Most HVAC and plumbing owners have no idea what their business is actually worth, and the number they have in their head is usually wrong. In this episode of TradeOps Radio, Joey Lieber from Florida Business Exchange breaks down exactly how home service businesses get valued, what buyers really pay for, and the mistakes that kill deals before they start. His firm works in 35 states, has 26 brokers, and closes around 125 deals a year, and Joey is the first person owners talk to when they start thinking about selling.

He shares real numbers from recent closings, including an HVAC company doing $3.3M with $500K in net profit that sold for $2.2M, a plumbing company that sold for $8.3M, and a landscaping business that sold for $9.2M. He explains why valuations are based on net profit and not gross revenue, why retrofit work is worth more than new construction, and why the whole game comes down to one word: risk.

You will also learn the number one deal killer he sees every single day, how the SBA actually works including the no money down expansion loan most owners have never heard of, why paying more in taxes can raise your exit value, and the vacation test that tells you if your business is truly sellable. Whether you plan to sell in 12 months or 12 years, this is the conversation that tells you what to fix now.

After decades in the trades, Keith Flores has spotted a pattern most HVAC business owners never notice until it's too late, and in this episode, he shares exactly what it is. From the way private equity is quietly reshaping contractor margins to the overlooked power of local branding and dispatching technology, Keith connects dots that most operators haven't even thought to look for.

This isn't another "run more ads" conversation. Keith goes deep on acquisition playbooks, valuation math, why your pricing strategy might be costing you more than you think, and how smart operators are building ecosystems, not just companies. He also unveils Home Guardian, his innovative smart home product designed to give homeowners real-time data and give contractors a powerful new revenue stream. If you're serious about building something that lasts in the home services space, you can't afford to skip this one. Stay until the end for Keith's take on what truly separates operators who thrive from those who just survive in a consolidating market.

Most skilled technicians believe that being great at their craft is enough to run a successful business, and that assumption is exactly why so many of them stall out before hitting their first million in revenue.

In this raw, no-fluff conversation, Bengt sits down with Chris Crew of TradeOps Consulting to break down the brutal reality facing tradespeople who transition from working in the field to running the show.

You'll hear Chris share his personal journey through the trades, the costly mistakes he made early on, and the exact business fundamentals most technician-owners are never taught. From understanding your target audience and pricing for true profitability, to overcoming decision fatigue and using pain as a catalyst for growth, this episode gives you a roadmap most contractors only learn the hard way.

We dig into the specific challenges at each revenue stage, why hiring the wrong people kills momentum, how documenting processes eliminates bottlenecks, and the performance metrics that hold your team accountable. If you're a contractor, plumber, HVAC pro, electrician, or any trades business owner trying to break through a growth ceiling, this conversation will save you years of trial and error.

Hit play, take notes, and if it resonates, subscribe and drop a comment with the biggest lesson you took away. Your future self will thank you.