🎯 Free Tools for Growing Trade Businesses: https://tradie.wiki/pod
🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Strategy Call with Tradie Web Guys: https://tradie.wiki/tssyt

Want to stop selling “membership discounts” and start building repeat work the simple way? Earn loyalty with trust, follow-up, and a customer experience that makes you the only plumber they remember.

In Episode 491, Matt sits down with Scott Irwin from Network Plumbing to talk about why plumbing memberships usually do more harm than good for reactive residential services. Scott breaks down how the membership model got dragged over from HVAC, why discounts are “illusion value”, and why most tradies would be better off building loyalty through simple follow-up and consistent customer experience instead.

You will also hear practical ideas on staying top of mind without spamming people, why direct mail still wins, when scheduled maintenance style programmes actually make sense (think strata and commercials), and how to upsell ethically by having the right conversation with the right decision- maker on site.

Key Chapters:

📲 Listen On The Go! https://tradie.wiki/listen

🎙 About Our Guest: Scott Irwin
Scott Irwin is the driving force behind Network Plumbing, an Australian plumbing business focused on delivering reliable service and long-term customer relationships.

Connect With Scott Irwin:
Website: https://networkplumbing.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/networkplumbing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/networktradies_/
LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/network-plumbing/
Scott’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-irwin-5b413a31/

CONNECT WITH THE SITE SHED!
Website: https://www.thesiteshed.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSiteShed?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesiteshed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiteshed/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-site-shed/
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!
Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradieWebGuysOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradiewebguys/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

If you enjoyed this podcast, please take a moment to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

#podcast #thesiteshed #tradiewebguys

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Strategy Call with Tradie Web Guys

If you are obsessing over CPA (cost per acquisition) in your plumbing business, you might be making decisions that hurt your long-term profit.

In episode 490, Matt Jones sits down with Scott Irwin from Network Plumbing (Sydney) to break down why reactive trades like plumbing and electrical need to stop judging marketing only by short-term lead costs and start thinking in lifetime value (LTV).

Key Chapters:

00:00 - Teaser
00:49 - Introduction and Scott's Background
03:32 - Defining Lifetime Value (LTV)
06:30 - Strategies for Long-term Customer Satisfaction
10:34 - Levers to Improve Customer Lifetime Value
12:35 - Business Growth and Evolving Marketing
14:58 - The Importance of Personal Relationships and Manners
17:21 - Training New Employees and Apprentices
21:14 - Practical Frameworks for Service Excellence
25:08 - Addressing Price Concerns with Value and Urgency
28:48 - Closing Thoughts and Future Episode Teaser

Related Episodes:
Episode 439 with Scott Irwin (Network Plumbing journey)
Episode 440 with Scott Irwin (Designing your ideal life)

CONNECT WITH SCOTT IRWIN
Website: https://networkplumbing.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/networkplumbing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/networktradies_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/network-plumbing/
Scott’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-irwin-5b413a31/

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!
Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradieWebGuysOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradiewebguys/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

🎯 Free Tools for Growing Trade Businesses: https://tradie.wiki/pod
🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Strategy Call with Tradie Web Guys: https://tradie.wiki/tssyt

If you feel like you’re flat out in your building business but the profit still doesn’t match the effort, this episode is for you.

In Episode 489, Matt sits down with Greg Wilkes from Develop Coaching to unpack what actually separates a $1M builder from a $10M builder and the shift from being the best tradie on site to becoming the business leader who builds a team, installs simple systems, protects margins, and creates a pipeline that doesn’t rely on you doing everything.

🎥 Watch the video version of this podcast at: @TheSiteShed

Key Chapters:
00:00 - Mindset Shift: Tradesperson to Entrepreneur

00:44 - Meet Greg Wilkes: Construction Industry Expert

01:10 - Scaling from $1 Million to $10 Million

04:47 - The Pitfall of High Net Profit (and Not Investing)

08:04 - Healthy Net Profit Margins for Builders

10:00 - The Myth of Staying on the Tools

16:43 - The Importance of Org Charts and Future Hiring

17:54 - Strategy for First Hires: Start Low with Admin/VA

24:17 - First Big Hire: The Site Supervisor

25:10 - The Business Owner's Focus: Marketing and Sales

27:19 - The Challenge of Systemizing and AI's Impact

33:46 - Systemizing for Leverage: Focus on Repeatable Tasks

38:54 - The Importance of Knowing Your Numbers

42:15 - Simplifying Financial Numbers for Builders

46:10 - Mapping Out a Plan for Growth: Job Value Over Volume

48:40 - How to Contact Greg Wilkes (Develop Coaching)

🎙️ About Our Guest: Greg Wilkes
Greg Wilkes is a trade business coach at Develop Coaching, helping builders and tradies scale from being on the tools to running a profitable, systemised business.

