UpScale - Build your profitable Trade and Construction business

Episodes

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  Sparky Explains: 55% Increase in average job value with AI - Ep 357 19.08.2026 38m

  Pete Griffith (https://airproelectrical.com.au/) runs an air conditioning and electrical business in the Hawkesbury, NSW, with a team of 13. Six months ago, the only AI he'd touched was ChatGPT for the odd email. Today he's building and improving his own business software almost every day, without ever learning to code.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/In this episode, Pete sits down with Anton Ryan, AI Specialist at Upscale, to unpack exactly how that happened. He walks through what quoting used to look like at his business: a technician on site, a call back to the office, the office manager chasing part prices and building a quote, then an email sent off hours (sometimes a full day) later. By the time the customer had an answer, the technician was long gone and any chance to upsell on the spot had gone with them.Pete explains how he worked with Claude to build an onsite sales tool that lets his technicians quote jobs, add photos, and mark them up right there in front of the customer. No more waiting, no more chasing, no more lost upsell opportunities. The result has been a 55% increase in average job value across the business.Pete also shares how he actually talks to Claude to get results, including a real example of prompting it by voice to add a photo markup feature on the spot, tested and live within minutes. He covers what it costs to run (spoiler: not much), why he thinks getting proper guidance before diving in matters, and why he believes in shipping software at 85% done rather than waiting for perfect.If you're a trade business owner wondering whether this AI stuff is actually worth your time, this episode is a real, no fluff look at what's possible when you start using it properly.In this episode:Why Pete decided to start building his own tools instead of hiring a developerA full before and after of his quoting processHow a 55% jump in average job value happenedThe exact way Pete prompts Claude to get useful resultsWhy shipping early and improving as you go beats waiting for perfectWhat it actually costs to run AI tools like this in a small trade businessConnect with us:Follow us on Instagram for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who've done it: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events
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  Tradies: 3 Hidden Leaks Costing You $72K a Year - Ep 356 16.08.2026 30m

  Feel like you're stuck at your current price point but still not seeing enough profit hit your bank account? You're not alone, and pricing isn't the only lever you can pull.Need help growing your business?Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: ⁠@upscalebusinesscoaching⁠Book a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/application-podcast⁠Hear from tradies who've done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: ⁠upscale-coaching.com.au/success-stories⁠Live Coaching Events 2026: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events⁠In this episode, accounting coaches Lucy and Tiarne break down three practical ways trade business owners can boost revenue and profit without touching their rates: labor efficiency, materials and subcontractor markup, and identifying hidden leakages in your business.They dig into the real numbers behind wasted travel time, wholesaler runs, and gaps in your schedule, and show you exactly how much profit is quietly slipping through the cracks. You'll also hear a real world example of how small shifts, a 10% lift in staff efficiency, subcontractor volume, and material volume, can add up to an extra $72,000 in net profit over a year.Whether you're running a small crew or managing a growing team, this episode gives you a clear framework for reviewing your billable hours, tightening your quoting process, back costing your jobs properly, and making sure every dollar you're spending on materials and subs is working for you.If you've ever felt priced out of the market or unsure whether you have room to move, this one's worth the listen.We've got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program.
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  Why Tradies Need to Get on Camera in Their Advertising - Ep 355 12.08.2026 23m

  In this episode, Mitch sits down with Jordan from J Digital Co to talk about one of the biggest gaps they see in trade business marketing: tradies avoiding the camera.Jordan breaks down why getting on video, even just filming on your phone, is one of the fastest ways to build trust with potential customers, especially if you're selling high ticket services like renovations, solar, or air conditioning. They get into why polished, overly produced content is actually underperforming right now, how video helps you answer customer objections before they even pick up the phone, and why showing your team on camera (not just the owner) makes your business look bigger and more credible.They also cover the classic excuse trade business owners give for avoiding video (feeling awkward, not looking professional enough) and why that fear is holding a lot of businesses back from growth. Jordan shares simple ideas for what to actually film if you have no idea where to start, including customer testimonials, before and afters, and answering the questions you get asked on every single phone call.If you've been putting off getting on camera for your business, this episode is the push you need to just pick up your phone and start filming.Follow Jordan: @jdigital_coFollow Mitch: @mitchvan_Need free business advice for your trade business?Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who've done it: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events
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  Tradies: How to Make This Your Best Year in Business - Ep 354 09.08.2026 27m

