay Top of Mind53:20 - Zac's Best Marketing Advice for Contractors56:15 - Free Email Marketing Swipe File for Listeners57:30 - Final ThoughtsThank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://www.yelp.com/ Sales Ask: https://www.salesask.com/Chiirp: https://chiirp.com/
SummaryWELL SH*T! Throat cancer!
4w ago00:04:18Summary readyYou know how much that sucks for a podcast host? lol Here's the GOOD NEWS! I've got two very capable co-hosts if I have to miss. But more importantly, it's a very winnable (90%) version of cancer called Squamous Cell Carcinoma. It will be a gnarly 6-8 weeks of treatment with the worst being weeks 4-8. I decided to be transparent about it like I have this whole time on the podcast and let you join the journey with me. I appreciate all your support, thoughts and prayers in advance. I got this!!
SummaryPreaching Through the Pipes: Bubba Thurman's Journey to Leading a $100M Business
Jun 1600:58:49Summary readyWhat does it take to lead a $100M home services company?This week in the VIP Room, Chris Yano and Aaron Gaynor sit down with Bubba Thurman, President of Baker Brothers Plumbing, Air & Electric, one of the largest and most respected home services companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.Before leading a business with more than 400 employees and over $100 million in annual revenue, Bubba spent 22 years in ministry. In this conversation, he shares lessons on leadership, culture, integrity, AI, marketing, customer trust, and what it takes to build a lasting reputation in today's home services industry.The group also discusses private equity, peer groups, transparency, AI-driven search, reputation management, and why great operators are focusing more than ever on community relationships and customer experience.If you're an owner, operator, manager, or leader looking to grow your business and develop your people, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.Topics discussed:• Bubba's transition from ministry to home services• Leading a $100M company with 400+ employees• Building culture and trust at scale• AI's impact on home services marketing• Customer sentiment and online reputation• Private equity and industry perception• Leadership lessons from decades of experience• Why transparency matters more than ever• The importance of peer groups and relationships• Non-negotiables for building a great company00:00 - Intro02:55 - Meet Bubba Thurman05:10 - Becoming the First Non-Family President of Baker Brothers08:45 - Leading a $100M Home Services Business12:30 - Building Relationships With Competitors17:20 - Peer Groups, Trust, and Industry Collaboration22:15 - The Biggest Challenges Facing Home Services Today25:40 - AI, Search, and the Future of Marketing33:15 - Why Community Presence Matters More Than Ever38:30 - Customer Sentiment and Brand Reputation44:10 - Private Equity, Transparency, and Trust49:00 - What Is Broken in Home Services?53:00 - The Hill Bubba Is Willing to Die On55:20 - Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders57:15 - Final Thoughts Thank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointChiirp: https://chiirp.com/Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://www.yelp.com/ Sales Ask: https://www.salesask.com/
SummaryHow Josh Campbell Built, Scaled, and Sold Rescue Air | VIP Guest Josh Campbell
Jun 900:54:16Summary readyIn this episode of To The Point Home Services VIP Room, Aaron Gaynor and Chad Peterman sit down with Josh Campbell, Founder of Rescue Air & Plumbing, to discuss his incredible journey through the home services industry.Josh shares how he grew up in a family of tradesmen, started his first company at a young age, built it into a successful business, and navigated the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis before ultimately selling the company and starting over in Texas.From there, Josh built Rescue Air into one of the most respected home services companies in the country, eventually completing a private equity transaction while maintaining the culture and values that fueled the company's growth.The conversation covers entrepreneurship, resilience, leadership, private equity, company culture, adding new trades, coaching, personal development, sales, operations, and what it really takes to build a great business.Josh also shares lessons from scaling multiple companies, the importance of being coachable, why many owners stay stuck, and how continuous learning became one of the biggest drivers of his success.If you're a contractor, operator, or business owner looking to grow your company and become a better leader, this episode is packed with practical insights and hard-earned lessons from someone who has built, scaled, sold, and started over.Topics include:• Building and scaling home services businesses• Starting over after selling a company• Leadership and personal growth• Private equity in home services• Adding plumbing and new service lines• Company culture and employee development• Sales, operations, and coaching• Creating long-term value and legacyWatch now and learn from one of the most candid conversations we've had on the VIP Room.00:00 - Welcome & Introducing Josh Campbell03:30 - Growing Up in the Trades08:30 - Building His First Company14:00 - The 2008 Crash & Starting Over21:00 - Moving to Texas & Joining A#1 Air26:00 - Launching Rescue Air31:00 - The Power of Coaching & Continuous Learning37:00 - Adding Plumbing & Scaling the Business42:00 - Private Equity & Selling Rescue Air48:00 - Why Most Owners Stay Stuck52:00 - What's Broken in Home Services?54:00 - Final Thoughts Thank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointChiirp: https://chiirp.com/Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://www.yelp.com/ Sales Ask: https://www.salesask.com/
SummaryWhy This $45M Home Services Company Still Refuses to Sell | VIP Guest John Waldorf
