How I Scaled a Plumbing Business & Sold It in 5 Years
Release Date: 09/15/2025
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info_outlineThe Financial Operator: Cash In, Chaos Out Podcast | Episode 66 | How I Scaled a Plumbing Business & Sold It in 5 Years with Mitch Smedley
🎙️ In this episode of The Financial Operator Podcast, host Jen Fizer sits down with plumbing entrepreneur and business coach Mitch Smedley. Mitch shares how he launched his plumbing company in 2020 with just $30,000 from a home equity line of credit—and grew it into a thriving, sellable business within five years. 🚿💼 From financing vans and managing COGS to building a YouTube following that caught the attention of Ford Motor Company, Mitch dives deep into the realities of scaling a service-based business. He also reveals why he turned down a higher offer to sell, how he transitioned into coaching through Trade Winds, and the importance of running your business from a P&L rather than your bank account. 📊
💡 If you’re a business owner in the trades (or thinking about starting one), this episode is packed with hard-won lessons on growth, marketing, and financial strategy.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:34 Starting a Plumbing Company During COVID
02:27 Scaling Quickly and Managing COGS
04:10 Financing the Business with a HELOC
07:04 Buying Vans and Managing Overhead
13:42 Mistakes with Equipment and Lessons Learned
19:23 Building a YouTube Channel and Catching Ford’s Attention
24:42 Launching The Void Podcast and Tradewinds Coaching
29:01 Selling the Plumbing Company After 5 Years
33:44 Retaining Ownership and Planning the Next Chapter
37:22 Which Trades Are Easiest and Most Profitable
41:05 Mitch’s Final Advice: Run Your Business from the P&L
To connect with Mitch:
https://callsmedley.com/
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