  A new financial year is the perfect reset point, and in this episode Erina and Mitch break down what it actually takes to make the next 12 months your best year in business yet.They kick things off talking about control, why so many business owners feel like life is happening to them instead of realising almost everything, especially their actions, is within their control. From there they get into the tools that help you bounce back when things go sideways, from simple breathing techniques to just having a plan and coming back to your baseline quickly when stress hits.There's a solid chunk on goal setting too, why you don't need a perfectly specific goal to get moving, the difference between carrot and stick motivation, and how to reverse engineer a big goal like doubling your business into a monthly, quarterly, and half yearly roadmap. Mitch also shares a genuinely useful reframe for trade business owners: the same step by step, logical thinking you use on the tools to get a job done is exactly the skill you need to hit your business goals, you're just not always applying it the same way.They close out with one simple but powerful principle for the year ahead: stop starting and start finishing.If you've been putting off setting a real plan for the year ahead, this episode is the nudge to get started.Follow along with the hosts:@erinaroxx@mitchvan_We've got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program.Need help growing your business?Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who've done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: upscale-coaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events
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  UpScale Anniversary 4 years - Lessons from a business owner - Ep 353 05.08.2026 22m

  This episode features Mitch and Erina reflecting on 4 years of business ownership, so I've included both of their Instagram handles as requested. Note: the file title mentions "other Client Wins" but the actual content is entirely a personal reflection episode (business partnerships, hiring fears, home life balance, community, sales mindset) — no specific client wins are discussed in the transcript, so I've written the description around the real content.4 Years in Business: The Biggest Lessons Mitch & Erina Learned Along the WayTo mark four years of Upscale Business Coaching, Mitch and Erina sit down for an honest, unfiltered chat about what running a business has actually taught them, personally and professionally.They open up about buying out a business partner and why having tough conversations early beats sitting on them for weeks. They talk about the hidden cost of a chaotic home life on business performance, and why a stable relationship outside of work can make or break how you show up in it. There's a candid look at the fear that comes with your first hire, and how procrastinating on interviews and resumes almost held them back.Mitch and Erina also get into why isolation is one of the most underrated challenges of business ownership, and how surrounding yourself with other driven business owners changes the trajectory of your growth. They wrap up with a conversation about sales, why every business owner is a salesperson whether they like it or not, and how leaning into your own personality, quirks and all, can make selling feel a lot less forced.It's a raw, reflective episode for any trade business owner who's ever felt like they're figuring it all out alone.Follow along with the hosts:@erinaroxx@mitchvan_We've got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program.Need help growing your business?Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who've done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: upscale-coaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events
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  Sparky Story: He Completed UpScale Part 3 (Selling His Electrical Business)- Ep 352 02.08.2026 23m

  This is the final episode in our three part series following Thomas Marshall's journey from apprentice electrician to business owner, and now, to selling the business he built.In this episode, Thomas picks up the story from where his business had grown to 15 guys in the field, an office, and admin support. He talks about what it actually took to scale that fast, including the lead generation mix that got him there (hint: it wasn't just cold outreach), and why relying on one channel for leads is a mistake he sees a lot of trade business owners make.Then things shift. Thomas opens up about the moment everything changed for him, becoming a dad, and how that made him rethink what he actually wanted from his business and his life. He walks through his first (failed) attempt at selling the business on his own, what he learned from that, and what it actually took to get the business into a position where someone else would want to buy it.If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a trade business that can run without you, and eventually sell for what it's actually worth, this episode lays it out honestly, including the parts that didn't work the first time around.Missed the first two episodes? Go back and listen to Part 1 and Part 2 to hear the full journey from the start.Need free business advice for your trade business?Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who've done it: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events
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  Sparky Story: He Completed UpScale Part 2 (Growing the Team) - Ep 351 29.07.2026 18m

