Best Remodelers Advantage Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 255: Planning Check In – What our Coaches are Seeing in Every Annual Planning Session Right Now 32:34

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9h ago32:34

32:34

Sydney Bates and Molly Nolan pull back the curtain on annual planning season, sharing key themes and lessons learned from the 20+ client site visits completed in recent months. Whether you've already done your 2025 planning or you're just getting started, this check-in covers what's working—from contingency planning and sales management structure t…

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Common Remodeler Mistakes that are Hitting Your Bottom Line with Alan Hanbury – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 29:43

20h ago29:43

29:43

In this episode, guest Alan Hanbury of Hanbury Builders Inc. discusses three common areas where remodeling contractors are underperforming because they believe their gut rather than facts. Alan also talks about referral marketing, the effects of job costing done half-heartedly, and hiring when taking net profitability into account. Alan is presiden…

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Ep. 254: AI Accelerator Workshop – A 6 Month Roadmap to Turn Strategy Into Competitive Advantage 29:11

7d ago29:11

29:11

Bill Drysdale, Principal of the Taysa Group, and Ross Hartmann, Founder of Kiingo AI, introduce NCG's new 6-month AI Accelerator Workshop designed specifically for trades businesses who want to gain a competitive edge through practical AI adoption. They explain why AI is a people and strategy challenge rather than a technical one, sharing how the p…

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Developing Your Company’s Future Leaders with Jessica Lipson – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 25:53

17d ago25:53

25:53

In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, host Victoria Downing chats with Jessica Lipson, Vice President of People and Culture at JBL Consulting, about building strong leadership within your remodeling business. Jessica, who brings over 20 years of HR experience, shares her insights on identifying high-potential leaders, developing effective mentor…

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"How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything" - Building Career Ladders & Peer Feedback 48:58

21d ago48:58

48:58

When employees don't see a clear path forward, they leave—it's that simple. Dave Scaturro, Vice President & Director of Commercial Division at Alpine Painting shares how he & his team tackled this challenge by creating a comprehensive career ladder covering skills, safety, quality, culture, and leadership, then used feedback from his mastermind gro…

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The Deadly Sins that Designers & Production Teams Commit with Jeff Borovitz – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 28:34

24d ago28:34

28:34

How can designers and production staff improve their success in the remodeling industry? Guest Jeff Borovitz joins Victoria and Mark to talk about the deadly sins that get in the way of reaching your full potential. Jeff has worked and trained with many members of the Remodelers Advantage Roundtables community and brings that experience in talking …

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Ep. 252: Behind the Scenes — Reflections from the 2025 Grand Summit 31:20

28d ago31:20

31:20

Fresh off the 2025 Grand Summit Conference in Seattle, Molly sits down with Coach Eamon to debrief his first Summit experience with over 200 trades industry leaders. From Tiffani Bova's "Experience Mindset" keynote to the deeply resonant conversation on leadership and mental health with Rob Vallentine, they share observations on standout sessions, …

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A Secret Shortcut to Estimating Labor with Chad Vincent – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 31:55

1M ago31:55

31:55

Accurately estimating a project is critical to profit, and one of the most challenging components of that estimate is labor. Can you estimate labor simply and accurately? Are you spending too much time estimating labor for each job? Guest Chad Vincent thinks so. Tune into this episode to hear all about his new method towards becoming more effective…

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Ep 222 Re-Release: Highlights from the Experience Mindset, a Book by Tiffani Bova: Where EX & CX are Intricately Intertwined 41:50

1M ago41:50

41:50

We're re-releasing our very first episode of 2025 for a special reason - author Tiffani Bova was keynote speaker at this week's Grand Summit Conference in Seattle! When Colin and I discussed "The Experience Mindset" at the start of this year, we had no idea she'd soon be joining us to explore our conference theme: "The Intersection of Leadership & …

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Ep. 251: Beyond Your Trades Business – Pete Schnepp on Diversifying Into Commercial Real Estate 37:58

1M ago37:58

37:58

Pete Schnepp, Real Estate Investor and Founder of both Envision Service Group and Asset Stream Properties, shares his journey from running a successful painting business to building and maintaining an expanding commercial real estate portfolio. In this episode, Pete discusses why he chose commercial real estate over short-term rentals, how he evalu…

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How to Make Huge Profits Without Clients with Andrew Schroeder – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 37:56

2M ago37:56

37:56

On this episode, Victoria and Mark talk to guest Andrew Schroeder about using your remodeling experience to grow your business by profitably flipping houses, minimizing the risks and maximizing the benefits, and the challenges of acting as your own client. Whether you’re a seasoned professional in the remodeling industry or just starting, this epis…

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Ep. 250: Small Resets, Big Results – A Conversation About Dan Heath's Book, Reset 57:55

2M ago57:55

57:55

Kevin Muñoz and Kathryn Freeman dive into Dan Heath’s Reset, exploring why small, intentional resets often outperform massive overhauls. They discuss how to identify “bright spots” worth replicating, the power of giving your team ownership over change, and why the best time to reset isn’t January 1st—it’s right now. From Chick-fil-A’s drive-thru in…

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Estate Planning 101 with Thomas Croessman – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 24:58

2M ago24:58

24:58

Today on PowerTips Unscripted, Thomas Croessman joins the show to discuss the need for small business owners to plan for their company’s transition in their estate plan. While your business might be humming along now, how will it perform if you’re not around? Unfortunately, most small businesses only survive the first generation because of estate p…

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Re-Release Ep. 220: AI Meets Small Business - A conversation with Ross Hartmann of Kiingo AI 56:18

2M ago56:18

56:18

We're re-releasing this fan-favorite episode with Ross Hartmann, founder of Kiingo AI, just in time for our Grand Summit Conference where Ross will be leading a breakout session on this very topic. Ross and Molly explore practical AI applications for small businesses, discussing how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can boost efficiency, reduc…

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Ep. 249: Grand Summit 2025 — Seattle, Sessions & Why You Should Attend 31:38

2M ago31:38

31:38

Join Molly Nolan and Colin Nolan as they preview the 2025 Grand Summit Conference in Seattle- NCG's largest annual event bringing together business owners for learning, networking, and one-on-one coaching. Discover what's new this year, including keynote speaker Tiffany Bova, interactive Table Talks, sessions on AI and bot building, strategic wealt…

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Focusing on What Matters Most with Spencer Powell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 26:33

2M ago26:33

26:33

The most common marketing mistake host Mark Harari sees is a focus on tactic without regard for strategy. It is important to avoid adopting new fad marketing tactics, and start with a strategic foundation. Guest Spencer Powell agrees, and he is here to share how to focus on what matters most to your business so that you can use marketing to increas…

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Ep. 247: Partnership at the Top – How GMs and Owners Work Together 38:17

3M ago38:17

38:17

We are jumping back into the world of Stewart Painting - a month ago we heard about their Board of Directors Progress and now we’re hearing about the Role dynamics of the General Manager & Owner! Sheldon Stewart, Owner & President and Kimberly Redfield, General Manager discuss the role of the GM and how they work together effectively, sharing real …

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Re-Release Ep. 199: Scaling your Business with Overseas Talent: Sharing Insights & Approach from Michael Murray 58:13

3M ago58:13

58:13

This week we are re-releasing an episode originally published in May of 2024 with Michael Murray, he Founder and President at Textbook Painting in Cleveland, OH. As we thinking about planning and budgeting for 2026, we thought it was timely to revisit the topic of hiring overseas talent and how you can build that into your organizational growth to …

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What Were They Thinking? with Victoria Downing and Mark Harari – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 34:01

3M ago34:01

34:01

Successful communication with new or potential customers can make or break a company’s image. Alongside communication, ensuring that any preconceived notions or assumptions are put aside when working with a new customer can be crucial in securing their business. Victoria and Mark both share experiences with remodeling and trade companies that left …

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The Fine Line: The Legal Consequences to Questionable Business Practices with Thomas Croessmann – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 28:14

3M ago28:14

28:14

The remodeling industry is highly competitive and some may be tempted to break the rules. Although some may do it intentionally, others may start with good intentions, but over time the line between right and wrong becomes blurred. Thomas Croessmann will be joining the show to discuss the consequences of breaking the rules, which in some cases can …

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Ep. 246: The Delicate Art of Passing the Egg – From Sales Promises to Operations Delivery 33:34

3M ago33:34

33:34

Nolan Consulting Group Coach, Eamon Lynch shares lessons from scaling operations at a billion-dollar remodeling company and applying those systems to smaller trades businesses. From bay window sales gone wrong to the critical handoffs between sales and operations, Eamon breaks down why "we say a lot of things" isn't good enough and how to build acc…

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How to Shatterproof Your Business with America’s Legal Coach – [Best of PowerTips] 29:47

3M ago29:47

29:47

There are many legal challenges that can appear suddenly for remodelers, builders and business owners. It is imperative to build your business on a foundation that can weather the storm so that, as our guest today puts it, it doesn’t matter. In this episode, we talk more about the process of “shatterproofing” your business with America’s Legal Coac…

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Ep. 245: Don’t Hit Snooze on 2026 Planning – Why Now is the Time to Start Your Annual Plan 40:39

3M ago40:39

40:39

When the Summer days start fading, we start planning! Today we’re diving into the importance of starting your 2026 planning now - at the very least, getting those dates on the calendar in October or November. From vision setting and SWOT analysis to identifying Planning Discussion Items and breaking them into 90-day action steps, we explore the too…

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Top 10 Sales Tips for Remodelers with Jeff Borovitz – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 44:35

3M ago44:35

44:35

Jeff Borovitz has trained hundreds of remodeling sales people, designers and owners to help them increase sales and margins. So, we have asked him to join us here to share his top ten sales tips with our listeners. Jeff is a franchise owner of Sandler Training and the Remodelers Advantage Sandler Sales Trainer. He has advised, trained and coached s…

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Ep. 244: Beating the Drum – Setting the Table for Sales Success with Gavin Hepp 48:45

4M ago48:45

48:45

Join us as we welcome Gavin Hepp, Co Founder of Webfoot Home Improvements and newest addition to the Nolan Sales Coaching team. Gavin shares his passion for "Setting the Table" - the critical foundation of every successful sales interaction that makes customers comfortable and sets clear expectations from the start. We dive deep into practical comm…

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Harnessing the Power of 3D Visualization with David Pollard – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 30:25

4M ago30:25

30:25

Dave Pollard, Co-Founder & Design Director of Liv Companies outside of Chicago, joins the show to talk more about how his firm utilizes 3D renderings in almost every aspect of their business. Leading LivCo’s design team, Dave’s process quickly takes hand sketches to full-blown renderings and walk-throughs, and they are even leveraging the power of …

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Gauging Your Designers’ Workload Effectively With Jeff Talmadge – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 23:08

4M ago23:08

23:08

In this episode, Jeff Talmadge discusses how he and his team created a point system for his design staff to spread their workload. Each designer is assigned a predetermined number of points, weighted by criteria such as permitting, scope, and complexity of the job. The team tracks points weekly and has found that designers are less stressed, custom…

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Ep. 243: Checking Back In — Stewart Painting's Board Journey Continues 33:54

4M ago33:54

33:54

Back in 2022, we sat down with Sheldon Stewart, Owner & President of Stewart Painting to talk about his early journey building a board of directors—well, we're back for round two to see how things have actually played out! This time we're joined by Sheldon's daughter Shayla Wilkinson, who's now wearing two hats as both marketing manager and board m…

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How to Give Performance Feedback and Why it’s Critical for Success with Tina Clements – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 33:16

4M ago33:16

33:16

Employees thrive on feedback. Then why is it that so few leaders proactively provide it? The answers, along with simple steps on how to provide timely, respectful, actionable feedback to your employees, are provided in this episode by guest, Tina Clements. Tina, Vice President of The Retail Performance Company, is a leader, speaker, author, coach, …

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How to Build a Reputation That Stands the Test of Time with Bjorn Johnson – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 22:36

4M ago22:36

22:36

Today on PowerTips Unscripted, we’re excited to welcome Bjorn Johnson to the show! As General Manager at TraVek Remodeling and Roofing, Bjorn shares insights into the company’s journey as one of Arizona’s most trusted leaders in remodeling and roofing. Tune in to hear about TraVek’s dedication to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, whic…

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Ep. 242: Safety Reports – Transforming Construction Safety with Digital Technology 45:53

4M ago45:53

45:53

In this episode, Molly sits down with Ryan Reber from Safety Reports by Align Ops to discuss the critical importance of safety in the construction industry and how digital technology is transforming traditional safety programs. They explore practical implementation strategies for safety software, getting field teams on board, and turning safety fro…

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A Month-End Close You Can Actually Make Business Decisions From with Doug Howard – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 22:07

5M ago22:07

22:07

Successful organizations rely on accurate financial information to make informed decisions. But what sets great organizations apart is having a formal month-end close process in place. This ensures that financials are completed, reviewed, corrected, and ready for leaders and managers to use confidently in decision-making. In this episode of PowerTi…

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Can “Voice Training” Skyrocket Your Success? with John Baron – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 30:04

5M ago30:04

30:04

Do you feel comfortable when presenting proposals/estimates to clients? Why should clients like the sound of your voice if you don’t? You might know what to say, but do you feel ok saying it? These are all questions that body language and voice coaching expert John Baron is here to answer. John brings actor skills training to the business world, he…

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Ep. 241: Cybersecurity for Small Business – It's Not Optional Anymore 49:34

5M ago49:34

49:34

In this episode of Out of the Hourglass, Molly sits down with Paul Grenci, President & Co-Founder of Red Key Solutions, to discuss the critical cybersecurity threats facing small businesses today. Paul reveals how automated hacking has made even 5-6 employee companies vulnerable targets and shares why 60% of businesses that experience a significant…

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Cultivating Growth: Integrating Employee Development into Your Business Strategy with Peg Buehrle – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 26:45

5M ago26:45

26:45

Today’s episode of PowerTips Unscripted features Peg Buehrle as a guest. During the show, she discusses the significance of team development for business growth. The growth of a business depends on the growth of its key leaders and their respective teams. Therefore, it is crucial to have a development plan for each team member. Peg will shed light …

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Creating Value: A Guide to Maximizing Your Company’s Worth with Arlin Sorensen – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 32:29

5M ago32:29

32:29

Today on Power Tips Unscripted, Arlin Sorensen, the CEO of Oak Road Consulting joins the show. Understanding the art of creating value within your business is pivotal, especially in the context of planning your exit strategy. It’s all about setting clear goals for your personal wealth and translating that into a business value target that can drive…

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Ep. 240: The Heavy Backpack — Breaking Through CEO Isolation with Bill Drysdale 55:13

5M ago55:13

55:13

In this powerful conversation, Bill Drysdale, former General Manager of Fujifilm's $500M digital camera division and current Vistage Chair, opens up about the reality of CEO isolation and the "heavy backpack" of leadership responsibilities. Bill shares how he felt isolated despite being surrounded by colleagues and discusses the three major challen…

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Preparing Your Business For Your Departure with Pete McDowell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 30:16

6M ago30:16

30:16

In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Victoria and Mark are joined by Pete McDowell to discuss succession planning and how business owners can exit their company. According to Pete, there are four primary ways for a business owner to leave their company: selling the company, transferring the company to family or employees, or ESOP. He also highl…

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The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint with Spencer Powell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 31:36

6M ago31:36

31:36

For many remodelers, digital marketing is the “voodoo” magic. With so many options, where do you begin? Well, Spencer Powell has the answer. In this episode, Spencer dives into his book, The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint. He talks about everything that you need to know about being found online, successfully. Spencer is the CEO of Builder Funnel and…

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Ep. 239: Compensation Planning for Growth – A Conversation with Utopia HR Solutions 50:54

6M ago50:54

50:54

Lisa DeMaria, founder of Utopia HR Solutions, joins us to discuss strategic compensation planning and employee retention for small to mid-sized businesses in the trades industry. We explore how to create competitive compensation packages that go beyond salary, including flexible benefits, performance-based incentives, and structured development pro…