Jun 200:53:54Summary readyIn this episode, Chris Yano, Aaron Gaynor, and Chad Peterman are joined by John Waldorf, Vice President of Estes Services, a third-generation family-owned home services company that has been serving the Atlanta market since 1949.Today, Estes Services generates more than $45 million in annual revenue across HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services, all while remaining independently owned in an industry increasingly shaped by private equity and consolidation.John shares the company's growth journey, the importance of culture in a multi-generational business, why Estes has chosen not to sell, and what it takes to scale a home services company while staying true to its values.The conversation also covers leadership development, profitability versus growth, technician recruiting, training programs, marketing, service agreements, operational scaling, management infrastructure, AI, customer relationships, and preparing a business for its next stage of growth.The crew is also joined by a surprise VIP guest who jumps into the conversation to share insights on branding, market share, marketing strategy, and the advantages independent operators still have in today's home services landscape.If you're a contractor, operator, or business leader looking to grow your company without sacrificing culture, this episode is packed with practical lessons from leaders building long-term success in home services.00:00 – Welcome Back to the Home Services VIP Room02:00 – Introducing John Waldorf & Estes Services04:00 – The History of Estes Services Since 194907:00 – Growing Into HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical10:00 – Building Leadership From Outside the Trades14:00 – Why Estes Has Chosen to Stay Independent18:00 – Culture vs. Private Equity22:00 – Maintaining Culture While Scaling25:30 – Profitability vs. Growth29:00 – The Road From $45M to $100M33:00 – Building Future Leaders & Internal Training Programs37:00 – Scaling Management Teams41:00 – Surprise VIP Guest Joins the Conversation43:00 – Marketing, Branding & Independent Advantage47:00 – What Hill Would You Die On?50:00 – What's Broken in Home Services?52:00 – AI, Customer Relationships & The Future54:00 – Final Thoughts Thank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointChiirp: https://chiirp.com/Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://www.yelp.com/ Sales Ask: https://www.salesask.com/
SummaryHow Redwood Services Built a $1.1B Home Services Platform | VIP Guests Richard Lewis & John Conway
May 2601:07:22Summary readyChris Yano, Chad Peterman, and Aaron Gaynor are joined in the Home Services VIP Room by VIP guests Richard Lewis, CEO of Redwood Services, and John Conway, COO of Redwood Services.In this episode, the group dives deep into the evolution of private equity in home services, scaling multi-location businesses, leadership development, operational inefficiencies, marketing, technician retention, and what it really takes to build a billion-dollar platform in the trades.Richard and John break down Redwood Services’ growth from a startup platform in 2020 to a company valued at approximately $1.1 billion while partnering with dozens of leading HVAC, plumbing, and electrical businesses across the country. The conversation explores how Redwood approaches acquisitions differently, why culture and people matter more than ever, and what separates scalable operators from companies that stay stuck.The episode also covers leadership ceilings, dispatching, call center leakage, marketing spend, budgeting, technology, accountability, retention, and the future of consolidation in home services.If you're a contractor, operator, manager, or entrepreneur in the trades, this episode is packed with real conversations and actionable insights from some of the top minds in home services.00:00 – Welcome to the Home Services VIP Room01:15 – Introducing Redwood Services & the VIP Guests03:30 – The Origin of “Cut a Rug”06:00 – How Chris Met Redwood in the Early Days08:30 – Redwood’s Growth to a $1.1B Valuation11:00 – Building Redwood Around People & Culture14:15 – How Home Services Has Changed Since 202018:00 – Why Small Operators Are Struggling to Compete21:00 – The Technology & Marketing Arms Race in Home Services24:00 – Why Some Companies Hit a Ceiling27:00 – The Biggest Problems in $3M–$5M Businesses30:15 – Margin Leakage, Labor Costs & Pricing Mistakes34:00 – Leadership, Hiring & Building Scalable Teams38:00 – Growing Leaders Faster Than the Business42:00 – Why Accountability Gets Harder as You Scale45:00 – Redwood’s Secret Sauce: Connection & Collaboration48:00 – The Real Problem With Home Services Marketing51:00 – What’s Broken in Home Services?54:00 – Technician Retention & Industry Turnover57:00 – Why Operational Leakage Matters More Than Marketing59:00 – Final Thoughts on Scaling, Leadership & GrowthThank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointChiirp: https://chiirp.com/Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://www.yelp.com/
SummaryInside a $67M Family-Owned Home Services Business | VIP Guest Hugh Joyce
May 1900:58:04Summary readyIn this episode, Aaron Gaynor officially joins Chris Yano and Chad Peterman as the newest co-host of To The Point Home Services VIP Room alongside VIP guest Hugh Joyce, President of James River Air Conditioning Company.The group dives into what it takes to build and scale a multi-location home services business while staying independently owned. Hugh shares lessons from growing a second-generation family business started in 1967 into a company with more than 250 employees across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and commercial services.The conversation covers acquisitions, maintenance agreements, private equity, marketing, ServiceTitan, AI, call centers, scaling operations, leadership, family business dynamics, and why human connection still matters in home services.The crew is also joined by a surprise VIP guest co-host who jumps into the conversation to talk technology, AI, and the future of the trades.If you're a contractor, operator, or leader in the home services industry, this episode is packed with real conversations and actionable insights from some of the top minds in the space.00:00 – Welcome Back to the Home Services VIP Room01:00 – Aaron Gaynor Officially Joins as Co-Host02:20 – Introducing Hugh Joyce & James River Air05:00 – Building a Family Business Since 196708:10 – From a $5K Loan to a $67M Company11:00 – Why Hugh Calls Himself a “Marketing Guy”14:00 – Growing Through HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical17:15 – The Challenges of Working in a Family Business21:00 – Preparing the Next Generation to Take Over25:00 – How James River Air Approaches Acquisitions29:00 – Why Hugh Keeps Acquired Company Brands Intact33:00 – What Private Equity Gets Right About Home Services36:00 – The Biggest Problems With Home Services Technology40:00 – Why Human Connection Still Wins in Business44:00 – AI, Marketing & the Future of Customer Experience48:30 – The Power of Membership Agreements & Lifetime Value53:00 – What Most Companies Still Get Wrong About Scaling56:00 – Final Thoughts on Leadership & the Future of Home Services Thank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointChiirp: https://chiirp.com/Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://www.yelp.com/
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