  In Part 2 of Thomas Marshall's story on the UpScale Business Podcast, the conversation moves from just surviving to actually growing. Thomas walks through what it was really like making his first hire, a mate from school who quit his job before Thomas had even officially offered him one, and how that leap forced him to figure out hiring, pricing, and running a team on the fly.Thomas shares the moment his now wife Bex left her job as a property manager to come on board and run the admin and ops side of the business, and how that shift freed him up to focus on landing new work. He also opens up about the hires that didn't go to plan, the fear that came with scaling a growing team, and the accountability from his coaches that kept him on track when things got messy.The episode covers the milestone of moving out of the spare bedroom and into a real office, the ambition that kicked in once he saw the business actually working, and the mindset shift from just getting by to deliberately planning for growth.If you're a trade business owner thinking about your first hire, wondering how to structure your team, or trying to work out when it's time to get an office, this episode is full of honest, practical lessons from someone who's done it.Need help growing your business?Follow us on IG for daily content for your Trade Business: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who've done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsWe've got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program.
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  Sparky Story: He Completed UpScale, Part 1 (Origin Story) - Ep 350 26.07.2026 15m

  Origin Story: How Thomas Marshall Built His Electrical Business From $400 in the BankIn this episode of the UpScale Business Podcast, the team sits down with Thomas Marshall, an Aussie-born electrician who moved to New Zealand at just 16 years old, living alone while completing his apprenticeship.Thomas shares the real story behind starting his own electrical business, Bluestone Electrical, right as the first COVID lockdown hit. With no steady income and just $400 left in his bank account, he had to figure out how to find work fast. He talks through the early hustle: posting in local Facebook groups, doing cold outreach to builders and property managers, and landing the contractor agreement that became his big break and helped him build a steady client base across Auckland.Thomas also opens up about why he decided to invest in coaching early on, even when money was tight, and how having accountability changed the way he ran his business. He breaks down the biggest lesson from those early days: consistency beats intensity every time, and small actions done regularly compound into real results.If you're a trade business owner just starting out, still finding your feet, or wondering whether coaching is worth it, this episode is packed with practical, honest insight from someone who's lived it.Need help growing your business?Follow us on IG for daily content for your Trade Business: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who've done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsWe've got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program.
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  Mitch's Business Journey: From Skateboard Decks to 400+ Staff (And Everything In Between) - 22.07.2026 36m

  In this episode of the Upscale Business Coaching Podcast, Mitch sits down to reflect on his business journey as Upscale celebrates its 4th birthday and kicks off a new financial year.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastMitch shares how he learned sales and margins as a teenager making skateboard decks, why he turned down a $300,000 law scholarship to support his family, and the lessons he picked up running a fruit and veg store before scaling a Jim's Franchise business to over 400 staff.The conversation covers what separates business owners who dread the grind from those who genuinely love it, why sales is a skill that shows up in every part of life (not just business), the difference between wholesaling and selling at full margin, and why building a compelling offer matters more than competing on price.Mitch also opens up about why the trade and construction industry carries more risk than almost any other in Australia and New Zealand, and why building a supportive community, rather than a brutal, tall poppy one, is one of the most underrated things a tradie can do for their business.Whether you're a tradie thinking about stepping off the tools or a business owner wanting to enjoy the day to day again, this episode is full of real talk, hard won lessons, and a genuine love for the game.In this episode:Mitch's first business at 19 and what it taught him about partnershipsThe difference between mass ticket sales and building a compelling offerWhy Australia's trade industry is one of the riskiest for business ownersHow Upscale's mentor coach program is helping members give backWhy a supportive community changes the game for tradies growing a businessFollow Mitch: @mitchvan_Need help growing your trade business?Follow us for daily content: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch more insights on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands: Tradie QuizHear real success stories: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events
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  How KPIs make you money! - Ep 349 19.07.2026 22m

