Most contractors assume the sale is dead after two ignored messages. The data says otherwise, and the money you're leaving on the table is staggering. Ryan Fenn, founder of CHIIRP, has analyzed massive volumes of real customer conversations to find out what actually gets replies, what kills deals, and what the best follow-up systems do differently. In this episode, we break it all down into the three elements that matter most: words, cadence, and channel.

Struggling to get projects off to a smooth, professional start? You're not alone. In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, host Chris Moore, founder of Elite Business Advisors, breaks down exactly what a Job Start SOP should look like for your painting company — and why most contractors are losing money, trust, and crew efficiency without one. This is part one of a two-part series on Job Start and Job Closeout SOPs. Chris dives deep into the standard operating procedure every painting contractor needs to kick off projects with consistency, professionalism, and accountability. In this episode, you'll learn: · Why a documented Job Start SOP matters — the hidden costs of inconsistent project kickoffs that most contractors never see · The exact sequence for a professional job start — from leader arrival time and lawn sign placement to the final scope review with the homeowner · How a final scope review builds trust — and prevents the dreaded "homeowner hovering over your shoulder" problem · Standards and timelines that protect your business — colors confirmed 2 weeks out, work orders ready 1 week out, materials ordered 3-5 days before · Who's accountable for executing the SOP — and why accountability always sits one level above the person doing the work · The 3 areas Job Start SOPs impact — marketing and visibility, client experience, and project efficiency for your crew Whether you're a solo owner still running your own job starts or scaling a team of project managers and crew leaders, this episode gives you a repeatable framework to bring consistency, trust, and professionalism to every project kickoff. Next week: Chris covers the Job Closeout SOP — don't miss it. Connect with Chris Moore and Elite Business Advisors: @elitebusinessadvisors on all social platforms www.elitebusinessadvisors.com to learn more about how they help Painting Contractors all over North America! This is the Elite Business Advice Podcast — practical business strategy for painting contractors who want to run a tighter, more profitable operation. #PaintingContractor #PaintingBusiness #SOP #PaintingCompany #ContractorTips #BusinessAdvice

Your crew isn't lazy. Your processes are broken. In this episode of Contractor Evolution, process strategist Moustafa Moursy breaks down why most business systems collect dust, and introduces the OPTIMIZE Framework: a step-by-step method for building SOPs that your team actually uses, so you can stop running every decision through yourself. If you've ever written a process doc that nobody followed, this episode will show you exactly where you went wrong (and how to fix it).

It’s really easy for us as business advisors to see the ripple effect in motion to those around us or that attended the 2026 Elite Business Retreat. But the more important aspect would be how do you embody the ripple effect in your life when you learn something or attend an event? In today’s episode we share some takeaways from this years retreat while also sharing how to be impactful to those around you on a daily basis! Have a growth mindset and looking for help growing your painting company? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

If you're the only person on every jobsite who can catch a mistake, you don't have a team; you have a daycare. In this episode, Matt Risinger (from The Build Show) maps the exact path from babysitter to system-builder, so your business runs without you hovering over every decision. Most contractors don't even realize they're micromanaging. They just know they're exhausted, their PMs won't make a call without them, and nothing gets caught until they personally show up. This episode breaks down why smart owners get trapped as the answer guy, what it's costing them in profit and sanity, and the step-by-step framework to build a team that thinks, decides, and polices standards on its own.

Struggling to let go of an underperforming employee? Hate conflict as a leader? This episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast is for you. Host Chris Moore, founder of Elite Business Advisors, breaks down the 3 HR systems every painting contractor needs to manage employees, protect their business, and avoid costly legal exposure — before termination ever becomes necessary. Why This Matters: · A single unemployment claim can cost employers an average of $4,200 — and $10,000+ if it drags out · Claims stay on your record for 3 years and typically raise your rates · Poor documentation opens the door to wrongful termination lawsuits, even when letting go of reasonable people The 3 Systems You Need: · Employee Handbook — the documented standard for behavior, attendance, drug/alcohol policy, and grounds for termination, signed by every employee · Written Warnings & a 3-Strike Process — what to include in every write-up to protect yourself and set clear expectations · A Termination Process That Protects You — how to conduct terminations privately, professionally, and with proper documentation Chris explains why documentation — not just the reason for termination — is what wins or loses unemployment hearings, and how a clear 3-strike system means no employee is ever blindsided. If you're a painting company owner ready to lead with structure instead of avoidance, this episode gives you the systems to do it right.

You're winning jobs, billing strong — and still sweating payroll every two weeks. Cash timing slips. Payroll doesn't. Here's how to fix it. In this episode, Danny Kerr breaks down the exact cash flow management system BTA has used with 1,900+ contractors to stop the financial panic and start projecting 90 days ahead, so you can make growth decisions with intention, not desperation.

If you're a painting contractor who relies on word-of-mouth and referrals to grow your business, this episode is a wake-up call. Chris Moore sits down with Sara Hardwick Grintz, President of GIFTOLOGY, to break down why "doing good work" alone won't sustain your referral pipeline — and what to do instead. Sara leads GIFTOLOGY's Relationship Operating System™, a proven framework that helps business owners turn scattered word-of-mouth into a predictable, always-on marketing engine. In this conversation, you'll learn: o Why "good work = referrals" is a myth — and why relying on it leaves your pipeline vulnerable o How to build a Relationship Operating System™ so referrals stop depending on memory or good intentions o How to identify, equip, and energize the referral partners already sending you business o The real difference between networking and building a true referral partner network o Where to start if you're ready to turn referrals into a system instead of a hope Whether you're a painting company owner looking to scale past referrals-by-luck or a contractor ready to build real marketing systems, this episode gives you a practical roadmap to make referrals work for you — consistently, and on autopilot. Connect with GIFTOLOGY on social @giftologygroup or visit their website to set up a call and see how they can help you in your business: www.giftologygroup.com 🎙️ New episodes of the Elite Business Advice Podcast drop weekly — practical business strategy for painting contractors who want to run a smarter, more profitable company.

We’re actively working with ~600 contractors, and a LOT of them are struggling — and it's not the economy. Breakthrough Academy coach Jason Alcott reveals the hidden mindset trap keeping contractors stuck, and the one framework that changes everything. Most contractors are measuring their success the wrong way. They're locked in "the gap,” constantly chasing an ideal that keeps moving, instead of looking back at how far they've actually come. In this episode, Jason Alcott (BTA coach and former contractor who scaled Weatherguard Gutters to $6.5M with 25 staff) breaks down Dan Sullivan's Gap and the Gain framework and why fixing your mindset is the prerequisite to every system, every strategy, and every team decision you'll make this year.

Most contractors get business backwards, they let their businesses results dictate their lifestyle instead of dreaming on what they want and then figuring out how to build their business to suit it. On this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, we share the importance of dreaming, how to make sure you do it right, and break down the limiting beliefs behind why we have head trash that prevents us from envisioning the life we want to live. Looking to map out that vision in your head for what your business needs to look like? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com to see how we help painting contractors all over north America in their business.