Kirk Phelps didn't just talk about starting a shop — he went and did it.

In Episode 34 of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk gives you a raw, unfiltered look at the first 60 days of Omni Max Aerospace: two Haas machines, a 3,500 square feet building, no employees, and parts shipping in week one.

This is real-world startup content from someone in the trenches every day — not theory, not hypotheticals.

Key topics covered:

• Who to hire first (and why the answer might surprise you)
• Vendor negotiation tactics when cash is tight at startup
• Why machine brand doesn't matter — service does
• How Kirk's decade of standardization made lights out machining possible in month one
• The real math on buying special tools vs. using what you have
• Zero-point work holding and single-piece flow from day one
• The first crash, the $650 tool holder, and what he learned
  

"My standardization gives me a repeatable process right out of the box. I'm just repeating what I did last week, last month, last year, the last decade."

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

2026 isn’t about staying busy—it’s about winning on purpose.

In this episode, Mike Fritz breaks down a simple, proven framework to grow your shop using Top Line, Bottom Line, and People. Learn how to clarify who your shop really is, cut loser parts, focus on winner work, and pull the lowest-effort, highest-impact levers for growth.

If you want to break through plateaus like the $2M ceiling and build a shop that’s profitable, scalable, and intentional—this episode is for you.

Subscribe to our new 2026 format:
✅ Sales/Marketing (1st & 3rd Tuesdays)
✅ Operations/Engineering (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)
✅ Bonus joint episodes on 5th Tuesdays

If this episode helps, please leave a quick review—it helps more shop owners find the show.

Your shop isn’t struggling because you’re too expensive.
It might be struggling because you’re still pricing like you’re afraid.

In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Mike Fritz breaks down one of the most dangerous habits in manufacturing:

USING PRICE AS YOUR MAIN SALES STRATEGY.

A lot of shops think lowering prices wins more work.
But in reality, it often wins the wrong work.

Mike shares why shops without a niche are forced to compete on price, how underpriced jobs quietly destroy your margins, and why “cheap work” can end up being the most expensive work you ever take on.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why a shop without a niche is always left arguing on price
• How bad pricing creates chaos, burnout, and cash flow pressure
• Why quality and delivery matter more than being the cheapest
• How to find your differentiator and attract better-fit customers
• Why profitable growth starts with disciplined quoting

And here’s the twist:

One of Mike’s shops increased the price on a part by nearly 80%…
and got the PO back almost immediately.

That moment says a lot about what customers are really buying.

If your shop is constantly busy but still feels squeezed, this episode will help you rethink pricing, quoting, and what it really takes to grow.

Subscribe to our weekly format:
Sales & Marketing — 1st & 3rd Tuesdays
Operations & Engineering — 2nd & 4th Tuesdays
Bonus joint episodes on 5th Tuesdays

If this episode helps, please leave a review—it helps more shop owners find the show.

In this episode, we're diving into the often-overlooked but incredibly valuable topic of re-engaging dormant customers. After exploring how to grow current customer relationships in our previous episode, we're now shifting focus to those who've slipped away. We'll discuss why customers become dormant, how it's not always due to negative experiences, and the subtle art of re-engagement. You'll hear firsthand about the strategic approaches and real-life examples from our own experiences in reigniting these old flames. Whether you're looking to improve on-time delivery, uphold product quality, or navigate pricing changes, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you bring dormant customers back into the fold. Join us as we unpack the tools and tactics necessary to transform lost opportunities into revived partnerships.

The 3 Types of Customers.

In Today’s episode of the Machine Shop Growth podcast Kirk Phelps and I talk about the 3 different types of customers. This is going to be a 3 part series. This week we talk about the first (and most lucrative) customer to work with!

Make sure you tune in and enjoy!

Are you losing money on jobs in your machine shop without realizing it?

In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Mike Fritz and Kirk Phelps break down how to identify and fix the 20% of machine shop jobs that quietly destroy your profit margin. From legacy pricing and inaccurate burden rates to poor payment terms and customer concentration risk, we unpack the real reasons job shops struggle with profitability.

You’ll learn how to:

• Calculate your true machine shop burden rate
• Identify unprofitable jobs using simple time studies
• Decide when to blend margin vs. renegotiate pricing
• Protect cash flow from long payment terms
• Stay the solution for your customer — even if you don’t machine the part

Many manufacturing businesses think they have a sales problem.
Often, they have a margin visibility problem.

If you run a machine shop, job shop, or manufacturing business and want to improve profitability without sacrificing customer relationships, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework to follow.

Because being busy isn’t the goal.
Being profitable is.

Big question for shop owners: Where does growth actually start?

In this value-packed episode, we bring together our full leadership team—Mike, Kirk, Steve, and Hank—for a high-impact discussion on what it really takes to grow a machine shop.

From the shop floor to your inbox, growth opportunities are everywhere… but most owners feel overwhelmed about where to begin. Should you focus on sales? Marketing? Throughput? A new hire? A new machine?

We break down the confusion and share a clear framework for identifying your starting point.

✅ Learn why “quality and on-time delivery” won’t win you new work
✅ Discover how to uncover your real competitive differentiator
✅ Hear why a simple, clear website can be your #1 marketing tool
✅ Get practical SOPs that boost profit—and increase company value
✅ Learn how to shift your team's mindset from day-to-day to growth-driven

Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale efficiently, this episode will help you move forward with clarity.

This is one of our most practical, no-fluff episodes to date—don’t miss it.

What if your next big customer came with a whole shop attached?

In this episode, Mike Fritz sits down with Mike Payne—shop owner, dealmaker, and host of By the Numbers- to pull back the curtain on how real machine shops grow through acquisitions.

From understanding what makes a deal worth it to financing it without millions in the bank. This episode reveals the real-world strategies behind building an empire, one acquisition at a time.

Tune in to learn how to avoid costly mistakes, find the right opportunities, and structure deals that actually make money.