  In this episode of the UpScale Podcast, Leon sits down with Erina (@erinaroxx) to break down one of the most talked about (and misunderstood) topics in business: KPIs, key performance indicators.If you've ever wondered what KPIs actually are, why they matter, or where to even start, this episode is for you. Using a sporting analogy (an under 8s soccer player versus a World Cup star), Leon and Erina explain how the KPIs you track should evolve as your business grows, but the fundamentals stay the same.They dig into the financial side first: revenue, gross profit margin, and net profit margin, and why these three numbers alone can tell you exactly where your business is winning or losing money. From there, the conversation moves into how those numbers connect to your team, covering things like billable hours, job efficiency, callbacks, and how to spot when one team member's performance is quietly affecting your bottom line.You'll also hear practical advice on:Building simple checklists and KPIs for apprentices, tradesmen, and leadership rolesSetting realistic targets for cold calls, follow ups, and lead generationWhy tracking your numbers (even manually) beats not tracking at allHow to automate KPI tracking using tools like Google Sheets and ZapierReinvesting profit surplus back into your team once you're hitting targets consistentlyWhy KPIs aren't just for your business, they can apply to your personal goals too, like time with family or hitting the gymWhether you're a one man band just starting out or running a growing team, this episode will help you build a simple, sustainable way to measure what's actually working in your business.We've got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program.Need help growing your business?Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who've done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsQuick note: I only linked Erina's handle since Mitch isn't in this recording, it's Leon and Erina. Let me know if Leon has a handle you'd like added instead.
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  Tradie Story: $50K to $450K - How to Incentivise Your Team - Ep 348 15.07.2026 29m

  In this episode of the UpScale Business Podcast, Mitch (@mitchvan_) and Erina (@erinaroxx) sit down to unpack one of the biggest challenges trade business owners face: how to reward your team for going above and beyond, without paying extra for things that should already be part of the job.The conversation kicks off with a huge win from one of UpScale's own coaches, a client who joined UpScale three years ago doing $50K months with his wife as his apprentice, and has now cracked a $450K month running a successful business in a competitive Perth market.Mitch and Erina break down exactly what this business owner is doing differently, including how he uses small incentives (like paying team members for Google reviews with their name mentioned) alongside bigger team based rewards, like a shared "Bali fund" that the whole crew contributes to when they hit their KPIs together.You'll also hear the pair get into some bigger picture ideas around:The real difference between your baseline job requirements and what deserves an extra incentiveWhy so many Australian business owners struggle to have hard conversations about performanceWhat happens when a team doesn't hit their incentive target, and how to handle that as a leaderWhy clear expectations and structure actually make your team perform better, not worseCultural differences in work ethic and what trade business owners can learn from themWhether you're running a small crew or a growing trade business, this episode will help you think differently about incentives, accountability, and building a team that's genuinely invested in your success.Need help growing your business?Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who've done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events
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  Sparky Story: From Losing $165K to Building a $4.5 Million Business - Ep 347 12.07.2026 37m