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Open Book Management with Ken Kirsch – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 29:36

6M ago29:36

29:36

The thought of showing your financials to your employees may be unsettling. We’ve known remodelers who are so leery of sharing their numbers, their field crews don’t even know their project budgets. But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Ken Kirsch, a proponent and practitioner of Open Book Management. In this episode, Ken tells Victoria and Mark…

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Are Your Employees Stealing From You? With Vicki Suiter – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 26:28

6M ago26:28

26:28

The latest statistics on fraud should be a wake-up call for every small business owner. According to a survey by HISCOX, a specialty insurance company, 80 percent of embezzlements occurred at small businesses and 30 percent involved a loss of more than $500,000. With more work is being done remotely, including paying vendors and processing payroll,…

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Ep. 238: From Founder to Coach – Mike Freeman's Entrepreneurial Evolution 49:09

6M ago49:09

49:09

Join us as we sit down with Mike Freeman, Co-Founder of Mike's Quality Painting and One Day Concrete Coatings, and newest Associate Coach with Nolan Consulting Group. From starting a lawn mowing business with his brother at age 11 to building multiple successful ventures in Albuquerque, Mike shares his journey of creating opportunity-driven busines…

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The Most Powerful Competitive Advantage with Steve Anderson – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 38:27

6M ago38:27

38:27

In a low-unemployment economy, recruiting and retaining the best talent is a continuous effort. You need a powerful competitive advantage — one that’s nearly impossible for anyone else to copy. It’s your company culture. In this episode, Steve Anderson tells Victoria and Mark why that is, and how you can develop a successful culture — or turn aroun…

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Ep. 237: The Dual Impact – Safety Focus as a People Strategy and Business Advantage 47:28

7M ago47:28

47:28

Implementing robust safety practices creates a powerful dual advantage—protecting your most valuable asset, your people, while simultaneously driving business growth and opportunity. Paul Cook and Darren Lottes of Painters USA and pioneers of Safety within the Summit group, share field-tested insights on transforming safety from a compliance burden…

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Discovering New Revenue Streams With Chris Landis – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 26:58

7M ago26:58

26:58

We are all so busy running our businesses that we often don’t realize that there are other potential revenue-generating investments that align with our present and future business needs. Chris Landis thinks you should consider helping businesses that lease their office space as an added revenue stream. In this episode, Victoria, Mark and Chris talk…

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Ep. 236: Pain Points & Price Points – Winning the Objection Game Before It Starts 51:01

7M ago51:01

51:01

In this episode, Colin Nolan shares the importance of transforming objections into opportunities by mastering the art of uncovering customer pain. Discover why the most successful objection handling happens during discovery, not at the end of the sales process, and learn practical techniques to leverage emotional buying motives when facing resistan…

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Tips For Hiring People Who Fit Your Culture with Erin Longmoon – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 26:10

7M ago26:10

26:10

Is your company struggling to attract top-tier employees? Joining us today on PowerTips Unscripted is Erin Longmoon, the founder of Zephyr Connect. Erin will share some valuable insights into how to hire people who align with your company’s culture. She will discuss the strategies and tactics that have played a pivotal role in Zephyr’s 98% placemen…

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Ep. 235: The Hourglass Scorecard – A Tool for Business Assessment and Growth 26:25

7M ago26:25

26:25

Brian Nolan, Co-founder and President of Nolan Consulting Group, and Business Coach Sydney Bates discuss the rollout of the NEW Hourglass Scorecard, a dynamic assessment tool for trades businesses focused on building value and growth. They explain how this updated version of the Business Systems Checklist helps identify a company's current status a…

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Making Money in Cost Plus Remodeling with David Crane – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] 30:21

7M ago30:21

30:21

While Cost Plus Remodeling isn’t for everyone, it can be an enjoyable and profitable way of doing business. If it is done well, it can be very rewarding and reduce the uncertainty of a market. Guest David Crane joins this episode to share why cost plus remodeling has proven to be successful for his business and his clients, and why remodelers shoul…