Notes from the trades.
Every TradeOps Radio episode, every agency comparison and every article, for HVAC and plumbing operators.
TradeOps Radio Podcast
View all 31
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
She Took Over A 37-Year-Old Roofing Company And Rebuilt It From Scratch w/ Sasha Wilde
Most people buying a home service business picture the same sequence: buy it, hire a general manager, go buy the next one. Sasha Wilde tried that in year…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
From $0 to $11 Million+ in HVAC: Darron Yarbrough Reveals His Secrets to Building an HVAC Empire
For eight or nine years, Yarbrough & Sons did somewhere between $4.5 and $5 million a year. Not declining. Not growing. Flat. Darren Yarbrough is clear…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
Running an 81-Year HVAC Company in America's Hardest Market w/ Lawrence Castillo
Lawrence Castillo runs Brody Pennell, an 81-year-old Los Angeles HVAC company operating in a market with no weather, no urgency, and $200 leads. He cut…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
Stop Running Your Business Like a Tradesman - Chuck's $22M Scaling Playbook
Ayan Gonzalez has spent 45 years in the trades, holds 18 licenses, and has lost everything twice. His argument is that contractors do not fail at the…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
A Master Plumber's Honest Take on AI | The Future of the Trades w/ Eric Turner
Eric Turner is a licensed master plumber who started in the trades at $10 an hour in 2015 after years as a licensed English teacher and a stint in…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
$0 to $30M HVAC Growth: What Changes at Every Level w/ Chris Crew
Chris Crew started in the electrical trade at 16, built and sold a company that now does $220 million, and runs Blue Collar Success Group, a coaching…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
This Doctor Crushes HVAC Using Systems She Learned in the Operating Room | Deborah Jenkins
Deborah Jenkins is a retired physician and anesthesiologist who co-owns Doc J’s Heat and Air in Oklahoma with her husband Julius. In this episode of TradeOps…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
The HVAC Playbook No One Teaches You: Anna Rickett Smith on Culture, Pricing & Community
Anna Rickett Smith is a former USDA economist who opened a gym, led sales for a $124M company, and bought an HVAC company in Duluth, Georgia in 2024. In this…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
The Complete Roofing Sales Playbook: Logan Schepper's Journey from High School to Senior PM
Logan Shepard graduated high school in 2024, spent a summer selling car wash memberships, and got recruited into roofing by customers washing their…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
How This 19-Year-Old Sold $2.26M in HVAC (First Year)
Jason Melendez is 19 years old and on track for $2.5 million in HVAC sales in his first full year as a selling technician at his parents’ Dallas company.…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
From Ceiling Fans to $3.5 Million Contracts The Blueprint Nobody in the Trades Talks About
Ayan Gonzalez has spent 45 years in the trades, holds 18 licenses, and has lost everything twice. His argument is that contractors do not fail at the…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
Taking Over a 60-Year HVAC Company: The Real Cost & How to Beat Private Equity
Taylor is the fourth owner of Washburn Air, a Grapevine, Texas HVAC company founded in 1960, bought with no prior HVAC experience in 2024. In this episode of…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
The Ultimate Cold Calling Playbook for HVAC Companies w/ Peter Roth
Peter Roth got into HVAC around 2017 knowing nothing about the industry, built and sold an HVAC company, and now builds and manages outbound call centers…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
From Zero to $15M+ in HVAC - How to Grow & Scale Crazy Fast!
David and his brother Michael started Trio (formerly Pacific) in July 2021 with zero HVAC background and grew to 60 employees, three locations, and over…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
The Secret to Closing More HVAC Deals: Emotional Selling & Rapport Building w/ Sam Wakefield
Sam Wakefield has 19 years in HVAC and runs Close It Now, a sales coaching company for the trades. In this episode of HVAC Hotshots, he covers why post-COVID…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
Seal More Deals: Advanced HVAC Sales Techniques with James McArter (G.M. at Absolute Services)
James McArter is the Sales and General Manager at Absolute Services, a company with 7,000+ Google reviews across multiple locations. In this episode of…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
How This HVAC Company Gets 60% of Its Leads From Rebates w/ Adal Villalobos
Adal Villalobos runs operations at Villquin Air Services in the Bay Area, where roughly 60% of heat pump inquiries came through government and utility…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
HVAC Operations Playbook: How Call Dad Built a Multi-Million Dollar Business w/ Derik Wofle
Derik Wolfe is the Head of Operations at Call Dad HVAC, a fast-growing company with eight locations across the Southeast. In this episode of HVAC…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
From Almost Bankrupt to $1.7M: Stephen Jobe's Blueprint to Make It Big in Plumbing in 2026
Stephen Jobe built Jobe & Sons Plumbing to $1.7M in five years. Along the way he hit $1.2M in revenue with $20,000 in profit and $60,000 in debt, because…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
How To Sell Your HVAC Company w/ Joey Lieber (His Firm Closes 125 Deals a Year!)
How To Sell Your HVAC Company w/ Joey Lieber (His Firm Closes 125 Deals a
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
The Blueprint to a $10 Million HVAC Business w/ Jonathan Neves
Jonathan Neves started in HVAC at 14 through a vocational high school, launched Green Energy Mechanical at 27 with a focus on heat pumps and energy…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
How To Sell an HVAC Company w/ Patrick Lange (He Has Sold Over 136 Heating & Cooling Companies!)