  From Losing $165K to Building a $4.5 Million Electrical Business | Jordan's Trade Business JourneyWhat would you do if your business was under pressure, you were carrying debt, and one bad decision cost you more than $165,000?In this episode of the UpScale Business Podcast, Erina sits down with Jordan from Lektrix Property Solutions to unpack the highs and lows of growing an electrical business. Jordan shares how buying a café nearly derailed everything, why he had to rebuild his electrical business from the ground up, and the practical steps that helped him grow from a team of four to eleven while working fewer hours.This honest conversation is packed with lessons for electricians, tradies, and construction business owners who want to grow sustainably, improve profitability, hire the right people, and create more freedom without sacrificing their personal life.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why buying the wrong business almost cost Jordan everything• How he rebuilt his electrical business after starting over• The importance of knowing your numbers and tracking performance• How to hire the right people instead of hiring out of desperation• Simple lead generation strategies using your existing customer database• Why setting clear business goals changes everything• How Jordan grew from around $66K months to almost $240K months• How building the right team helped him spend less time at work and more time living lifeIf you're a tradie looking to grow your business, improve your systems, and create more profit without burning yourself out, this episode is full of practical advice you can apply.Need help growing your business?Follow us on Instagram for daily content for trade business owners:@upscalebusinesscoaching🎙️ Follow Erina:https://www.instagram.com/erinaroxx/Book a free session with one of our Growth Specialists:https://upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch insights and tips on YouTube:https://upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeTake our Tradie Quiz and find out where your business stands:https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who have transformed their businesses:https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Join us at an UpScale Live Event:https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events🏃 This year the UpScale team are lacing up for the Gold Coast Marathon to raise funds for TIACS, providing free mental health support for tradies, truckies, farmers, and blue collar workers. If you'd like to support the cause, you can donate here:https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/upscalegoldcoastmarathon2026
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  How This Security Business Doubled Its Revenue in 7 Months - Ep 346 08.07.2026 20m

  What happens when your business hits a wall, leads dry up, and life throws you a curveball all at once?In this episode of the UpScale Business Coaching Podcast, Damien (owner of Valet Norwest Alarms ) shares how his Sydney based security business went from struggling to find work to having more jobs than he could handle. Alongside UpScale coach Christian, he opens up about the mindset shifts, systems, community, and accountability that helped him double his revenue, improve profitability, and prepare to grow his team.Damien also shares the incredible story of losing his brand new work vehicle after just 10 days in an unexpected incident, how he almost walked away from coaching, and why sticking with the process completely changed the direction of his business.If you're a tradie or construction business owner who feels stuck, wants more consistent leads, better systems, and a business that doesn't rely on constant firefighting, this episode is packed with practical lessons and real experiences.In this episode, we cover:How to solve lead generation problemsThe difference between thinking like a tradie and thinking like a business ownerWhy accountability speeds up business growthThe value of surrounding yourself with other successful trade business ownersBuilding systems that support growthHiring the right people at the right timeWhy community can make all the difference during tough timesSetting bigger goals once you've achieved the first milestoneNeed help growing your business?Follow us on Instagram for daily tips for trade and construction business owners.📲 UpScale Business CoachingBook a free session with one of our Growth Specialists:https://upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch more trade business insights on YouTube:https://upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeTake the Tradie Quiz and find out where your business stands:https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear real success stories from tradies who have transformed their businesses:https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Join us at an UpScale Live Event:https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsThis year the UpScale team are lacing up for the Gold Coast Marathon to raise funds for TIACS, supporting free mental health counselling for tradies, truckies, farmers, and blue collar workers. If you'd like to support the cause, you can donate here:https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/upscalegoldcoastmarathon2026Follow Christian's journey and connect with the UpScale community for more trade business insights.
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  Painting Business: From "We're On Our Knees" to Booked Out 3 Months in Advance - Ep 345 05.07.2026 48m

  Erina sits down with Hannaka from Wi Paint in North Brisbane for a conversation that's as honest as it gets.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Live Coaching Events 2026:https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsTwelve months ago, Hannaka was carrying the business on her teaching salary, leads weren't converting, and she was ready to walk away. Today, they're booked out 3 months in advance and rebuilding their team for growth. So what actually changed?In this episode Hannaka shares how putting their faces in their Meta ads attracted clients who specifically wanted to work with them, what it took to invest in the business when the money wasn't there, the hard lessons of hiring as a first-time employer, and why big goals need daily action behind them, not just good intentions.If you're in the thick of it right now, this one's for you.We've got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program.This year the UpScale team are lacing up for the Gold Coast Marathon to raise funds for TIACS, mental health support built for tradies. Cheer us on here: https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/upscalegoldcoastmarathon2026Connect with your hosts:Erina: @erinaroxxMitch: @mitchvan_
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  Sales Tips for Tradies - Ep 344 01.07.2026 15m

