Danielle Warnert of Upskilled Consulting shares proven strategies to stop the revolving door of technician turnover and build training programs that create loyal, skilled employees who actually stick around.

• Including field experience from week one prevents tech disappointment and improves retention
• Building robust career paths and technician scorecards shows clear progression opportunities
• Creating training dashboards to track certifications, headcount, and employee tenure spotlights retention issues
• Asking technicians what they want to learn rather than assuming their training needs
• Gamifying training engages hands-on learners better than traditional classroom settings
• Technician turnover costs $50,000-$70,000 per employee when considering all factors
• Training strategies should differ for small companies versus larger organizations with academies
• Using Airtable or even Excel to create analytics that measure training effectiveness

"You're never too small to invest in your training. That is so true. You could be two-person and you're not too small. It'll pay dividends if you do it right and you invest in it."

🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin
Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners.

🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com
📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit
📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy?
Book a free intro meeting

Matthew Eford transformed seasonal business challenges into thriving enterprises by creating complementary companies that operate year-round and positioning his services as premium offerings. He shares his journey from Mosquito Joe franchisee to founding Lighting Pros, now a successful franchise system focused on quality over price competition.

• Started with Mosquito Joe franchise providing outdoor pest control primarily to residential customers
• Created Lighting Pros to solve the seasonal employment problem and keep quality team members year-round
• Positioned both businesses as premium services with a "charge more and be worth it" philosophy
• Average lighting job now exceeds $10,000 by focusing on value over competing on price
• Leverages complementary seasonal businesses with mosquito control in warm months and lighting in cooler months
• Differentiates from "chuck-in-a-truck" competitors by specializing rather than diversifying services
• Builds strong company culture through monthly all-staff meetings focusing on professional development
• Implements clear "rules of engagement" defining what excellent service looks like
• Maintains employee retention through year-round employment and regular bonuses
• Created a board of advisors with experienced mentors who provide honest feedback
• Aims to grow to 100 franchise locations generating $100 million annual impact within five years

Head over to ProfitandGrit.com to book an intro session with me. We'll dig into your numbers and figure out how to turn your daily grind into sustainable profit.

🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin
Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners.

🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com
📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit
📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy?
Book a free intro meeting

Dylan Caraway, Senior Loan Officer of Service Contractors at Live Oak Bank, shares insider knowledge on how trades businesses can secure financing for growth, acquisitions, and succession planning. His team specializes in understanding the unique value of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors, helping them access capital when traditional banks may not recognize their true worth.

• Live Oak Bank takes an industry-focused approach rather than regional, lending nationwide to specialized industries
• The bank has been the #1 SBA 7A lender by dollar volume since 2017
• They evaluate businesses primarily on cash flow coverage rather than tangible collateral
• The critical debt service coverage ratio they look for is 1.25X, meaning $1.25 of cash flow for every dollar of debt
• Existing business owners may qualify for 100% financing through the SBA expansion program
• Banks scrutinize both business financials and personal credit/financial management
• Clean books are essential – no "mattress cash" or handwritten cash additions to P&Ls
• Succession planning should start 1-5 years before exit to allow time for financial optimization
• Internal buyouts offer advantages as employees already know the business operations
• The LiveOak Express program can provide up to $500K in working capital with 1-2 week closing times

For questions about financing options for your service business, contact Dylan Caraway at 252-671-2427 or dylan.caraway@liveoak.bank.

🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin
Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners.

🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com
📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit
📅 Want to grow your business with smarter financial strategy?
Book a free intro meeting