Are you incentivizing performance effectively? Most pay plans look good on paper but fail in the real world because they’re too slow, too complicated, or reward the wrong things. On this episode of Cracking the Code, Paul Kelly, Former Owner of Parker & Sons, unpacks the no-ceiling compensation model behind Parker & Sons’ explosive growth. […]

Many contractors overlook the easiest path to bigger tickets and faster closes: light commercial jobs. When a business loses heating or cooling, they can’t wait — they shut down. That urgency turns what many think of as commercial work into quick, residential-style jobs that fund fast and close even faster. On this week’s episode Matthew […]

Is your follow-up speed costing you thousands in missed revenue? Studies show that if you don’t reach a new lead within a minute, your chances of converting it drop by more than half. In today’s world of instant responses and disappearing attention spans, every second truly matters when responding to homeowners. This week on Cracking […]

How are you performing on lead generation? Many contractors still think lead generation is about ranking on Google and bidding on the right keywords. But the game has changed. You’re not marketing to an audience, you’re marketing to three: traditional search engines, the homeowner, and AI search agents On this week’s episode of Cracking the […]

What’s the fastest path to double your business growth? Chad Petermen, President & CEO of Peterman Brothers, says it’s mastering your call center! Most contractors already have good lead volume, but they don’t properly manage them. The real opportunity is booking more of the calls you’re already paying for, routing the right tech to the […]

Selling an HVAC business isn’t just a financial milestone. It’s a legacy moment that reflects your leadership and the culture you’ve built. Successful exits happen when owners prepare early and treat the transition as the next chapter of their company’s story, not just a transaction. This week on Cracking the Code, David Holt sits down […]

Too many contractors still rely on quote-driven sales processes that often cause confusion and slow sales momentum, sometimes to a screeching halt. This week on Cracking the Code, Drew Cameron and Russ Horrocks of Flow Odyssey explore a more customer-focused way to sell: menu pricing. Together, they unpack how menu pricing simplifies decisions for homeowners […]

Building a strong customer base is great, but building a referral fan base is transformative. Companies that master unforgettable customer service every time can see remarkable growth. On this episode of Cracking the Code, Mary Jean “MJ” Anderson, retired president of Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air, unpacks how wowing customers fulled a leading company built […]

External pressures are reshaping the HVAC industry — from tariffs and private equity, to rapidly evolving homeowner expectations. Yet despite it all, top-performing contractors are growing stronger and finding new ways to stay in control by turning challenges into opportunities. On this episode of Cracking the Code, David Holt sits down with Decision Analyst, a […]

Everyone’s talking about AI, but here’s the truth — it won’t replace people and it won’t replace critical thinking. The real competitive edge comes from using AI to inform and elevate your customer’s buying journey. On this episode of Cracking the Code, David Holt sits down with Brigham Dickinson, President and Founder of Power Selling […]

Tripling a business doesn’t happen overnight. For Barron Heating, AC, Electrical & Plumbing, it came from two core commitments: finding the right people and building the right systems. Video became their tool to earn trust with customers and attract new talent, while training turned green hires into future leaders. On this week’s episode of Cracking […]

Who’s really running your business and what should you focus on? How should you think about finances? The answers to these fundamental questions are often more straightforward than we make them out to be. On this week’s episode of Cracking the Code, David Holt, General Manager of Contractor University, takes you back to the basics. […]

Being an entrepreneur isn’t for the faint of heart. Running your own business means long days that stretch far beyond a 40-hour work week, tackling challenges head-on, and sometimes feeling like you’re building the plane while it’s already taking off. On this episode, David Holt, Contractor University’s General Manage, takes you inside the unfiltered life […]

Does selling sometimes feel like you’re pushing prospects too hard? Closing more HVAC jobs can be stress-free for you and your customers when you lead with their priorities and turn selling into problem-solving. This week on Cracking The Code, David Holt, Contractor University’s General Manager and a former contractor, demonstrates his proven stress-free HVAC sales […]

Does your interview process get the right people in the right roles? This week, Drew Cameron and Gary Elekes build on last week’s discussion about recruiting mistakes, sharing practical strategies for screening candidates over the phone, leveraging multiple interviewers, and asking the standardized questions that reveal who is truly a fit. You’ll discover a repeatable […]

Hiring the right people is hard enough. What happens when the wrong person is already on your team? In this week’s episode, Contractor University faculty members Drew Cameron and Gary Elekes dive into the real-world challenges of recruiting in the trades, and what happens when personal relationships complicate professional decisions. They share lessons learned from […]

Do you know how to maximize your operations during the summer rush? It starts with aligning your people, processes, and priorities — then turning every opportunity into measurable results. In this episode, Contractor University faculty member Drew Cameron shares his approach to operational maximization—keeping customers happy, employees motivated, and opportunities fully captured during the busiest […]

Customers don’t sit in on staff meetings, and they won’t study your mission statement, but they feel the effects of how your business runs every time they interact with your team. In this week’s episode, contracting business expert Gary Elekes shares how internal leadership changes can create real results in the field. He breaks down […]

The best contractors aren’t just skilled — they’re hungry, humble, and always leveling up. Going from a profitable business to a leader in the industry takes more than discipline. In this week’s episode, Mark Matteson, best selling author and TEDx Speaker, sits down with industry titan Paul Kelly, who shares the mindset behind RAISING GOATS; […]

The best in-home sales strategies aren’t flashy. Don’t think high-tech, think high-touch. With thoughtful, structured, customer-first selling techniques your team will close more sales without being pushy or too hands off. On this week’s episode, New York Times bestselling author Weldon Long unpacks the psychology behind HVAC buying decisions. Learn how to use tiered pricing […]