  If the words "cold outreach" make you want to switch episodes... stay with us. This one is worth it.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Live Coaching Events 2026:https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsIn this episode, Mark sits down with Tom from the UpScale team for a straight-talking conversation about one of the most underrated ways to get consistent work as a tradie. No fluff, no complicated strategies — just real talk about how picking up the phone, walking into offices and having genuine conversations with potential clients can completely change the trajectory of your business.Tom shares the story of a client who was losing money month after month until they committed to 100 cold calls a day. Within a couple of months they turned it around and now consistently turn over $450k a month with a healthy profit margin — and they still do cold outreach at that size.You will also hear a simple four step framework to get started, even if you have never done it before:Step 1 — Pick your targetStep 2 — Get their detailsStep 3 — Arm yourselfStep 4 — Make contactPlus a brilliant real life example of cold outreach done right — from a guy opening a Mexican restaurant near the UpScale office who walked in with a big smile and a flyer and had the whole team planning to show up on opening day.Whether you are just starting out or already running a busy trade business, this episode will give you the push and the plan to get out there and start having real conversations with real people.Because you can not sell a secret. 💪🎙️ Hosted by Mark and Tom Gibson from the UpScale Business Coaching team.🏃 BIG NEWS — This year the UpScale team are lacing up their runners for the Gold Coast Marathon to raise funds for TIACS, a mental health service supporting tradies and blue collar workers across Australia. If you want to cheer us on or chip in, head to:https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/upscalegoldcoastmarathon2026Note: Mitch (@mitchvan_) and Erina (@erinaroxx) do not appear in this episode so their handles have not been included. Let me know if that needs to change!
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  Are You Actually Making Money on Your Jobs? - Ep 343 28.06.2026 24m

  Most tradies work hard, send the invoice and move on. But do you actually know if that job made you money? Like really know?Download our Free Tradie Job Profit Calculator hereNeed help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Live Coaching Events 2026:https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsIn this episode, UpScale Accounting Coaches Erina and Lucy sit down to walk you through one of the most valuable tools the UpScale team has built — the Back Costing Calculator. And the best part? It is completely free and available in the show notes.Back costing is simply the process of looking at a completed job and asking: what did I charge, what did it actually cost me, how long did it take, and did I actually make money? It sounds simple but you would be surprised how many trade business owners skip this step entirely — and it is costing them thousands.Erina and Lucy break down exactly how the tool works, step by step, including:How to work out your true breakeven rate per hour per personHow to apply that to individual jobs and see your real marginsWhy your most common jobs should be the first ones you back costHow your team's efficiency directly impacts your profitability (the Johnny vs Steve example is gold 🔥)How to use the true labor rate feature to uncover what you are actually charging per hour on each jobWhy this should be reviewed at least quarterly — especially with costs rising the way they are right nowWhether you have an admin team to help you or you are running it all yourself, this episode gives you a clear and practical way to finally understand what is happening inside your numbers — without needing an accounting degree to do it.As Lucy puts it — you don't need to be a management accountant. You just need to be willing to look. 👀📥 Download the FREE Back Costing Calculator in the show notes and start your back costing journey today.🎙️ Hosted by Erina and Lucy from the UpScale Accounting Coaching team.Connect with Erina on Instagram: @erinaroxxhttps://www.instagram.com/erinaroxx/🏃 BIG NEWS — This year the UpScale team are lacing up for the Gold Coast Marathon to raise funds for TIACS, supporting the mental health of tradies and blue collar workers across Australia. Come cheer us on or show your support here:👉 https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/upscalegoldcoastmarathon2026
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  Capacity For Growth: When Should You Hire in Your Trade Business? - Ep 342 24.06.2026 19m