CONNECT WITH GREG WILKES
Website: https://developcoaching.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.wilkes.coach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greg.wilkes.coach/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-wilkes/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DevelopCoaching

Links mentioned:
Develop Coaching (Australia): https://developcoaching.com.au/
Develop Coaching (UK): https://developcoaching.co.uk/
Free book download: Building Your Future: https://developcoaching.com.au/download-building-your-future/

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!
Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradieWebGuysOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradiewebguys/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

🎯 Free Tools for Growing Trade Businesses: https://tradie.wiki/pod
🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Strategy Call with Tradie Web Guys: https://tradie.wiki/tssyt

If you have plenty of work booked in but you still feel broke, stressed, or behind on cash, this episode is for you.

In Episode 488, Matt sits down with Kurt Hegeschweiler from Builders Coach to unpack the real reason tradies and builders get squeezed: you end up financing the job while you wait to get paid.

You will learn how to stop bleeding cash, protect your margin, and set your business up so money comes in before it goes out.

Key Chapters:

00:00 - Teaser
00:53 - Welcome to the podcast, Kurt!
01:26 - Kurt's background and specialty in helping builders with optimization and peak performance
06:05 - The preservation mindset of many accountants and bookkeepers
12:49 - The importance of having a plan in place
18:09 - Positioning yourself as the expert within your specific vertical
24:40 - Processes are essential for successfully scaling a business
31:15 - Kurt's simplified financial metrics: 25% Gross Margin, 10% Overheads, 15% Net Profit (25/10/15)
37:41 - The confusion between net profit and money in the bank
42:07 - Good process and proactive communication is a form of marketing and value-add
48:53 - The power of the Profit First business model for financial clarity
54:49 - A goal without a strategy is a wish

📲 Watch on YouTube!

🎙️ About Our Guest: Kurt Hegeschweiler
Kurt Hegeschweiler is a business coach who works primarily with residential builders (custom homes and renovations) through Builders Coach. He's best known for helping builders optimise profit, cash flow, and performance, including guiding over 100 builders to seven-figure net profit results.

CONNECT WITH KURT HEGESCHWEILER
Website: Builder's Coach
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Links mentioned in this episode:
Million Dollar Builder 2.0 (Amazon and Audible): https://amzn.to/4pv6rd3
Psycho-Cybernetics: https://amzn.to/3LCOviK

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!
Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradieWebGuysOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradiewebguys/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

🎯 Free Tools for Growing Trade Businesses: https://tradie.wiki/pod
🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Strategy Call with Tradie Web Guys: https://tradie.wiki/tssyt

In Episode 487, Matt sits down with Jed Bolton, a Perth-based solar and electrical business owner who has quietly built a seriously scalable operation without obsessing over more leads.

Jed shares how shifting from subcontractor-heavy work to a system-driven sales process helped him 10x revenue while keeping the team lean and the growth manageable.

If you’re flat out, wearing every hat, and still feel like you’re chasing your tail, this episode is a blueprint for stepping back from lead chaos, tightening your process, and spending your time where it actually moves the needle (closing jobs and building the team).

Key Chapters:
00:00 - Teaser
01:14 - Welcome Jed Bolton!
03:27 - Shift from predominantly subcontracting work to having leads
06:17 - Subcontracting work is just a job
09:11 - Customers often think they know what they want more than they actually do
13:00 - The first constraint hit is in fulfilment
15:38 - The value of the sales executive program
18:32 - Site visits should be for closing jobs, not checking out work
20:40 - Drive around closing jobs, not doing quotes
24:34 - The impact roadmap session
27:21 - The goal of consistency and manageable growth
28:33 - Final thoughts

📲 Watch on YouTube!

🎙 About Our Guest: Jed Bolton
Jed Bolton is a Perth-based solar and electrical business owner who specialises in larger-scale residential solar installations (around 13 kW to 50 kW), as well as batteries and renewables. He built a scalable operation by tightening his sales process, focusing on close rate, and shifting from subcontractor-heavy work to a more system-driven model.

CONNECT WITH JED BOLTON
Website: https://boltonec.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bolton.ec/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552818021459
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jed-bolton-a21a1a300/

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!
Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradieWebGuysOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradiewebguys/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

🎯 Free Tools for Growing Trade Businesses: https://tradie.wiki/pod
🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Strategy Call with Tradie Web Guys: https://tradie.wiki/tssyt

If you've established a strong trade business but it's beginning to feel repetitive, this episode offers a fresh start.

In Episode 486, Matt sits down with Jeremiah Webb from Shop On Fire to unpack why the fire dies (even when the numbers look positive) and how you can get your energy, purpose, and momentum back without blowing up what you have already built.

You will learn practical ways to snap out of the grind, stop feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate, and lead with energy again so your team lifts too.

0:00 Teaser
1:14 Welcome and Jeremiah's Background
4:44 Reigniting Passion and Scaling Business
8:16 Fulfillment is Not Default: Manual vs. Autopilot
12:11 Staying Motivated and the Value of Habits over Goals
15:31 The Myth of Overwhelm: Being Stretched is Not More Than You Can Handle
17:28 The Importance of Foundational Grit and Pushing Limits
22:51 Great Athlete vs. Elite Athlete: Bouncing Back Faster
24:55 Reframing Failure as a Lesson
27:01 Recovery Time and Suffering is Optional
31:57 Framework for Moving Past Setbacks
35:08 Problems Never Go Away, They Increase in Quality
39:03 The Cure-All: Massive Action and the Physiology of Motivation
46:01 Defining Purpose and Maintaining Focus
47:37 Meetings Should be for Making Decisions
51:57 Sticking to Something and Steady Growth
55:42 Framework for Coaching Cadence and Levers for Change
58:31 VIP Coaching and the Window of Opportunity

📲 Listen On The Go! https://tradie.wiki/listen

🎙️ About Our Guest: Jeremiah Webb
Jeremiah Webb is the founder of Shop On Fire and a high-performance coach who helps trade business owners rebuild energy, clarity, and momentum when the grind starts to take over. With a background in the trades (including HVAC) and years working with business owners, he shares practical frameworks you can use to lead better, feel better, and grow without burning out.

CONNECT WITH JEREMIAH WEBB
Website: https://shoponfire.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremiahwebb.1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremiahwebb.official
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiahwebb/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremiahwebb.official
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeremiahwebb.official
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jeremiahwebb

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!
Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TradieWebGuysOfficial?sub_confirmation=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradieWebGuysOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradiewebguys/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys
Matt’s LinkedIn: ht

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

🎯 Free Tools for Growing Trade Businesses: https://tradie.wiki/pod
🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Book a Free Strategy Call with Tradie Web Guys: https://tradie.wiki/tssyt

It's no longer just fast food to franchise.
It could also be one of the best ways for tradies to grow without getting too tired.

In this 485th episode of The Site Shed Podcast, Matt sits down with Jon Ostenson, CEO of FranBridge Consulting, to break down what franchising really looks like for trade and service-based businesses.

If you’re stuck in the day-to-day, thinking about growth, or wondering how others scale using systems, people, and capital that aren’t all on their shoulders, this episode is a must-watch.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
✔ The biggest myths tradies believe about franchising
✔ Franchise vs licensing vs alliance models (what’s the difference?)
✔ Why private equity is chasing trade & home service franchises
✔ When franchising actually makes sense (and when it doesn’t)

Key Chapters:
0:00 - Teaser
1:12 - Discussing the dynamics of franchising and non-food franchising
6:04 - Reasons to consider a franchise model for an existing business
10:07 - Limitations and "red tape" of franchising
12:11 - Addressing the perception of increased cost for customers of franchises
15:15 - Expectations and systems within a franchise
17:31 - Legalities and approval around branding and marketing
19:09 - Digital marketing challenges for franchisees
23:21 - Backgrounds of people who join a franchise
25:26 - Support available for franchisees and their teams
27:13 - Choosing between buying an existing business and a new franchise
29:16 - Exit strategy and typical returns for a franchisee
31:49 - Ownership of intellectual property (IP) like customer databases
35:57 - John Austinen's book, *Non-Food Franchising*
38:13 - The typical avatar best suited to the franchise dynamic

📲 Listen On The Go! https://tradie.wiki/listen

🎙 About Our Guest: Jon Ostenson
Jon Ostenson is a leading expert in non-food franchising and the founder of FranBridge Consulting, where he helps business owners scale through proven franchise models. He has collaborated with numerous entrepreneurs and trade professionals to establish scalable, systematised businesses, avoiding the need to start from the beginning.

🤝 CONNECT WITH JON OSTENSON
Website: https://franbridgeconsulting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonOstenson1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.ostenson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonostenson/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JonOstensonFBC

CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!

Website: https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/tradie-web-guys
Matt’s LinkedIn: ht

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

🎯 Free Tools To Help Your Business:
https://tradie.wiki/pod

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Marketing For Your Business – Book A Call with Tradie Web Guys:
https://tradie.wiki/yt

In Episode 484 of The Site Shed Podcast, Matt Jones is joined by entrepreneur and investor Greg Cassar to break down one of the biggest questions tradies is starting to ask: is taking control of your super actually worth the extra work?

Greg shares why many business owners unknowingly rely too heavily on their business or default super fund and how shifting from “business owner only” to “business owner + investor” can completely change your long-term freedom. This episode unpacks how superannuation really works, why set-and-forget isn’t always the best approach, and what tradies should understand before considering a self-managed super fund (SMSF).

If you’re making good money but haven’t thought deeply about how it’s growing for your future, this conversation is a practical wake-up call; focused on control, education, and playing the long game.

🎥 Watch the video version of this podcast at:
https://youtu.be/DxSzs1M8zNY

Key Chapters:

00:00 – Teaser
04:40 – The trap of relying only on your business
08:10 – How inflation and fees eat away at super
12:10 – What a self-managed super fund really involves
16:40 – Thinking long-term instead of short-term gains
21:10 – Emotional control and investing discipline
25:40 – Playing the long game as a tradie
30:10 – Business owner vs business owner + investor
34:40 – Final mindset shifts for long-term freedom

CONNECT WITH GREG CASSAR

Website: https://collective.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregcassar
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregcassar
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@greg_cassar

Your Next Step:

Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.

👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/pod

Follow The Site Shed:

• Facebook: The Site Shed
• Instagram: @thesiteshed
• LinkedIn: Matt Jones
• Website: thesiteshed.com
• YouTube: @TheSiteShed

If you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:
⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Love the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:
⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed