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Your painting contractor mindset could be the biggest thing holding your business back. Joel Mercado breaks down the limiting beliefs, leadership habits and systems that keep painting contractors stuck. In this special episode of Contractor Secrets from the Routemize launch party, Joel explains why changing your business often starts with changing the way you think. From struggling to make payroll to building multiple businesses, Joel shares the mindset shifts that helped him stop focusing on what couldn't be done and start taking action on what could. We cover: → Fixed mindset vs. growth mindset → The limiting beliefs keeping contractors stuck → Why higher prices can mean fewer headaches → Transferring your skills to your employees → Why you shouldn't try to fix everything at once → Focusing on one problem for 30 days → Why expanding too quickly can hurt your business → Motivation vs. discipline → How to scale from $1M toward $5M → Why people and systems need to come before growth → Developing better leaders → Why self-leadership comes first → Getting 1% better every day CHAPTERS: 00:00 Routemize Launch Party 01:27 Meet Joel Mercado 02:24 Fixed vs. Growth Mindset 03:35 From Nearly Losing a House to $2.5M 05:31 Destroying Your Limiting Beliefs 06:53 Empower Your Employees to Sell 08:21 Stop Competing on Price 10:13 Don't Expand Too Quickly 11:33 Focus on One Thing 13:13 How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed 14:04 Get 1% Better Every Day 16:55 Why It's Easier to Win Today 19:24 How Joel Pushed Through the Struggle 21:26 Motivation Is Temporary 22:10 Discipline & Consistency Win 22:43 How to Scale From $1M to $5M 24:25 Leadership Starts With You 25:48 The Law of the Lid 27:43 Become a Student for Life 28:48 Final Message The biggest takeaway: Your business can't consistently grow beyond your ability to lead it. Change the way you think. Focus on one thing. Develop your people. Build the systems. Stay disciplined. Then grow. Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #PaintingBusiness #ContractorMindset #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #ContractorSecrets

After 4 years running a remodeling business, Joe Altobelli is spread thin, worn down, dealing with slow cash flow, and considering going back to work for someone else. In this episode of Contractor Secrets, Tanner sits down with Joe and breaks down what he would change if he were rebuilding Joe’s business from the ground up. The biggest recommendation? Simplify. Instead of trying to sell and fulfill every type of remodeling project, Tanner makes the case for niching down into residential painting and building a business around one repeatable service. They break down: → Why general remodeling can be incredibly difficult to systemize → The advantage of specializing in one service → Why repetition creates better systems → Sales, marketing, production & administration → Why painting can create a faster iteration cycle → How Joe could transition into painting → Using subcontractors when you're getting started → Why the owner doesn't need to do the painting → Building a business around your strengths → Creating predictable marketing and sales → How specialization makes training easier → Why focus matters when you're trying to build momentum → Tanner's “burn the boats” approach → Building a business around the life you actually want CHAPTERS: 00:00 “I’m Considering Working for Someone Again” 01:14 Meet Joe Altobelli 03:51 Why Joe Is Burned Out 05:50 The Problem With General Remodeling 08:09 You’re Not Starting From Zero 09:08 Why Niching Down Matters 10:11 The 4 Pillars of a Business 11:11 Why Tanner Recommends Painting 12:03 The Simple Painting Business Playbook 12:59 Can Painting Work in a Cold Climate? 13:55 You Don’t Need to Do the Painting 15:09 Why Specialization Makes Marketing Easier 17:00 Building a Repeatable Business 21:56 Starting With Subcontractors 24:53 Joe’s Bigger Reason for Building a Business 28:27 Fear, Risk & Starting Over 33:39 Turning Fear Into Action 34:58 Should Joe Keep Taking Remodeling Jobs? 35:17 Why Tanner Says “Burn the Boats” 37:35 Final Advice Joe has already spent four years learning how to work with homeowners, sell projects, manage construction and deliver great customer experiences. The question isn't whether he has to start over. It's whether simplifying the business could finally allow him to use everything he's already learned. Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #PaintingBusiness #PaintingSales #PaintingLeads #ContractorSales #ContractorSecrets

Painting contractors don't always need more leads — they need a better sales process. Jason Phillips explains how closing more painting estimates at higher margins can completely change the economics of your painting business. In this episode of Contractor Secrets, Jason breaks down why constantly spending more money on painting leads can actually hide the real problem in your business. If you're already generating opportunities but homeowners are ghosting you, shopping your price, saying “we need to think about it,” or simply not closing — generating MORE leads won't solve the problem. You need to fix sales first. We cover: → Why more leads won't fix a sales problem → How to make more money from the leads you already have → Why customers default to price when they can't see the difference → How sales affects gross profit → Revenue vs. gross profit → How better sales can fund your team and systems → Why your sales process needs to be repeatable and trainable → How to set better appointments → Why you should show up to serve instead of sell → The three costs every homeowner should understand → Building your quote around what the homeowner actually values → Why Jason recommends presenting your quote instead of emailing it → Presenting payment options alongside the price CHAPTERS: 00:00 Routemize Launch Party 01:27 Meet Jason 02:07 Why Sales Is the First Thing to Fix 03:00 The Problem With Chasing More Leads 05:26 Why Sales Changes Everything 06:32 Make More From the Leads You Already Have 07:41 Stop Competing on Price 09:18 Sales Pays for Everything Else 10:49 Why Gross Profit Creates Freedom 11:57 The Math Behind Better Sales 15:09 Are You Building a Business or a Job? 15:40 Fix Sales → Build Team → Build Systems 16:29 Real-World Painting Business Results 18:39 What Does “Selling Better” Actually Mean? 20:10 7 Practical Sales Tips 20:17 #1 Set a Better Appointment 21:47 #2 Show Up to Serve 22:59 #3 Explain the Three Costs 23:29 #4 Build the Quote Around Their Values 23:59 Present Your Price Under the Right Conditions 24:32 Present Payment Options 25:20 Put the Customer Before the Commission 26:08 Fix Sales and Get Your Life Back The big idea: you don't necessarily need more opportunities. You need to get better at converting the opportunities you've already paid for. Fix your sales. Build your team. Build your systems. Get your life back. Subscribe for more conversations about building and scaling a profitable painting business. Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #PaintingBusiness #PaintingSales #PaintingLeads #ContractorSales #ContractorSecrets

Painting contractor leads aren't automatically good or bad because they came from Facebook, Instagram, or another lead source. Jacob Ransom breaks down the painting lead strategy he uses to turn cold traffic into referral-quality opportunities. In this episode of Contractor Secrets, Tanner sits down with Jacob, founder of Monumental Growth and owner of a multi-location painting company, to break down his “Trust Stacking” system. The idea is simple: lead quality isn't determined by where the lead came from — it's determined by how much the homeowner trusts you when they reach out. Jacob breaks the system into three pillars: → MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE Show up consistently where your ideal homeowners spend their time. → MAKE IT EASY Remove friction with fast responses, flexible availability, texting, Messenger, and online self-booking. → MAKE IT REAL Use real people, reviews, authentic content, and raw videos to build trust before the estimate. We also cover: → Why “bad Facebook leads” may actually be a trust problem → Why price objections can be trust objections → How convenience can attract better customers → Why being first through the door matters → Evening and weekend estimate availability → Why your intake process could be filtering out your best customers → Raw phone videos vs. polished advertising → How Jacob approaches keeping marketing costs low enough to scale CHAPTERS: 00:00 Routemize Launch Party 01:27 Meet Jacob Ransom 02:16 Why Some Painting Companies Scale So Fast 05:00 The “Trust Recession” 07:10 Price Objections vs. Trust 09:06 What Actually Determines Lead Quality? 09:56 Turning Cold Leads Into Referral-Quality Leads 10:46 The 3 Pillars of Trust Stacking 11:44 Pillar #1: Make Yourself Visible 14:33 How Much Marketing Activity Is Enough? 17:19 Pillar #2: Make It Easy 18:29 Why Online Booking Matters 19:32 Jacob’s Self-Booking Results 22:08 Evening & Weekend Appointments 24:38 Why Being First Through the Door Matters 26:07 Convenience Attracts Better Customers 27:34 How Friction Filters Your Customers 28:55 Stop Making It Hard to Hire You 29:33 Pillar #3: Make It Real 30:47 A Better Way to Use Google Reviews 31:22 Raw Content vs. Polished Ads 34:25 Putting the Full System Together 37:15 How Lower Marketing Costs Enable Scale 38:37 Jacob’s Trust Stacking SOP If you're a painting contractor struggling with inconsistent or low-quality leads, this episode will change the way you think about lead generation. Subscribe for more conversations about growing and scaling a profitable painting business. Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #PaintingBusiness #PaintingLeads #PaintingMarketing #ContractorMarketing #ContractorSecrets

Painting contractor marketing isn't just Facebook Ads, Google Ads, and generating more leads. Glenn Williamson explains why building local brand and trust is one of the most overlooked marketing strategies for painting contractors. Glenn is a painting contractor on track for $8M this year, and in this episode he breaks down the strategies his company uses to become known and trusted in its local market. We cover: → Why relying entirely on paid leads is dangerous → Building trust through community involvement → Yard sign and charity campaigns → Vehicle wraps and local branding → Facebook groups and referral partners → Building a network of trusted local contractors → Using your brand to increase trust during the sales process → A completely different approach to door hangers → Turning community involvement into content for Google, YouTube, and AI The big idea: paid ads can generate leads today, but brand and trust give you something your competitors can't simply outbid you for. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Meet Glenn Williamson 00:32 Building an $8M Painting Company 03:44 Why Contractors Undervalue Brand & Trust 04:58 Do You Own Demand or Rent Leads? 06:42 Do Facebook & Google Ads Build a Brand? 08:06 Community Marketing That Actually Builds Trust 10:15 Charity & Local Event Strategies 13:41 Facebook Groups & Referral Partners 15:08 How Brand Helps Close the Sale 17:08 Building a Local Contractor Network 18:43 A Better Door Hanger Strategy 21:02 Why Trust Compounds Over Time 21:55 Building Trust for Google, YouTube & AI 22:48 How to Find Glenn If you're building a painting company and want to become the contractor people already know and trust before they ever request an estimate, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations about building and scaling a profitable painting business. Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #PaintingBusiness #PaintingMarketing #ContractorMarketing #ContractorSecrets

How to start a painting business, get painting leads, win your first jobs, and grow without a huge marketing budget — Tanner Mullen breaks down what he would do starting a painting company from scratch. Lauren recently launched Wild Grain Painting and joins Tanner for a Business Breakthrough session to figure out exactly what she should focus on next. They cover everything from positioning and sales to organic marketing, reviews, Facebook Ads, hiring painters, and getting off the tools. In this episode, you'll learn: • How to look more professional on estimates • Why perceived value matters when you're brand new • How to use your personal story to differentiate your company • How to find your company's real value proposition • How to generate leads when you have almost no marketing budget • How Tanner would use local Facebook groups • Why every new painting company needs reviews • When to start investing in Facebook Ads • Why you shouldn't wait to build your CRM • How to avoid getting trapped doing all the painting yourself • How to sell the job first and find production second • What Tanner would do if he started over from $0 CHAPTERS: 00:00 Starting a Painting Business 01:18 Meet Lauren & Wild Grain Painting 02:27 What Should the Owner Actually Do? 04:13 Building Confidence as a New Contractor 05:18 Look Like a Professional Estimator 06:03 Perceived Value Matters 07:46 Lauren's First Commercial Estimate 08:39 Avoiding the Commercial & GC Trap 09:39 Marketing With Almost No Money 10:23 Your Biggest Competitive Advantage 11:30 Building a Story People Care About 14:17 What Makes Your Company Different? 17:28 Turning Your Story Into Marketing 19:55 Get Clear on the Mission 20:20 Why Marketing Means Being "Annoying" 20:48 Free Local Facebook Marketing 21:51 Build the Systems Before You Need Them 22:09 Setting Up a CRM 22:15 DripJobs Startup Program 23:33 When to Invest in Facebook Ads 24:21 Building Google Reviews 25:27 The Paint Trap 26:13 Why Tanner Wouldn't Pick Up a Paintbrush 27:07 Subcontractors vs Employees 27:57 Where Lauren Should Start 28:18 The Final Game Plan One of Tanner's biggest lessons: If you're starting a painting business, your highest-value job may not be painting. Sell a job. Schedule it. Find someone to produce it. Then go sell another one. At the beginning, you need to become resourceful. Tell your story. Build your reputation. Get reviews. Post locally. Sell. Build systems. Then reinvest your profits into marketing. If you're starting a painting company or trying to get your first consistent painting jobs, this episode gives you a practical roadmap to follow. Subscribe to Contractor Secrets with Tanner Mullen for more painting business growth, contractor marketing, sales, systems, and scaling. Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingBusiness #PaintingContractor #PaintingBusinessOwner #ContractorMarketing #PaintingLeads #ContractorSecrets