  Are you hiring to keep up, or hiring to grow? In this episode of the UpScale Business Podcast, Erina and Riley break down one of the most common dilemmas trade business owners face: knowing when the timing is right to bring on a new team member.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Live Coaching Events 2026:https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsRiley shares his take from an operations perspective, looking at how efficiently a current team is working and whether billable hours are being maximised before pulling the trigger on a new hire. Erina flips it around with a firsthand story from the early days of UpScale, when getting an office before it felt "necessary" completely changed the way the business was taken seriously from day one.Together they cover the real cost of hiring too soon (or too late), why your onboarding process can make or break a great new hire, and how to use lead generation as a lever to fill capacity rather than scramble to find it after the fact.You'll also hear about a client who hired two people at once because he couldn't choose between them, then worked harder than ever to justify it. Spoiler: it paid off, but it's not a strategy for everyone.In this episode you'll learn:How to know if your team actually has capacity before you hire, the difference between hiring reactively versus proactively, why onboarding is just as important as the hire itself, a simple formula for calculating lead generation hours based on team size, and how to build a hiring system so good it works every time you scale.Whether you are a solo tradie thinking about your first hire or a trade business owner with a growing team, this one is worth a listen.Connect with your hosts:Erina: https://www.instagram.com/erinaroxx/Riley: https://www.instagram.com/mitchvan_/We've got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program.A note from the UpScale Team: This year, we are lacing up for the Gold Coast Marathon to raise funds for TIACS, a charity providing free mental health support to tradies and blue collar workers. If you want to cheer us on or chip in, you can find our fundraising page here: https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/upscalegoldcoastmarathon2026Follow UpScale Business Coaching:Daily content for trade businesses on Instagram: @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcastWatch tips and insights on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtubeFind out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who have done it: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-storiesLive Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsCapacity For Growth: When Should You Hire in Your Trade Business?
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  Cam's Carpentry Business: From Drowning as a One Man Band to Running Three Job Sites - Ep 341 21.06.2026 18m

  When Cam is running Kerabo Carpentry Business and before he jumped into coaching, he used one word to describe where his business was at: drowning. No systems, no financial clarity, subcontracting for builders week to week with no idea where the next job was coming from. Sound familiar?Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Live Coaching Events 2026:https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsIn this episode, David sits down with Cam (https://kerabocarpentry.com/) to talk through what it actually took to go from a solo chippy doing hourly subcontracting work to running a team, managing three job sites at once, and having two days a week in the office instead of quoting at midnight in the spare bedroom.The turning point? His first child. Cam looked at his bank account, looked at what was coming, and realised that being a great carpenter and knowing how to run a business are two completely different things.This episode covers:What it felt like to run a business with no systems, no financial structure, and no certainty from one week to the nextWhy Cam almost couldn't imagine trusting anyone else to do the work the way he wanted it done, and how he got over itThe difference a proper follow-up sequence made to how many quotes actually turned into jobsHow weekly toolbox talks on Mondays and Fridays have helped him hold his team accountable without micromanagingWhat it looks like now to finish work, go home, and actually be present with his familyWhere Cam wants to take Kerabo Carpentry next, including a builders licence, a factory, and eventually working nationallyIf you're a tradie who feels like you'll always be the only one who can do it right, or you're stuck quoting at night while the family's asleep, this episode is for you.Hosted by David Probert.🏃 Big news: this year the UpScale team are lacing up for the Gold Coast Marathon to raise funds for TIACS, providing free mental health support to tradies and blue collar workers across Australia. You can support the team here: https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/upscalegoldcoastmarathon2026Want to see the UpScale team live? Grab your tickets to the next event at https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events
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  The Power of COLD outreach for Tradies - Ep 340 17.06.2026 21m

