The Better Contractor Podcast

Tommy took the traditional path to college and built a six-figure career in pharmacy—but along the way, he realized his real passion was building THE Landscaping Company, a high-end, full-service landscaping business that has already grown to nine employees. Now, he’s preparing to leave pharmacy behind and go all-in on taking his company to the next level. Tommy and Brent dive into what it takes to make that jump, covering sales, marketing, business growth, leadership, and the lessons Brent has learned from building his own company. Tommy also shares how much he’s grown personally throughout college and how that growth has prepared him for this next chapter as an entrepreneur. With plans to expand further into tree work and begin learning the ROW industry, Tommy is just getting started.Follow Brent: @brentoberlinkFollow Tommy: @fivetooltommy

In episode 88 of The Better Contractor podcast, Alex, the host, asks entrepreneur Brent Oberlink how business owners can successfully delegate tasks to step back from daily operations while scaling their company. Drawing from personal experience with Lanracorp, Brent shares how outsourcing accounting and appointing a general foreman early on freed up valuable time to focus on the company's big-picture vision. The episode emphasizes that effective delegation requires high hiring standards, documenting natural processes into explicit job descriptions, and utilizing modern technology to automate redundant tasks. Key strategic hires, such as an executive assistant and a general manager, have allowed the speaker to confidently hand over responsibilities without micromanaging. 

Hiring the right people can grow your business, while the wrong hire can cost you time, money, and momentum. In this episode of The Better Contractor Podcast, Brent answers questions from our Facebook community about hiring, interviewing, determining pay, and knowing when it's time to let an employee go. Whether you're building your first crew or leading an established company, you'll walk away with practical advice you can apply immediately. Thanks to Forestry Rentals for sponsoring this episode, and don't forget to subscribe and join The Better Contractor Facebook Group to be part of future Q&A episodes.

What should you do when you’re booked months in advance but customers keep calling? Are you experienced enough to start charging for your work? Should you lower your price to keep a longtime customer?In Episode 86 of The Better Contractor Podcast, Brent and Alex answer three real questions submitted by members of The Better Contractor Facebook group.They discuss when contractors should hire more employees, rent or purchase additional equipment, raise their prices, turn down unprofitable work, and walk away from customers who only care about receiving the lowest bid.Brent also shares advice for newer contractors who are still building their skills and confidence. You do not need to know how to handle every possible project before starting a business—but you need to understand your current capabilities, price your work appropriately, manage your liability, and continue improving.In this episode:00:00 Introduction00:33 What to Do When You’re Booked Months in Advance01:23 Hiring More Employees and Adding Equipment01:48 When It’s Time to Raise Your Prices02:32 Using a Premium “I Don’t Want the Job” Price03:07 Turning Demand Into Business Growth03:44 Starting a Contracting Business With Limited Experience04:29 Managing Risk and Liability as a New Contractor05:18 Choosing the Right Services to Offer06:19 Building Confidence and Charging for Your Work06:39 How New Contractors Should Set Their Rates07:44 Starting Small and Growing Into Better Work08:39 How Brent Started Lanracorp10:00 Gateway Dealer Network Sponsor Message10:52 Should You Match a Competitor’s Lower Price?11:37 When to Walk Away From a Longtime Customer12:14 Why Contractors Get Stuck at Break-Even13:17 The Problem With Low-Barrier Competition14:13 Becoming More Specialized and Valuable15:17 The “Low-Low-Low Bid” Process16:04 Lowest Price vs. Best Value Customers16:42 Why Some Customers Come Back After Choosing the Cheapest Bid17:18 Join The Better Contractor Facebook GroupJOIN THE BETTER CONTRACTOR COMMUNITYWebsite:https://thebettercontractor.com/Private Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1D7WETCTXG/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085062039297Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bettercontractor/FREE TRAINING & ONBOARDING VIDEOShttps://www.youtube.com/@TheBetterContractor/featuredLISTEN TO THE PODCASTSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1tjPd8zKXx2oXT8WpjTwirApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-better-contractor-podcast/id1728924279CONNECT WITH BRENT OBERLINKWebsite:https://brentoberlink.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/brent.oberlink.9Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/brentoberlink/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-oberlink-0a70b3161/ABOUT THE BETTER CONTRACTOR PODCASTThe Better Contractor Podcast features real conversations about growing a contracting business, developing strong leaders, hiring and retaining employees, improving company culture, managing operations, and building a business that can succeed for the long term.Subscribe to the channel and share this episode with another contractor who is working through these same decisions.#ContractorBusiness #ConstructionBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #ContractorTips

In this episode of The Better Contractor Podcast, host Brent is joined by Mike Whalen of the Beyond the Belt podcast and DBS Remodel to discuss the critical challenges of attracting, training, and retaining high-quality workers in the trades. Drawing from over 25 years of experience, Mike provides a boots-on-the-ground perspective on transitioning from a business owner to a project manager and leadership team member.

In Episode 84, Brent Oberlink breaks down the sales strategies that helped grow his business. He covers the tactics he relied on in the early days as well as the systems and processes he uses today. He shares practical lessons on building relationships, earning trust, closing more work, and why great sales involve more than just offering the lowest price. Whether you're just starting out or looking to improve your sales process, this episode is packed with actionable advice you can apply to your business.

In Episode 83, Brent Oberlink shares how he grew Lanracorp into an 8-figure company through the power of marketing. From the early days of relying on relationships and word-of-mouth to building a personal brand and embracing social media, Brent breaks down how his approach has evolved over the years. He discusses what worked when he was getting started, why marketing became a priority, and the strategies he uses today to continue growing the business. If you're a contractor or business owner looking to stand out and build a stronger brand, this episode is packed with practical insights and lessons learned.

Welcome to The Better Contractor, a podcast dedicated to helping you build a more successful and professional blue-collar business. We tackle the tough questions about modern industry challenges, from the rapid rise of controversial data centers to the essential need for professional legal and accounting protection. Our discussions dive deep into the power of social media marketing, showing you how to tell your unique story to attract the right employees and customers. Featuring insights from industry veterans and marketing experts, we provide the educational and entertaining content you need to stay ahead of the trends. Join our growing community of thousands of contractors to network, learn, and elevate your business to the next level.

Why do some contractors grow into thriving businesses while others stay stuck for decades? In this episode, Brent Oberlink and Alex Eckhardt discuss the biggest reasons contractors struggle to scale, from taking on too much debt to failing to understand their financials. They break down the importance of knowing your numbers, building a strong brand, and developing leadership within your company. Brent also shares why renting equipment can often be smarter than buying early on. If you're looking to grow your business, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply today.Special Thank you to Gateway Dealer Network for sponsoring today's podcast. Visit them at bobcatgdn.com or speak to sales specialist Tim Mueller at [email protected].

This episode of The Better Contractor Podcast dives into mentorship, leadership, and what it really takes to build a business without losing yourself in the process. Instead of chasing one perfect mentor, They teach how to learn from multiple people in different areas of life. The hosts also touch on employee management, emphasizing that owners must set the culture rather than relying on one key person to carry it. They change the idea of work life balance, reframing it as freedom. Episode 80 wraps up with the future of blue-collar industries, highlighting why they remain one of the most stable and human driven paths despite the rise of AI.

Episode 79 breaks down one of the biggest mistakes contractors make. Underbidding. This results from not accounting for overhead, which leads to underpriced jobs and small margins. Brent Oberlink and Alex Eckhardt dive into when it makes sense to rent vs buy, and how the wrong decision can cost you in the long term. They also cover smart financing strategies, including building banker relationships and setting up a line of credit before you actually need it. On the operations side, they stress the importance of solid contracts, clear scope, and proper payment. If you're trying to stay profitable in a competitive market, this episode lays out what you need to do differently.