Patrick Lange from Business Modifications Group has sold 136 HVAC companies. In this episode of HVAC Hotshots, he breaks down what actually determines the…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
From $0 to $12M: Joel Verley's Blueprint for HVAC Sales & Marketing Success
Joel Verley is the Sales and Marketing Director at Reliable Heating and Air in Knightdale, North Carolina. He built the company’s retail division from…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
HVAC Sales Process & Objection Handling W/ Ariel Robinson
Only four objections exist in HVAC sales. Ariel Robinson on the RC2 formula, the 2-2-1 follow-up, and the process that lifted one close rate 10 points.
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
From $7M to $40M: CM Heating's Growth Decoded by Michael Pompeo (Secrets Unveiled)
Michael Pompeo scaled CM Heating from $7M to $40M in five years while charging 40% above market. The eight factors, sales process, and review engine.
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
How To Grow Your HVAC Business To a Million Dollars Ft. Chris Plunkett
Chris Plunkett started Tailored Mechanical in Tucson, Arizona in 2013 and has been in the trade since he was eight years old. He now coaches other HVAC…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
If You Want to Start an HVAC Business in 2025, Watch This Interview (With a 7-Figure HVAC Biz Owner)
If You Want to Start an HVAC Business in 2025, Watch This Interview (With a
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
From Almost 0 to $7M+ In Revenue: Brandon Brown's HVAC Empire
Brandon Brown launched Brown’s Heating and Air in January 2006 with $500 of his own money and $2,500 borrowed from his girlfriend’s father. He survived a…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
Why Most HVAC Owners Chase Revenue and Lose Profit: Chase Thomas on What Actually Builds a Sustainable Business
Chase Thomas built Honor Heating and Air in north Atlanta starting with nothing but a contractor’s license, a criminal record, and a faith that changed…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
Secrets HVAC Owners Won't Tell You: Billy Gregus Shares What Actually Grows a Home Service Business
Billy Gregus started Integrity Refrigeration and AC in Winter Haven, Florida, with a contractor’s license and a side hustle. A decade later, his team runs…
TradeOps Radio Podcast ·
How Private Equity Is Buying HVAC and What Smart Operators Are Doing About It
Keith Flores, known as HVAC God and M&A advisor to PE firms, has sat at every table in the industry. In this episode of TradeOps Radio, he breaks down who…
Agency Comparisons
View all 15Agency Comparisons ·
How to Choose an HVAC Marketing Agency
A practical checklist for HVAC and plumbing owners hiring a marketing agency: the criteria that matter, red flags, questions to ask, contract terms to read and what monthly reporting should show.
Agency Comparisons ·
How Much Does HVAC SEO Cost?
Real HVAC SEO price ranges from published agency pricing and an industry survey, what drives the cost up or down, and TradeOps' own published prices.
Agency Comparisons ·
SEO vs Google Ads for HVAC Companies
When HVAC and plumbing companies should use Google Ads, SEO or Local Services Ads, what each costs, how long each takes, and how to run them together.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. SearchKings: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and SearchKings for HVAC and plumbing marketing? See how a paid-ads specialist compares to a full-service HVAC and plumbing agency on SEO, websites, and pricing.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. iMarket Solutions: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and iMarket Solutions for HVAC and plumbing marketing? See how they differ on trade focus, AI search, Meta ads, lead follow-up, and pricing transparency.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. Leadhub: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and Leadhub for HVAC and plumbing marketing? See how they differ on trade focus, Local Services Ads, AI search, pricing transparency, and guarantees.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. Relentless Digital: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and Relentless Digital for HVAC and plumbing marketing? See how they differ on local SEO, paid ads, AI search, lead follow-up, and pricing transparency.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. Valve+Meter: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and Valve+Meter Performance Marketing for HVAC or plumbing marketing? See how they differ on trade focus, channels, pricing transparency, and guarantees.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. Lemon Seed Marketing: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and Lemon Seed Marketing for your HVAC or plumbing company? See how they differ on branding, digital execution, reporting, and pricing.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. KickCharge Creative: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and KickCharge Creative for your HVAC or plumbing company? See how a branding studio and an HVAC and plumbing marketing agency differ on scope and pricing.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. Hook Agency: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and Hook Agency for HVAC and plumbing marketing? See how they differ on trade focus, call tracking to booked jobs, branding, website pricing, and guarantees.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and Thrive Internet Marketing Agency for HVAC and plumbing marketing? See how an HVAC and plumbing agency differs from an all-industries generalist.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. RYNO Strategic Solutions: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and RYNO Strategic Solutions (now merged with Blue Corona) for HVAC and plumbing marketing? See how they differ on continuity, contracts, pricing, and focus.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. Contractor Growth Network: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and Contractor Growth Network for HVAC and plumbing marketing? See how they differ on industry focus, paid ads and LSA, contracts, and website pricing.
Agency Comparisons ·
TradeOps Consulting vs. Scorpion: An Honest Comparison for HVAC & Plumbing Companies
Comparing TradeOps Consulting and Scorpion for HVAC and plumbing marketing? See how they differ on asset ownership, contracts, trade specialization, ad fees, and pricing.
Articles
Best AEO Experts To Follow in 2026
A list of AEO experts to follow in 2026, grouped by specialism, with our selection criteria and a disclosure: TradeOps publishes this list, and its compiler works at TradeOps.
Free playbooks and tools
- Local SEO playbook · The HVAC & Plumbing Local Dominator.
- AI SEO playbook
- LSA playbook
- Meta ads playbook
- Flat-rate pricing calculator
- Slow season predictor
What we do
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- HVAC marketing · Every service for HVAC companies.
- Plumbing marketing · Emergency calls and big jobs closed.
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- Google Ads · Calls on the days you want them.
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- Plans and pricing
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