  Why Most Trade Business Owners Are Leaving Work on the TableIf you're waiting for the phone to ring, you're already behind. In this episode, Mitch and Jason sit down fresh off the UpScale Live Tour across Australia and New Zealand to unpack one of the biggest differences they keep seeing between tradies who are growing fast and those who are stuck: cold outreach.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Live Coaching Events 2026:https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsThey break down why most trade business owners avoid it (hint: it's the same reason you don't talk to strangers at the bar), what actually happens when you stay consistent with it, and why the first conversation was never supposed to get you the job anyway.You'll also hear about the "ten before ten" challenge that one Gold Coast tradie used to land $700 worth of work in his very first week, and why the UpScale members' room looks so different from the room full of tradies who haven't started coaching yet.In this episode Mitch and Jason cover:Why cold outreach feels uncomfortable and how to get over it fastWalk ins vs phone calls vs emails and which one actually worksHow often to follow up and when to back offWhat questions to ask during a discovery conversation to understand what really matters to your clientWhy pricing is rarely the reason you lose a jobHow to build a simple nurture sequence that keeps you front of mind without eating your whole weekWhether you're an electrician, plumber, carpenter, or any other trade business owner trying to build a steadier pipeline of work, this one is worth a listen.Drop your "ten before ten" results in the comments. The UpScale team wants to hear how you go.Hosted by Mitch Van Bergen (@mitchvan_ https://www.instagram.com/mitchvan_/) and Erina Roxx (@erinaroxx https://www.instagram.com/erinaroxx/)🏃 Big news: this year the UpScale team are lacing up for the Gold Coast Marathon to raise funds for TIACS, a charity providing free mental health support to tradies and blue collar workers. If you want to cheer them on or chip in, you can find their fundraiser here: https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/upscalegoldcoastmarathon2026Want to see the UpScale team live? Check out upcoming events at https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events
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  How to fill your Job Schedule consistently - Ep 339 10.06.2026 17m

  You've looked at the schedule and it's quiet. What do you do right now to get work through the door today?Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Live Coaching Events 2026:https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-eventsThat's exactly what this episode is about. We brought together four people for a Royal Rumble style debate — Team Black vs Team White — and gave them one challenge: come up with the best ways to get work fast, no fluff, no long-term strategies that take months to kick in. Just real, actionable things you can do today.And they did not hold back.Between the four of them, they packed this episode with more than 20 practical ways to fill your schedule when things go quiet. Some of them are obvious but rarely done consistently. Some of them are a little old school. And a couple of them are genuinely creative in a way that most trade businesses would never think to try.Here's a taste of what gets covered:Following up open quotes that are sitting in your pipeline right now, reaching out to past clients with a simple message, walking into local businesses and introducing yourself, running a targeted SMS or email campaign with real scarcity, sending your idle techs out to do some doorknocking with a simple script, turning on Google Ads during business hours with high intent keywords, posting on local Facebook community groups with photos and immediate availability, reaching out to tradie mates for overflow or subcontracting work, sharing client introductions across complementary trade businesses, posting on Facebook Marketplace as a free way to promote availability, following up leads that never got quoted and lost quotes that went to a cheaper competitor, printing door hangers and walking the streets, tracking installed assets in your job management system and calling clients when servicing is due, and offering a try before you buy voucher to cold outreach prospects you've been trying to land.The conversation wraps up with something worth sitting with: most tradies will hear all of this, do one thing, and then stop. The ones who actually grow are the ones doing an unreasonable volume of activity consistently, whether they're busy or not. That's the real secret.Pick two or three from this list and go do them today.Also, the UpScale team are lacing up for the Gold Coast Marathon this year to raise funds for TIACS, a free mental health service built for tradies and their families. If you want to get behind the cause, you can donate here: https://fundraise.tiacs.org/fundraisers/upscalegoldcoastmarathon2026