The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

In this episode, Tom sits down with Hunter Ballew, a Marine Corps veteran and roofing industry leader who built and sold a business for $48 million in just three years. Hunter shares his journey, key marketing and sales strategies, and hard-earned lessons in scaling a contracting business. Whether you're looking to improve lead generation, build strong relationships, or create a business that thrives, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

In this episode, we discuss:

• [00:00] Introduction: Hunter’s $48M exit and roofing success
• [00:29] Common ground: Marines, firefighting, and entrepreneurship
• [02:21] The power of authenticity in business
• [03:18] The importance of prioritizing yourself, your home, and then your business
• [04:43] Hunter’s massive business growth and struggles with self-doubt
• [06:10] The impact of pressure and mindset in entrepreneurship
• [07:38] Using business challenges as opportunities for growth
• [09:04] The Great Recession and learning to reframe business hardships
• [10:53] Maintaining optimism and controlling what you can in tough economies
• [12:44] The power of going all-in on marketing and building your brand
• [13:13] Hunter’s business journey: From firefighter to multi-million-dollar exit
• [17:32] Rapid scaling: How Hunter’s company hit $10M+ in revenue
• [19:19] Lessons from selling a business: Doing due diligence on buyers
• [22:12] The impact of core values and leadership in business sales
• [24:29] Mental and financial challenges of exiting a business
• [26:25] The importance of having a strong personal foundation
• [27:20] The biggest marketing mistakes contractors make
• [29:14] Relationship-building as the key to long-term business success
• [30:36] Understanding customer acquisition cost (CAC) and lead tracking
• [32:53] Facebook Ads vs. Google Ads: Choosing the right marketing strategy
• [34:19] The power of follow-ups and customer engagement
• [36:09] Scaling quickly: Hiring sales reps and building a dream team
• [38:02] The importance of personal development for business owners
• [41:15] The roadmap to scaling from $3M to $10M+ in revenue
• [42:43] Hiring strategies for long-term business success
• [44:09] Final thoughts and where to connect with Hunter

Links from this episode:

• Lead Tracking Spreadsheet: https://thecontractorfight.com/leads
• Hunter’s Website: https://roofing.com
• Hunter on Instagram: @redwhiteballew

Resources:

⚔️ WAR ROOM

Ready to scale your business to $5,000,000 or more? No theory. No fluff. Pure action. Join nine other battle-tested contracting companies from across the country to tackle your biggest challenges head-on.

https://thecontractorfight.com/war-room

🧰 CONTRACTOR BUSINESS SCHOOL

If you’re serious about building a profitable, structured contracting business without the chaos, this is your shot. Get the tools, insights, and mentorship you need to level up—on YOUR time, at YOUR pace.

https://contractorbusinessschool.com/

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grab our NEW course to grow your business

5 Steps to 5 Stars: How to Charge Premium Prices and Never Run Out of Leads

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Discounts don’t solve bad service. In this episode, Tim and Derek share a real-life experience of poor customer service and why offering a discount doesn’t fix the root problem. They break down why a strong business should never have to rely on discounts and why delivering on promises is the best way to build loyalty.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why a discount can’t replace great service
• The real cost of breaking a customer’s trust
• How to set clear expectations and communicate delays
• Why customers just want what they asked for—no more, no less
• How promotional offers differ from discounts
• The importance of running a business that never needs discounts

Resources:

⚔️ WAR ROOM

Ready to scale your business to $5,000,000 or more? No theory. No fluff. Pure action. Join nine other battle-tested contracting companies from across the country to tackle your biggest challenges head-on.

https://thecontractorfight.com/war-room

🧰 CONTRACTOR BUSINESS SCHOOL

If you’re serious about building a profitable, structured contracting business without the chaos, this is your shot. Get the tools, insights, and mentorship you need to level up—on YOUR time, at YOUR pace.

https://contractorbusinessschool.com/

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grab our NEW course to grow your business

5 Steps to 5 Stars: How to Charge Premium Prices and Never Run Out of Leads

https://thecontractorfight.com/5-stars/

🛡️ Join us in BATTLEGROUND

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program. Three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info visit:

https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially.

Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together!

https://thecontractorfight.com/50/

🎧 Get on the podcast!

https://thecontractorfight.com/intervention

📘 Grab a free copy of Tom’s book, Winning the Contractor Fight (just pay shipping and handling)

https://thecontractorfight.com/book/

🎥 Explore over 1,400 free videos on Contractor Fight TV:

https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber

🎙️ Listen to the podcast archives:

The Contractor Fight podcast now features nearly 1,000 episodes.

💬 Join over 18,000 contractors in the free Facebook group:

https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook

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If your phone isn’t ringing, you’re not marketing your business correctly. In this episode, Tom dives into the common excuses contractors use when struggling with lead generation and why relying on word of mouth alone is a dangerous game. If you’re not treating marketing like a full-time job, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Tom breaks down why lead generation should be a top priority and how to build a marketing system that consistently brings in work.

In this episode, we discuss:

• [00:00] The frustration of contractors complaining about slow business
• [00:25] Why your job isn’t just about the work—you need to sell
• [00:54] The feast-and-famine cycle and how to break free
• [01:19] Why lead generation should be an obsession
• [01:47] Word of mouth is not a marketing strategy
• [02:39] Why being a great craftsman isn’t enough for business success
• [03:27] How the updated Marketing Bootcamp LEADS ON DEMAND can help contractors generate consistent leads
• [04:15] Why mindset and commitment determine whether your business thrives
• [04:44] Actionable steps to improve your marketing today

Resources:

💸LEADS ON DEMAND

It’s time to OWN YOUR PIPELINE and become a master at MARKETING your contracting business. Stop the guess work and get The Marketing System for Contractors today.

https://thecontractorfight.com/marketing

⚔️ WAR ROOM

Ready to scale your business to $5,000,000 or more? No theory. No fluff. Pure action. Join nine other battle-tested contracting companies from across the country to tackle your biggest challenges head-on.

https://thecontractorfight.com/war-room

🧰 CONTRACTOR BUSINESS SCHOOL

If you’re serious about building a profitable, structured contracting business without the chaos, this is your shot. Get the tools, insights, and mentorship you need to level up—on YOUR time, at YOUR pace.

https://contractorbusinessschool.com/

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grab our NEW course to grow your business

5 Steps to 5 Stars: How to Charge Premium Prices and Never Run Out of Leads

https://thecontractorfight.com/5-stars/

🛡️ Join us in BATTLEGROUND

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program. Three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info visit:

https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially.

Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together!

https://thecontractorfight.com/50/

🎧 Get on the podcast!

https://thecontractorfight.com/intervention

📘 Grab a free copy of Tom’s book, Winning the Contractor Fight (just pay shipping and handling)

https://thecontractorfight.com/book/

🎥 Explore over 1,400 free videos on Contractor Fight TV:

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Are you running a business, or are you just repeating the same year over and over again? In this episode, Steve shares insights on how to stop winging it and start running a business that works for you. From letting go of micromanagement, to creating repeatable processes that lead to long-term success. This episode is a wake-up call for business owners stuck in a cycle of frustration. Learn how to build a thriving business without you having to be involved in every little detail.

In this episode Steve discusses…

• The importance of developing repeatable processes for success
• Why you need to stop micromanaging and trust your team
• How shifting from a money-centric to a people-centric approach changes everything
• Creating a business that runs itself while giving employees ownership
• How Steve transformed his businesses by stepping back and letting things unfold naturally

Resources:

⚔️ WAR ROOM

Ready to scale your business to $5,000,000 or more? No theory. No fluff. Pure action. Join nine other battle-tested contracting companies from across the country to tackle your biggest challenges head-on.

https://thecontractorfight.com/war-room

🧰 CONTRACTOR BUSINESS SCHOOL

If you’re serious about building a profitable, structured contracting business without the chaos, this is your shot. Get the tools, insights, and mentorship you need to level up—on YOUR time, at YOUR pace.

https://contractorbusinessschool.com/

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grab our NEW course to grow your business

5 Steps to 5 Stars: How to Charge Premium Prices and Never Run Out of Leads

https://thecontractorfight.com/5-stars/

🛡️ Join us in BATTLEGROUND

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program. Three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers.

https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground

💰 Calculate 50% Gross Profit on Every Job

Download our worksheet and start pricing your jobs profitably.

https://thecontractorfight.com/50/

🎧 Get on the podcast!

https://thecontractorfight.com/intervention

📘 Get a Free Copy of Tom’s Book

Winning the Contractor Fight (just pay shipping and handling)

https://thecontractorfight.com/book/

🎥 Watch 1,400+ free videos on Contractor Fight TV:

https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber

🎙️ Listen to past episodes of The Contractor Fight Podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-contractor-fight-with-tom-reber/id964304361

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1f256nc65fEC6cCX8h2BTM

💬 Join over 18,000 contractors in the free Facebook group:

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In this episode, Tim and Derek discuss the concept of "turd polishing" in contracting—finding creative, effective solutions that don’t always require tearing everything out and starting from scratch. They share real-world examples of when a simple fix saved thousands of dollars and how contractors can apply this mindset to their businesses. Instead of assuming the only way forward is complete demolition and rebuild, they explore how innovative thinking and client-centered solutions can create more opportunities and boost profitability.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The concept of "turd polishing" and why it’s a valuable tool in a contractor’s arsenal
• How rigid thinking about tear-outs can limit both income and customer satisfaction
• A real-world example of a failing ceiling repair that saved thousands with a simple approach
• The importance of balancing safety with cost-effective solutions
• How contractors can use creativity to provide value without reducing their profit margins
• Why small, efficient jobs can often be just as profitable as larger, more complex projects
• The role of trust-building in customer relationships and how smaller jobs can lead to long-term business growth

Resources:

⚔️ WAR ROOM

Ready to scale your business to $5,000,000 or more? No theory. No fluff. Pure action. Join nine other battle-tested contracting companies from across the country to tackle your biggest challenges head-on.

https://thecontractorfight.com/war-room

🧰 CONTRACTOR BUSINESS SCHOOL

If you’re serious about building a profitable, structured contracting business without the chaos, this is your shot. Get the tools, insights, and mentorship you need to level up—on YOUR time, at YOUR pace.

https://contractorbusinessschool.com/

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grab our NEW course to grow your business

5 Steps to 5 Stars: How to Charge Premium Prices and Never Run Out of Leads

https://thecontractorfight.com/5-stars/

🛡️ Join us in BATTLEGROUND

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program. Three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info visit:

https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially.

Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together!

https://thecontractorfight.com/50/

🎧 Get on the podcast!

https://thecontractorfight.com/intervention

📘 Grab a free copy of Tom’s book, Winning the Contractor Fight (just pay shipping and handling)

https://thecontractorfight.com/book/

🎥 Explore over 1,400 free videos on Contractor Fight TV:

https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber

🎙️ Listen to the podcast archives:

The Contractor Fight podcast now features nearly 1,000 episodes.

💬 Join over 18,000 contractors in the free Facebook group:

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