Painting contractor sales, painting estimates, close rates, and in-home sales — Durant breaks down the exact sales process he uses to close roughly 75–80% of his painting estimates. In this episode of Contractor Secrets, Durant shares how he approaches an estimate from the moment he walks through the door all the way to asking for the business and overcoming objections. His philosophy is simple: If you're already in the house, don't just send the customer a quote later. Build trust, show your expertise, present the proposal, handle the real objection, and try to close the job on the spot. In this presentation, you'll learn: • Why Durant gives customers their estimate on the spot • How to change your mindset before walking into an estimate • How to build rapport without sounding scripted • The questions to ask before you start selling • How to uncover the real reason behind the project • Why you should lead the customer during the walkthrough • How to "assume the sale" without being pushy • How to present your company and proposal • Why detailed photos can help you close • How Durant uses same-day incentives • How to handle "I need more quotes" • How to handle price objections • How to handle "I need to talk to my spouse" • Why "I need to think about it" isn't the real objection • How to ask for the business confidently CHAPTERS: 00:00 Routemize Launch Party 01:27 Meet Durant 02:49 Closing Painting Jobs on the Spot 04:30 Why You Should Give the Estimate Immediately 06:00 Change Your State Before the Appointment 07:50 Build a Repeatable Sales Process 09:00 Building Rapport & Asking Better Questions 11:08 Show Up Like an Expert 14:10 The Questions Durant Asks Customers 15:59 Tell Your Story 17:50 Set Expectations & Pre-Close 19:48 Assume the Sale During the Walkthrough 22:00 Building a Detailed Estimate 24:30 Presenting the Proposal 26:00 Finding the Real Objection 28:00 Handling Multiple Quotes 30:07 Handling Price Objections 32:30 Using Incentives Without Killing Margin 33:50 "I Need to Talk to My Spouse" 36:00 "I Need to Think About It" 37:16 Close the Deal Today 38:05 Tanner's Biggest Takeaways Durant's biggest point is that sales becomes much easier when you stop improvising and build a repeatable process. Show up sharp. Ask better questions. Build trust. Lead the walkthrough. Present with confidence. Find the real objection. Ask for the business. If you're a painting contractor looking to improve your close rate, sell more jobs, or build a better in-home sales process, this episode is packed with practical sales training you can use immediately. Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #ContractorBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #PaintingBusiness #HomeServices #BusinessGrowth #ContractorSecrets

Painting contractor leads, painting business marketing, Facebook Ads, Google LSA, and booked estimates — Cayleb Pletos reveals how painting contractors can build a predictable lead generation system. In this episode of Contractor Secrets, Cayleb breaks down his Ultimate Estimate Engine — a system designed to generate painting leads, automatically schedule qualified estimates, optimize routes, and create predictable growth. The system combines Google Local Services Ads + Facebook Ads + Routemize + DripJobs + appointment setting to move prospects from lead to booked estimate without relying on constant manual follow-up. In this episode, you'll learn: • How to generate more painting contractor leads • How to get more estimates booked on your calendar • How to improve Google Local Services Ads • How Facebook Ads work for painting companies • Why your ad creative needs to build a personal brand • How to target higher-quality painting leads • Why fast follow-up matters • How to automate appointment scheduling • How route optimization improves estimator efficiency • How to create consistent year-round lead flow The goal isn't just more leads. It's building a system that consistently turns: TRAFFIC → LEADS → BOOKED ESTIMATES → JOBS CHAPTERS: 00:00 Routemize Launch Party 01:27 Meet Cayleb Pletos 01:42 The Ultimate Estimate Engine 06:04 The Original Estimate Engine 07:30 What Happens When You Get More Leads 09:19 Why Appointment Setting Breaks Down 11:33 Google Local Services Ads 12:52 How to Get More LSA Leads 16:15 Facebook Ads for Painting Companies 18:40 How to Create Better Facebook Ads 20:00 Why Personal Branding Matters 22:27 Example of a Painting Facebook Ad 23:09 Why This Facebook Ad Works 24:52 Automating Lead-to-Estimate Scheduling 26:45 Building Predictable Lead Flow 27:34 The Ultimate Estimate Engine If you're a painting contractor or painting business owner looking for more leads, better marketing, more booked estimates, and predictable growth, this episode is for you. Subscribe to Contractor Secrets with Tanner Mullen for more on painting business growth, contractor marketing, lead generation, sales, systems, and scaling. #PaintingContractor #PaintingBusiness #PaintingLeads #ContractorMarketing #GoogleLSA #LeadGeneration #ContractorSecrets

Painting contractor marketing, painting business marketing, Facebook Ads, Google Ads, SEO, and painting leads — which marketing strategy should you actually use to grow your painting company? Brandon Pierpont, founder of Painter Marketing Pros, breaks down exactly which marketing channels painting contractors should focus on at each stage of growth — from starting at $0 to scaling beyond $1 million in annual revenue. Instead of throwing money at every new marketing strategy, Brandon lays out a roadmap for choosing between free marketing, Facebook Ads, Google Local Services Ads, Google PPC, SEO, referrals, social media, and more. In this episode, you'll learn: • The marketing fundamentals every painting company needs • How to market a painting business from $0–$500K • When painting contractors should start running paid ads • Facebook Ads vs Google Ads for painting leads • Why some contractors think Facebook Ads “don't work” • When Google PPC actually makes sense • How to use Google Local Services Ads • Why reviews and referrals are so valuable • When to invest in SEO • How to build long-term brand equity • Why your sales system matters just as much as lead generation • How local Facebook groups can generate painting leads Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #ContractorBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #PaintingBusiness #HomeServices #BusinessGrowth #ContractorSecrets

Entrepreneur mindset, business mindset, problem solving, and business leadership are essential when you’re trying to overcome business problems and grow as a business owner. In this episode, Austin Houser shares his framework for solving problems, overcoming fear, and staying calm under pressure. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor at 34 years old, Austin was forced to confront extreme uncertainty. The experience changed how he approaches fear, failure, leadership, and the challenges that come with entrepreneurship. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How to solve business problems • How to develop a stronger entrepreneur mindset • How to stay calm under pressure • The 3 types of problems business owners face • Why failure is required for success • How to focus on what you can control • The 1-3-1 problem-solving rule • How to build team accountability • How to prioritize problems and avoid overwhelm • Why success is 90% mindset and 10% skill set Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #ContractorBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #PaintingBusiness #HomeServices #BusinessGrowth #ContractorSecrets

Facebook Ads for painting contractors can generate consistent painting leads — but only if your ads, marketing message, and follow-up system are built correctly. In this episode of the Contractor Secrets Podcast, Tanner Mullen audits Axel’s Facebook Ads and explains why his painting business marketing is getting clicks but failing to turn those clicks into painting leads and booked jobs. Axel spent roughly $350–$400 on Facebook Ads and generated around 700 clicks, but received almost no meaningful leads. Tanner pulls up the actual ad and breaks down exactly what’s going wrong. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How to run better Facebook Ads for painting contractors • Why painting ads get clicks but no leads • How to generate more painting leads • Why your marketing message must match your ideal customer • How authentic video builds trust with homeowners • Why AI-generated ads can hurt your marketing • How speed-to-lead affects conversions • How a CRM helps turn leads into booked estimates • How to budget for contractor marketing • When to DIY marketing vs. hire a marketing agency Tanner explains that successful painting contractor marketing isn’t just about getting clicks. Your ads need to attract the right homeowners, build trust, generate qualified painting leads, and have a system behind them that follows up immediately. If you’re a painting contractor trying to grow your painting business with Facebook Ads, Meta Ads, lead generation, contractor marketing, or digital marketing, this episode will show you what to fix. VIDEO CHAPTERS: 00:00 Why Painting Ads Fail 01:16 Meet Axel & His Painting Business 02:17 Building the Foundation 04:34 Axel’s Facebook Ads Strategy 05:03 700 Clicks, Almost No Leads 06:17 Tanner Audits the Facebook Ad 07:09 What’s Wrong With the Ad? 09:12 The Cost of DIY Marketing 10:05 How to Build Trust With Facebook Ads 11:31 Stop Trying to Be Perfect on Camera 14:37 Should Contractors Hire a Marketing Agency? 15:55 Why Speed-to-Lead Matters 17:47 Investing in Your Painting Business 19:43 Why You Need a Marketing System 21:12 CRM & Follow-Up Systems 22:28 Building a Better Estimating System 25:12 Why Consistent Marketing Matters 27:32 How Much Should You Spend on Marketing? 31:42 Systems That Free the Business Owner Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #roofing #roofingbusiness #contractormarketing #localseo #roofingcontractor #homeservices #businessgrowth

Want to close more painting leads and grow your painting business? Aiden Smith breaks down the exact painting contractor sales funnel his company uses to close around 60% of leads and consistently sell more painting jobs. In this episode of the Contractor Secrets Podcast, we're joined by Aiden Smith, founder of Smith & Co Painting and Paint Pro Coaching, to reveal how he generates painting leads, pre-qualifies prospects, builds trust before the estimate, and closes more painting jobs. Aiden recently sold roughly $50,000 in painting jobs in one week at a 60% close rate. He even shares how he closed a $9,000 painting project over the phone without ever visiting the property. In this episode, you'll learn: • How to build a painting contractor sales funnel • How to close more painting leads • How to pre-qualify homeowners before an estimate • Why speed-to-lead matters for painting contractors • Facebook Ads and Google leads for painting companies • How to build trust before the sales appointment • How Aiden uses "What to Expect" videos to increase sales • How to improve your painting sales closing rate • How to close painting jobs on the spot • How to systemize your painting sales process The goal is simple: win the painting job before the sales appointment even begins. If you're a painting contractor or painting business owner looking to generate better leads, improve your sales process, increase your close rate, and grow your painting company, this episode is for you. Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #ContractorBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #PaintingBusiness #HomeServices #BusinessGrowth #ContractorSecrets

If you're a painting contractor struggling to find good employees, this episode breaks down how to hire painters, retain great employees, and build a painting business that can grow without relying on the owner. In this episode of the Contractor Secrets Podcast, Tanner Mullen sits down with Mason from Progressive Painting to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing painting contractors and home service businesses: hiring skilled painters and building a reliable team. Mason helps operate a $1M+ commercial painting business in New Hampshire and is working to solve the people problem inside the company. After scaling to a 30-person painting crew for a massive commercial project, the business experienced employee turnover and struggled to maintain the team needed to continue growing. Tanner breaks down the painting contractor hiring system he's used to recruit W-2 painters, find better applicants, develop crew leaders, and build a painting company that doesn't require the owner to constantly be on the job site. We cover: • Why a random hiring process creates random results • Where contractors should actually be looking for employees • My Indeed hiring strategy • How to properly interview and filter applicants • Why character matters more than skill alone • Creating a career path from apprentice to leadership • How compensation impacts employee retention • Rewarding employees as their skills increase • Using job profitability to create performance bonuses • Why your best employees need to see a future with your company • Building a business that doesn't depend on the owner • Commercial vs. residential painting opportunities • Navigating change inside a family business If you're constantly saying, "There are no good employees out there," this episode might change the way you think about hiring entirely. Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #PaintingBusiness #HiringPainters #ContractorBusiness #PaintingCompany #ContractorHiring #BusinessGrowth #HomeServices #EmployeeRetention #ContractorSecrets

AI isn't going to replace painting contractors — but contractors who know how to use AI might. In this special episode of the Contractor Secrets Podcast, Tanner Mullen is joined by Mike Hickman, founder and CEO of Painter Growth, for a deep dive into what an AI-native painting business actually looks like. Mike breaks down practical ways contractors can start using AI across their sales, marketing, estimating, websites, strategic partnerships, and day-to-day operations — including live examples of what's already possible. In this episode, you'll learn: • The 5 levels of AI adoption • How AI can transform your sales process • How to build a website using AI • How to create personalized proposals in minutes • Using AI to visualize projects before the work begins • Automating strategic partner outreach • How AI can help you operate with fewer people and higher margins • Why contractors who wait too long may struggle to catch up The goal isn't to remove the human element from your business. It's to use AI to handle more of the repetitive work so you can spend more time selling, building relationships, leading your team, and growing the company. If you own a painting or home service business, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #PaintingContractor #ContractorBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #PaintingBusiness #HomeServices #BusinessGrowth #ContractorSecrets

Most painters optimize their Facebook ads for leads. Lucas Jensen optimizes for booked appointments — and it's the reason his agency's clients add over $1.5 million in new sales every single week. In this Contractor Secrets episode, recorded live at the Routemize launch, the founder of Forward Media Marketing breaks down the exact Facebook (Meta) ads playbook his team runs for 175+ painting, flooring, and coating contractors. You'll learn why advertising should be optimized for appointments instead of leads, how Routemize collapses the lead → appointment → sale timeline into appointment → sale, and the three levers that actually move the needle: creative optimization (vertical video, selfie-style, transformation, process, static ads, and job-site walkthroughs), sales optimization (tracking every ad, lead, and close down to the dollar), and speed optimization — because the faster you turn a lead into a sale, the more profitable you become. Lucas also breaks down real numbers: $84 cost per lead, 55% set rate, 30% close rate, 12.91x blended ROAS, and a $6,600 average job size. If you run a painting business or any home-service company and want more appointments, lower marketing costs, and faster cash flow from Facebook and Instagram ads, this one's a masterclass. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:00 How Routemize was tested (2 → 5 appointments/day) 05:00 Optimize for appointments, not leads 07:00 The results: 175+ contractors, $1.5M/week 09:00 Turning $1 into $12.91 (ROAS breakdown) 10:00 3 reasons every contractor needs Facebook ads 16:00 Step 1: Creative optimization (video + static ads) 20:00 Step 2: Sales optimization & tracking every dollar 23:30 Step 3: Speed — the #1 predictor of success 28:00 One action away from your next million Start your Free 14 Day Trial for Routemize - https://routemize.com/ Coaching Session Signup: https://calendly.com/dripjobs/breakthrough Purchase the 31 Days of Value and build an EMPIRE: https://www.amazon.com/31-Days-Value-home-service-businesses/dp/B0FQSH32X7 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v0D0SNSBofqJJE6zApEE1 DripJobs Demo: https://calendly.com/dripjobsteam/dripjobsdemo Gusto: https://gusto.com/i/tanner269 OpenPhone: https://openph.one/referral/8Kc17aq Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173750747824373/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/officialtannermullen #FacebookAdsForPainters #PaintingBusiness #PaintingContractor #MetaAds #ContractorMarketing #LeadGeneration #HomeServiceMarketing #Routemize #DripJobs #ContractorSecrets #PaintCon