Only 30% of the Time Contractors Fire Agencies for the Right Reason

Most home service owners think their biggest problem is marketing. Lance Bachmann thinks that’s only half the story.In this episode, I sit down with Lance Bachmann, founder of the digital agency 1SEO (which he scaled and sold), managing partner at LBachmann Capital, and the force behind the Build It To Sell It conference.Lance has lived on both sides of the business world—running a large digital agency with recurring revenue and heavy churn, and scaling home service companies where execution, speed, and systems decide everything. That perspective makes this conversation refreshingly direct.This episode goes far beyond surface-level marketing talk. We get into what actually works right now for lead generation, why most companies waste money on ads, and how automation and AI are changing the game for contractors who are willing to adapt.In this episode, we cover:Why running a digital agency is often harder than running a home service businessWhat’s actually working right now for lead generation in HVAC, roofing, plumbing, and tradesWhy Google is still the 800-pound gorilla—and how most owners misuse itThe truth about lead aggregators and why top companies rely on themWhy speed-to-lead and automation matter more than ad spendHow Lance’s companies are using AI today to answer phones, book jobs, and follow up instantlyWhy CRMs like ServiceTitan only work if you actually use the dataThe core KPIs that determine whether marketing is profitable or wastedHow branding lowers cost per lead in an AI-saturated worldWhat “Build It To Sell It” really means when you’re making daily decisions—not just exit plansLance also shares hard-earned lessons about churn, accountability, partnerships, and why most business owners blame marketing when the real issues are internal systems and leadership.This isn’t a hype episode. It’s a systems, execution, and reality check for owners who want to scale, stay competitive, and eventually have real options—whether that’s selling, partnering, or simply running a stronger business.If you’re serious about growth in home services, this episode will challenge how you think about marketing, AI, and what it actually takes to win.🎧 Listen now.