Onboarding That Works: How To Set Up New Hires for Long-Term Success
Release Date: 08/22/2025
Working Together: Lessons from a husband and wife remodeling team
Remodelers On The Rise
In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise Kyle talks with husband and wife team Austin and Callie Cornell of MSC Enterprises They share how they run their remodeling business together balance family life improve their financial clarity and build smoother processes that support steady growth ----- Explore the vast array of tools, training courses, a podcast, and a supportive community of over 2,000 remodelers. Visit today and take your remodeling business to new heights! ----- Remodel Your Marriage, Life & Business Retreat – Feb 10-12, 2026 A three-day experience in Franklin TN...
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Stories That Sell: A Remodeler’s Guide to Better Sales Conversations
Remodelers On The Rise
In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise Kyle Hunt sits down with Mark Dixon of Odd Fellows Contracting to unpack the stories and simple frameworks he uses to sell remodeling work without feeling salesy. Mark shares his four possible decisions script, his spaghetti dinner and tomato analogies for talking about price and bids, and how he uses feel felt found and psychological reciprocity to build trust. You will hear how a lifetime in remodeling and decades of sales training turned into a practical toolbox of one liners, questions, and stories you can swipe and adapt for your own sales...
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Build to Give Back: A Remodeler’s Guide to Generosity
Remodelers On The Rise
In this week’s episode of Remodelers on the Rise, Kyle explores a powerful question for remodelers: how can generosity become a meaningful and intentional part of your business vision? He’s joined by Matt Baehr, Executive Director of Homes for Hope, to share how microloans are transforming families and communities around the world by fueling real entrepreneurship. You’ll hear inspiring stories — like a $50 welding loan that became a thriving homebuilding business, and 20 plastic chairs that launched a successful wedding company — and learn how remodelers can practically support this...
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It's NOT All About Business
Remodelers On The Rise
In this solo episode, Kyle takes a step back from strategy and systems to share a simple reminder we all need: it’s not all about business. He talks about rightly ordering your life—faith, family, work, and everything in between—and how easy it is to let the demands of business crowd out what truly matters. A thoughtful conversation about slowing down, staying present, and making sure your business serves your life, not the other way around. ----- Homeowners are already using AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini to research remodelers — are you showing up where they’re searching?...
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The Golden Goose of Aging in Place with Chris Moore
Remodelers On The Rise
In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise, Kyle sits down with Chris Moore of Senior Remodeling Experts to unpack why aging in place can be the golden goose for remodelers. Chris breaks down the three segments of the market (traumatic change, progressive change, and no urgent needs) and shows how to weave smart, subtle upgrades into standard projects: three-foot doors, curbless showers, blocking for future grab bars, stacked closets for a future elevator, removable cabinet fronts, and ceiling-lift framing. They talk about messaging that avoids stigma, why most homes are “Peter Pan" housing,...
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Building Your Remodeling Business with Purpose
Remodelers On The Rise
In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise, architect turned remodeler Mary Denby shares how she shifted from wearing every hat to leading with clarity. From creating real processes, to hiring her first estimator, to facing the numbers instead of avoiding them, her story shows the power of focus, action, and joy in business. ----- Ready to streamline your business and increase profits? Visit to see how their all-in-one construction management software helps remodelers and builders simplify estimating, scheduling, job costing, and invoicing. Want to hear JobTread in action? Check out our...
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How Much Can Your Remodeling Biz Afford to Spend on Marketing? (Hint: it's not X% of revenue)
Remodelers On The Rise
In this episode of Remodelers On The Rise, Kyle Hunt sits down with Spencer Powell, CEO of Builder Funnel, to unpack the marketing math remodelers need. You’ll learn how to set a practical budget, track lead sources, and focus on ROI so you know exactly what you can afford to spend to acquire clients. Spencer walks you through Builder Funnel’s “attract → convert → nurture → measure” framework, and they share actionable wins you can implement immediately—whether that’s smarter offers on your website or follow-up strategies you may be skipping. Plus, if you’re ready to do...
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Reclaiming Your Life: A Conversation with Dr. Noah St. John
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In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise, Kyle Hunt sits down with Dr. Noah St. John—author of Power Habits and Seven Figure Expert. Together, they dig into why “hustle harder” isn’t sustainable, how entrepreneurs can break free from head trash, and why true success isn’t just about making more money but about reclaiming your time, energy, and relationships. You’ll hear insights on his Freedom Lifestyle Formula, the power of affirmations versus “afformations,” and stories of clients who transformed both their businesses and their personal lives. ----- Explore the vast array...
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What Great Leaders Say — and How They Say It
Remodelers On The Rise
In this episode of Remodelers On The Rise, Kyle sits down with behavioral scientist Dr. Kurt Nelson to explore what great leaders say — and how they say it. From the psychology behind effective communication to the science of motivation and behavior change, this episode is packed with insights remodelers can use to lead with more clarity and influence. Whether you’re guiding a team, communicating with clients, or trying to build a strong company culture, you’ll take away practical tools that make your leadership more impactful. ----- Ready to stop guessing and start...
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Be Good, Not Just Nice: Leadership and Integrity with Pete Burak
Remodelers On The Rise
In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise, Kyle is joined by leadership coach and speaker Pete Burak for a refreshingly practical and thoughtful conversation on what it means to lead well—at work and at home. From crafting a clear “here to there” vision, to mentoring your team, to creating a 12-out-of-10 client experience, Pete shares simple but powerful principles to help remodelers grow as leaders. You’ll also hear why generosity always wins, how to avoid skipping over mentorship, and why the best leaders are first great followers. It’s packed with wisdom, stories, and takeaways...
info_outlineIn this episode of Remodelers On The Rise, Kyle Hunt is joined by Bryan Williams of Squirrel Solutions to talk all things onboarding. From prepping before day one to setting clear expectations and leveraging self-learning tools, Bryan walks through a simple, practical nine-step onboarding framework remodelers can apply right away. You’ll also hear why great onboarding isn’t just about forms and checklists—it’s about culture, connection, and setting your new hires (and your business) up to thrive.
If you’re about to hire or want to improve how you bring new team members into your remodeling business, this conversation is packed with actionable ideas and tools.
Looking to strengthen your onboarding process? Squirrel Solutions is offering a free Onboarding Starter Guide designed to help remodelers create a smooth, professional, and engaging first-week experience for new team members. Inside, you’ll find practical tips and checklists to set clear expectations, build confidence, and set employees up for long-term success. Download your free guide here!
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Today's episode is sponsored by Builder Funnel! Click here to learn more about how Builder Funnel helps remodelers and home builders grow through strategic digital marketing.
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Explore the vast array of tools, training courses, a podcast, and a supportive community of over 2,000 remodelers. Visit Remodelersontherise.com today and take your remodeling business to new heights!
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Takeaways
Onboarding is an underappreciated skill in remodeling businesses.
Proper onboarding can significantly improve employee retention.
Pre-onboarding communication helps ease new hires' anxiety.
Budgeting for onboarding is crucial for effective training.
Defining core expectations involves the entire team, not just one person.
Leveraging self-learning tools can save time and resources.
Regularly reviewing job descriptions ensures they remain relevant.
Setting clear goals for new hires fosters a productive culture.
Collecting feedback on the onboarding process is essential for improvement.
A strong conclusion to onboarding can leave a lasting positive impression.
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
03:30 The Importance of Onboarding
09:44 Pre-Onboarding Strategies
14:43 Budgeting for Onboarding
17:47 Defining Core Expectations
20:11 Leveraging Self-Learning Tools
26:05 Reviewing Job Descriptions
32:36 Setting Goals and Collecting Feedback
37:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts