Welcome back to The Growth Guide! In today's episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Tersh Blissett, the founder of Service Business Mastery and owner of two HVAC companies, Service Emperor and Tristar. Tersh shared his unique journey into the HVAC industry, which began unexpectedly through his circle of car enthusiast friends who were HVAC techs. He transitioned from working at a chemical plant to becoming a service manager in 2007, eventually founding his own companies.

Tersh discussed the challenges he faced in starting Service Emperor, particularly in hiring the right personalities for a completely remote company. He emphasized the importance of monitoring and maintaining team morale through tools like Slack and RILA, an AI ride-along software for technicians. Tersh also shared a harrowing story about a technician who narrowly escaped a falling tree, highlighting the importance of real-time communication and support within his team.

One of the key takeaways from our conversation was the significance of knowing your numbers and hiring the right people. Tersh stressed that many service business owners fail to understand their costs, especially marketing expenses, and often don't fire underperforming employees quickly enough. He also highlighted the importance of getting out of the way as a business owner and allowing others to handle tasks more efficiently.

Tersh shared his insights on effective marketing strategies, including the power of in-person networking and guerrilla marketing tactics like yard signs and door hangers. He recounted a successful campaign where his team placed 700 yard signs around Savannah during a hurricane, which generated significant brand recognition and revenue.

Tersh advised service business owners to ask questions and seek mentorship, emphasizing that everyone starts from a place of not knowing and learns through experience or guidance. It was an enlightening conversation filled with practical advice and inspiring stories. Don't forget to check out Tersh's podcast, Service Business Mastery, for more insights into running a successful service business.