Holiday season means it’s time to plan your 2026 marketing strategy. In this episode, Chris Moore shows painting contractors how to calculate their true lead needs and turn those numbers into a focused marketing plan. He breaks down the three essential buckets of marketing—organic/referral, digital, and neighborhood—and how each one supports your sales goals. With strategies for everything from LSAs to social media to door hangers, you’ll learn how to build a plan that’s intentional instead of random. If you’re tired of guessing at marketing, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for the year ahead. Need help creating a comprehensive marketing plan for the year? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

Did you know that most contractors don’t lose money because of bad clients — they lose money because they avoid uncomfortable conversations? In today’s episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, host Chris Moore breaks down how systems, structure, and communication can eliminate the stress around tough conversations and protect your profits, reputation, and culture. The good news? Hard conversations aren’t a personality trait — they’re a skill. And skills can be learned, practiced, and strengthened. With the right systems, scripts, and structure, even the toughest conversations become easier and far less emotional. Need help navigating these hard conversations? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

In this episode, Brandon Pierpont hosts the Commercial Painting Success Panel to unpack what’s actually working in commercial painting right now. Hear how top contractors target ideal clients, quickly pre-qualify, choose general contractor work versus direct-to-owner, protect margins, and manage cash flow through long cycles so you can build a healthier backlog and repeat revenue.

Winter is here — and for many painting contractors, this season brings the familiar question: “How do I make the most of my time?” In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, host Chris Moore shares a practical framework to help you use the slower months to strengthen your business, sharpen your systems, and set yourself up for a successful 2026. You’ll learn: 🧾 What financial systems need attention during winter (time tracking, materials, expense processes) 📣 How to tighten your marketing plan, content strategy, and budget for 2026 📞 Ways to upgrade your sales process, customer experience, and estimating workflow 👥 What to refine in your recruiting and onboarding systems 🛠 The operational tools, SOPs, and project workflows that prevent chaos in busy season 🧹 Why winter is the perfect time to clean and declutter your shop, office, files, and personal life This season is about finding the sweet spot between resting and rebuilding. If you want to hit the ground running in 2026 with a more organized, efficient, and predictable painting business, this episode is your winter playbook. Need help figuring out what to work on this Winter? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

In this episode, Brandon Pierpont goes beyond ad tactics and shows painting contractors how to turn attention into revenue. Live from PCA’s Women in Paint, he breaks down winning Meta ads (CPM, conversion, creative that drives engagement), the “micro-sales” inside your sales process (speed-to-lead, pre-estimate value, selfie confirmations), and the review, referral, and neighborhood-take-rate plays that compound ROI. Practical, no-fluff steps to lower CPL, raise close rates, and build a profitable growth engine.

Change can be hard for everyone involved in your business. The owner, the leadership team and the field teams. In this episode, we have Bracken Anderson, Senior Partnerships Manager at BusyBusy join us to share some insight and tips on how to help implement tech successfully into your jobsite operations! Interested in learning more about BusyBusy? Connect with Bracken at bracken.anderson@alignops.com. Need help figuring out what tech to utilize and how to start utilizing it in your business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

In this episode, Brandon Pierpont dives deep into an ROI-driven marketing strategy that adapts to any economy at this year’s PCA Residential Contractor Conference. Listen as Brandon breaks down where to spend your marketing dollars, what to track, and how to actually get the results you’re looking for!

If you, like MANY contractors out there, are thinking about a business coach… …how do you pick the best one? With so many options out there, it’s WAY too easy to get swindled by a smooth talker with no real track record or, more likely, to pick a perfectly good coaching solution that just isn’t perfect for you. Today, Breakthrough Academy’s own Brendon Toyne joins us for a deep dive into picking the best coaching solution for your business.

From understanding how taxes differ for S-Corporations and LLCs to deciding when to accelerate expenses or defer income, we break down what really matters — and what’s just noise when it comes to your taxes. You’ll also learn how to use deductions like the Augusta Rule, mileage reimbursements, and home office expenses the right way (with documentation that keeps you audit-proof). If you’re a painting contractor or small business owner who’s tired of getting surprised at tax time, this episode will help you make smarter financial moves, keep more of your hard-earned money, and start 2026 on the right foot. Need help planning financially or strategizing for taxes in your business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

90% of contractors take the WRONG approach to Meta ads. 1️⃣Have someone make your creative. 2️⃣Run the ads 3️⃣Hope for the best 🤞 Instead, according to contractor marketing expert Phil Risher, you should make ORGANIC content first, figure out what drives engagement, and then reuse THAT as your ad creative. This simple shift can save you thousands in wasted ad spend.

In this episode, Brandon Pierpont hosts a dynamic panel from the PCA Residential Contractor Conference, where industry leaders share their go-to tools for streamlining communication, scheduling, quoting, and more. Learn how to simplify your systems and build an efficient, scalable tech stack roadmap.

Does your brand feel the same as every one of your competitors? You’re not alone. In the trades, it can be hard to truly stand out. To your customer, every company looks about the same. And EVERYONE’S website says they’re the best. So how do you stand out? According to John “JD” Dwyer, the key is being different. Or as he calls it, being the “UN” in your industry. Unconventional, unlike everyone else… maybe even a little weird.

Running a contracting business can feel life or death. You’re responsible for other peoples’ income. Your customers are entrusting their homes in your hands. Your family relies on you to provide for them. The buck always stops with you. But here’s a hard truth: your business is not life or death. The reality is, no matter what happens… …you’ll be fine.

Managing people is one of the toughest — and most rewarding — parts of running a painting business. In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, host Chris Moore breaks down five essential systems every contractor should implement to lead their team more effectively and create accountability that drives results. You’ll learn: ✅ How to simplify compensation and make it performance-driven 📊 What KPIs matter most for estimators and project managers 🧾 How to track and assess progress with accountability systems 🗓 The right cadence for one-on-one, team, and handoff meetings 🎯 How to coach, support, and communicate effectively as a leader Whether you lead a crew of two or a full operations team, this episode will help you manage people with more clarity, consistency, and confidence — so you can focus on scaling your painting business the right way. Need help implementing these people management systems and standards into your business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com! · EBA on 11/4

Finances are emotional — especially when you don’t know your numbers. In this episode, we break down three steps every painting contractor needs to take to gain control of their finances: awareness, forecasting, and benchmarking. If you’re tired of reacting and ready to take charge of your profitability, start here! Need help gaining clarity on the numbers part of your business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, Chris Moore sits down with Jon Beach, founder of Skilled Trades Media, to unpack one of the most overlooked marketing tools for painting contractors — brand awareness. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your painting business noticed, remembered, and trusted in your local market, this episode is for you. Jon and Chris dive into what brand awareness really means, when to start investing in it, and how to balance it with your lead generation marketing efforts.

Is making content worth it for contractors? Ben Degros, The Vancouver Carpenter, built a following of over 700K subscribers by making drywall videos. BUT he had to dedicate a massive amount of time and energy to his channel. In a world filled with more and more noise, don’t underestimate how much work it is to create an online brand that resonates with your audience. It’s not about going viral; it’s about offering value to your customers before they start working with you.

With all the AI sales tools coming out, you may be wondering… …are sales reps being replaced? According to Liveswitch CRO and contractor sales expert James Hatfield: not yet. But, technology will continue to make selling easier for reps and MUCH more convenient for homeowners. If you haven’t started modernizing your sales process to match the modern buyer’s expectations, this is your sign to start.

In this episode of Quick Hits, Brad Ellison sits down with his business partner Tim Bergsma to dive deep into the visionary-integrator relationship—the most critical dynamic for business success. Tim shares insights from consulting with Fortune 500 companies and growing Ellison Painting to $5M.

In this episode of Quick Hits, Brad Ellison sits down with Zach Kenney of ZK Painting—a master of organic social media for contractors—to break down what actually works, what doesn't, and how to turn your social presence into a revenue-generating machine.