Today’s guest is someone who has quietly shaped some of the biggest names in home services — including working with Tommy Mello from A1 Garage — and his impact on the industry is massive.

Al Levi is a third-generation contractor turned consultant, author, and creator of the 7-Power Contractor framework. After decades of running and growing his family’s plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical business in New York, he’s spent the last 20+ years helping contractors systematize their companies so they can scale, profit, and actually have a life outside of the business.

In this episode, Al and I dive into why every contractor must act as their own marketing manager, how to build systems that stop your team from ‘blowing up your marketing,’ the truth about AI as just another tool in the toolbox, and why acquisitions plus organic growth create exponential results.

Whether you’re running a $1M shop or you’re chasing $50M+, this conversation is packed with wisdom from someone who’s been behind the scenes helping companies like A1 Garage reach the very top. You don’t want to miss this one!

Most contractors think their marketing problems can be solved by running more ads. But Al Levi — the creator of the 7-Power Contractor framework and trusted advisor to companies like Tommy Mello’s A1 Garage — knows the truth: if your systems are broken, marketing only makes the chaos worse.

In this episode, Al shares wisdom from decades of experience growing his own third-generation contracting business and coaching some of the top names in home services. You’ll hear:

Why every owner must act as their own marketing manager — and what to have in place before hiring an agency.

- The “bathtub analogy” for marketing, and why bad CSRs and weak operations are like a drain that empties your leads.

- Why marketing hasn’t changed — only the tools have. The same fundamentals apply today as they did decades ago.

- How to identify your ideal customer (Al calls her “Mrs. Fernwicky”) and why you can’t serve everyone.

- The 10 reasons exercise every contractor should use to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

- How to move your company from commodity to niche so you can charge higher prices and win better customers.

- Why acquisitions plus organic growth is not 1+1=2, but 1+1=4 — and what contractors should know before buying another business.

- Al’s contrarian take on AI: it’s just another tool in the toolbox — powerful when used with purpose, dangerous when used without systems.

- The role of testimonials and reviews in modern marketing — and how to collect them the right way.

Whether you’re at $1M and stuck working 80-hour weeks, or you’re chasing $50M and need systems to scale, Al’s practical advice will help you build a contracting business that runs smoothly, markets effectively, and creates lasting value.

Links & Resources:

Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/7powercontractor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlLevi7PowerContractor/

The 7-Power Contractor®: https://7powercontractor.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/7powercontractor/