2025 Recap for Service Business Owners to Learn Real Growth Wins and Apply Them in 2026
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
Release Date: 12/24/2025
No Fees No Equity Loss: A New Way to Scale Your Business
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
Most business owners think they only have two options when they want to scale: Pay expensive consultants⌠or give up equity to investors. But what if there was a third option? In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Mike Michalowicz and Greg Eckler from The Prosper Group to break down a completely different approach to scaling service businesses. Instead of charging fees or taking ownership, their model focuses on partnering with business owners, executing alongside them, and only getting paid when the business becomes more profitable. What...
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Leadership Skills for Home Service Owners Who Want to Scale
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
Most home service business owners start as technicians. But scaling a business requires a completely different skill set. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett sits down with Elise Radawitz, President and Owner of Velocity Leader, to break down the leadership skills contractors need if they want to grow their business. They discuss why promoting your best technician into a management role often fails, how leadership is a learned skill, and what it actually takes to lead people effectively. Elise shares practical insights on developing leaders inside your company,...
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Building a Trades Business Brand That Gets Real Results
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
Most home service businesses are posting content⌠but not getting results. Why? Because theyâre missing the most important piece: connection. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett sits down with Jen McKee, founder of Kee Hart Marketing, to break down what actually works when it comes to building a brand in the trades. They dive into why personal branding matters, how social media really drives business growth, and why most contractors are overthinking their content strategy. Jen explains why âboringâ everyday work is actually powerful content, how authenticity...
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Automation vs. Real AI: What Works, Whatâs Hype, and How to Profit
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
AI is everywhere right now. But most contractors donât actually understand how it works. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Jeff Torello, founder of Sinjun AI, to break down what AI really is, how it works under the hood, and why so much of the industry is getting it wrong. Jeff explains that AI isnât some all-knowing system. Itâs a probability engine that predicts the next word, with no real memory and no true understanding of context. If youâve been confused, overwhelmed, or skeptical about AI, this episode will give you a...
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Stop Hiding Your Prices: The Real ROI of Transparent Contractor Pricing
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
Most contractors are still hiding their prices. But customers are already finding that information somewhere else. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Paul Redman, President of Contractor Commerce, to break down the real impact of transparent pricing in home service businesses. They discuss why pricing transparency is no longer optional, how AI search and Google are already surfacing pricing data, and why contractors who donât adapt risk losing control of the customer conversation. Paul shares how online pricing tools,...
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AI Employee: How Home Service Businesses Are Scaling Without More Staff
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
AI is no longer just automation or chatbots. Itâs becoming a real employee for service businesses. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, recorded live at AHR Expo 2026, Tersh Blissett sits down with Dennis Steele, co-founder of Podium, to talk about the rise of AI agents and how theyâre transforming HVAC and plumbing companies. From answering calls and booking jobs to handling angry customers and following up on estimates, AI agents are beginning to perform real work that previously required multiple team members. Dennis shares how Podium started by helping contractors get more...
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The Future of Marketing for Home Service Businesses
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
Marketing for home service businesses is evolving faster than ever. Rising lead costs, private equity competition, new AI-driven ad platforms, and changing consumer behavior are forcing contractors to rethink how they attract customers. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett sits down with Justin Riley, founder of UpFrog, to talk about what the future of marketing really looks like for HVAC, plumbing, and other home service companies. If you want to understand where marketing for home service businesses is heading and how to stay competitive in the years ahead, this...
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How Dual Fuel Heat Pumps Are Changing the Game for HVAC Contractors
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
Electrification is accelerating across North America. Rebates are expanding. Regulations are tightening. And HVAC contractors are being asked to deliver higher efficiency, lower emissions, and better comfort all at the same time. So where does dual fuel fit in? In this episode of Service Business Mastery, recorded live at AHR Expo, Tersh Blissett sits down with Matt Schlegel and Charles Hurd to break down how dual fuel heat pumps are becoming a powerful solution for commercial and residential contractors. If youâre trying to navigate electrification, cold climate performance, rebate...
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How HVAC Contractors Are Making More Money with Duct Sealing Technology
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
Most HVAC contractors focus on equipment upgrades, but one of the biggest opportunities for better installs and higher profit is hiding in the ductwork. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, recorded live at AHR 2026 in Las Vegas, Tersh Blissett sits down with Jarrod Scott from Aeroseal to explain how duct sealing from the inside works, why it is different from traditional mastic and tape, and how contractors can use it to improve comfort, increase system efficiency, reduce callbacks, and create a real competitive advantage. They also discuss commercial and multifamily applications,...
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How Service Businesses Can Use AI to Convert More Leads
Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service
AI is moving faster than most service businesses can keep up with. Voice agents. Text automation. Follow-up systems. AI sales emails. Predictive messaging. But hereâs the real question: How do you use AI to convert more leads without losing the human touch? In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Ryan Fenn, CEO at CHIIRP, to break down whatâs actually working in AI-driven lead conversion right now. They dive into: Why speed to lead still wins (and why seconds matter) How one word in your follow-up could be killing 90 percent of your...
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Welcome to the Service Business Mastery Podcast!
Visit our website for more episodes and insights! https://www.servicebusinessmastery.com
In this episode of the Service Business Mastery podcast, Tersh Blissett, Co-Founder & Chief Experience Officer at Trade Automation Pros, CEO of Service Emperor, Co-Host & Founder of Service Business Mastery Podcast, and Josh Crouch, Founder of Relentless Digital Marketing Solutions & Co-Host of Service Business Mastery Podcast, talk about the key strategies that can drive success for home service businesses. They share how pricing transparency, strong community connections, and effective marketing help businesses stand out and grow. They also discuss the role of AI tools in improving operations, saving time, and creating more content. Tune in to learn how to simplify your business focus and make smarter decisions for long-term growth.
In this episode, here's what you can expect to learn:
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Why pricing transparency and clear estimates can drive more leads and build trust.
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How community involvement and networking help businesses grow.
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The importance of focusing on one thing and avoiding distractions for success.
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Why AI tools and automation are key to saving time and improving operations.
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How simplifying your marketing strategy can lead to better results.
Timestamps â°
[00:00] - Recap
[02:36] - Episode Introduction
[05:48] - Building Strong Customer Relationships
[06:29] - Avoiding Information Overload & Staying Focused
[10:08] - 20+ Events, Hosting Their Own, and Keynote Training
[11:47] - Standout Events: BDR Spark, Branding & Differentiation
[13:49] - AI Trend Fatigue & Contractor Skepticism
[17:26] - Wearable AI âExternal Brainâ & Personal Productivity
[20:25] - First Major Keynote: Nerves, Preparation & Delivery
[23:01] - Speaking on Stage vs. Breakouts & Audience Dynamics
[26:55] - Biggest Interview Surprises & Data from Homeowner Surveys
[30:04] - Recommended Starting Episode for New Listeners
[34:11] - Industry Challenges: Tariffs, Regulations & Consumer Shifts
[37:34] - Embarrassing Moments On-Air & On Stage
[40:11] - Favourite Podcast Moments & Listener Reflections
[42:45] - Looking Ahead to 2026 & New AI Product Direction
[46:18] - What Topics Should We Cover in 2026?
[48:09] - Your 2026 Business Changes? Scaling Up or Down
If you found this conversation helpful, please leave us a review (5 stars would be greatly appreciated đ).
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