Semi-Absentee, Full Opportunity: What Top Franchisees Do Differently

On this episode of The TradeMarke Podcast, hosts Sarah Ghirardo and Eric Thomas sit down with franchise matchmaker Adam Goldman to demystify modern franchising, especially in the home services world. Adam has spent 15+ years in the space, from owning an office-cleaning master franchise to placing candidates across 75 industries, with 60 to 70 percent in home services. You’ll learn what makes a strong franchise candidate, why business development and operational excellence are the twin superpowers, and how owners are thriving with semi-absentee models. Adam breaks down practical growth levers like BNI, referrals, canvassing, and digital channels, and explains the trend of stacking seasonal businesses (think mosquito control plus holiday lighting) to keep teams working year-round. He also tackles the biggest misconceptions: that franchises must be brick-and-mortar and seven figures, and that royalties are a sunk cost rather than a shortcut to proven systems. We close with Adam’s take on disclosure docs, avoiding conflicts across brands, and why the right playbook can buy back your time. Listen in, take notes, and check the show notes for Adam’s free consult links and his book, The Franchisee Lifestyle.

On this episode of The Trademarke Podcast, hosts Sarah Ghirardo and Eric Thomas sit down with Ryan Redding for a candid, practical playbook on scaling a home service company the right way. Fresh off a year that included his team joining forces with KickCharge Creative, Ryan shares what he is doing now, why frameworks like EOS help owners win back their time, and how to spot the three problems that stall growth: time traps, profit slippage, and revenue plateaus. You will learn how to identify personal, department, and company bottlenecks, why “manage up or manage out” creates healthier teams, and how to let go so your best people can lead. Ryan also talks through real owner tactics for protecting family time, setting outcomes instead of job titles, and building a business that is sellable and resilient.

Step into The TradeMarke with Sarah Ghirardo and Eric Thomas as they sit down with Brigham Dickinson of Power Selling Pros to explore the evolution of CSRs, technician training, and the impact of AI on trades marketing. Brigham shares real-world stories on improving call conversion, reducing callbacks, and turning CSRs into inside sales experts while emphasizing empathy, technical knowledge, and accountability. Learn why blending soft skills with technical understanding and leveraging technology — from call recording to AI — can increase sales, improve customer experience, and strengthen your business operations.

On this episode of The TradeMarke Podcast, hosts Sarah Ghirardo and Eric Thomas sit down with James Hatfield, Chief Revenue Officer at LiveSwitch, to explore how live video technology is reshaping the trades. James shares his journey from climbing ladders in the painting and power washing world to leading a global tech company powering live video for the NFL, the Super Bowl, and now thousands of home service businesses. He explains why speed to lead is the ultimate competitive advantage, how contractors can use live video to boost trust and conversions, and why the future of customer experience will come down to speed, transparency, and authentic connection. Whether you’re running an HVAC shop, managing a plumbing crew, or looking to stay ahead in the trades, this conversation delivers a powerful look at the tools and strategies that separate winners from the rest.

On this episode of The TradeMarke Podcast, hosts Sarah Ghirardo and Eric Thomas sit down with Kevin Thornton, VP & GM of Dealer Business Services at JB Warranties, to uncover how warranties are transforming the trades. Kevin shares how JB Warranties helps contractors increase revenue, build stronger customer relationships, and provide homeowners with true peace of mind. From HVAC and plumbing systems to electrical and water filtration, warranties aren’t just about protection—they’re about creating long-term trust and recurring revenue opportunities. You’ll also hear how JB Warranties’ JB360 integration with ServiceTitan streamlines warranty sales, claims, and renewals, giving contractors the tools to reduce admin time and focus on growth. Plus, Kevin highlights the importance of educating homeowners, offering tiered warranty options, and using technology to improve customer lifetime value. Whether you’re an HVAC, plumbing, or electrical contractor, this episode will give you actionable strategies to stand out from competitors, retain more customers, and unlock new revenue streams. Listen now to learn how warranties can become one of your most powerful business growth tools.

On this episode of The TradeMarke Podcast, hosts Sarah Ghirardo and Eric Thomas sit down with Rich Harshaw, founder of Level 10 Contractor and author of Unlocking Unlimited Lead Flow, to break down the exact strategies contractors need to win online. Rich shares proven insights from decades in the home services and remodeling industry—helping companies grow from $5 million to over $150 million in revenue. You’ll learn why most SEO agencies underperform, how to evaluate an SEO provider before hiring them, and the powerful “geo keyword pair” method for dominating local search results. Rich also dives deep into brand identity, storytelling, and how to integrate your unique message across every marketing channel—from websites to TV ads. Whether you’re an HVAC, plumbing, or remodeling business, this episode is packed with practical, real-world advice to help you rank higher, convert more leads, and create a brand your customers will remember.

In this episode of The TradeMarke Podcast, hosts Sarah Ghirardo and Eric Thomas sit down with Mike Zeppetello from Powerhouse Consulting Group to explore the role of data integrity, CRM strategy, and Marketing Pro in driving real growth for home service companies. Mike shares his journey from growing up in a family handyman business to leading marketing strategy at Powerhouse. He breaks down why trades businesses must stop seeing their CRM as a digital filing cabinet and start treating it like the central nervous system of their operations. Whether you're using ServiceTitan, Marketing Pro, or another CRM, you’ll learn: Why your data might be hurting your marketing more than helping How to build a data-driven culture across CSRs, techs, and comfort advisors The top campaigns to automate right now for retention and remarketing How to avoid bad customer experiences with misfired emails or SMS When (and why) to bring in experts like Powerhouse to optimize your setup If you're serious about scaling your HVAC, plumbing, or electrical business with smarter, more strategic marketing—this one’s for you.

In this episode of The TradeMarke Podcast, Sarah Ghirardo and Eric Thomas sit down with Marcus Piazzisi, founder and CEO of Viirl, to dig into the real-world strategies that drive results in home service marketing. From bootstrapping his agency with maxed-out credit cards to building a multi-million-dollar business, Marcus shares how Viirl became a major player by focusing on performance, not fluff. The conversation covers everything from local lead generation and agency selection to tech stacks, reporting transparency, and how AI is reshaping operations across the trades. Plus, they talk about the importance of nurturing existing customers, planning for the slow season while you're in the busy one, and why “proximity is success” when it comes to in-home service opportunities. If you’re a contractor, marketer, or agency pro in the trades, this episode will challenge how you think about marketing ROI, tech integration, and business strategy in today’s fast-moving climate.

In this episode of The TradeMarke Podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Englin, CEO of Core Matters, to explore his proven strategies for hiring better people and building stronger businesses. Ryan shares his Core Fit Hiring System, designed to attract top-tier applicants, reduce turnover, and create engaged, long-lasting teams. Learn how aligning hiring practices with your company’s core values can improve retention, enhance employee satisfaction, and drive business success. Whether you’re struggling with high turnover or looking to improve your hiring process, Ryan’s insights provide actionable steps to create a workforce that wins.

In this episode of The TradeMarke Podcast, Sarah Ghirardo sits down with Jenny Benbrook, co-founder of Powerhouse Consulting Group, for a deep dive into tech strategy for contractors. Jenny shares the origin story of Powerhouse, how they’ve scaled to a 30-person team, and the growing need for thoughtful tech implementation in the trades. From ServiceTitan to third-party tools, the conversation covers it all: how to reduce wasted spend, build a scalable tech stack, and align technology with your company’s growth goals. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by software options or unsure if you're getting your money’s worth from your tech investments, this is the episode for you. You’ll learn: Why contractors are spending more on tech but seeing lower margins The difference between tech support and strategic consulting How Powerhouse helps contractors build a custom roadmap for growth Whether you’re a one-truck shop or scaling past eight figures, this episode will help you rethink your relationship with technology — and grow smarter, not harder. Listen now and start turning your tech stack into your growth engine.