The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

Tim and Derek discuss when it makes sense to charge a consult fee and when it doesn’t. They break down different scenarios, including emergencies, past clients, and referrals, to help contractors confidently navigate the decision.

In this episode, Tim and Derek discuss:

• Why the decision to charge a consult fee depends on the situation
• When is it appropriate to waive a consult fee for long-term clients
• How to differentiate between a consult fee and a service fee
• The importance of understanding client urgency and emotional anchoring
• How proper pre-qualification can reduce unnecessary consults
• The role of past client relationships in pricing decisions
• How to frame design fees to add value instead of resistance
• Why inexperienced contractors may benefit from charging a small fee at first
• How automation and follow-up systems can help identify high-value leads
• Why contractors should focus on getting the right opportunity rather than just charging for time

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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Tom breaks down the essential mindsets that separate the top-performing contractors from the rest. Adopting these mindsets will set you apart and accelerate your success if you want to scale your business to $5 million and beyond

Episode Highlights:

• [00:00] - Introduction: What it takes to reach $5 million in revenue
• [00:26] - The small percentage of contractors who reach these levels
• [00:55] - The importance of having a visionary mindset and thinking long-term
• [01:20] - Reverse engineering your success by focusing on outcomes
• [01:50] - Delegation and trust: Why you can’t scale if you don’t let go
• [02:19] - Allowing your team to make mistakes and grow
• [02:48] - How to identify what you should delegate
• [03:16] - The obsession with numbers: Why knowing your financials is critical
• [03:45] - Understanding job costing, gross profit margins, and overhead
• [04:09] - Why revenue alone doesn’t matter—it’s about profitability
• [04:38] - The customer experience is everything
• [05:07] - Why top contractors stop competing on price
• [05:37] - The power of customer retention and repeat business
• [06:03] - The game-changing question: "How big would your business be if you never lost a customer?"
• [06:32] - Creating a culture of accountability
• [07:00] - The balance between delegation and responsibility
• [07:28] - Defining company culture based on expectations and tolerances
• [07:57] - Why the best employees hold themselves accountable
• [08:26] - The secret to successful hiring: Finding competitive, high-integrity team members
• [08:52] - How blocking and tackling the basics consistently leads to success
• [09:21] - The importance of surrounding yourself with high-performing people
• [09:49] - War Room applications for those serious about scaling beyond $1M

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!

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In this episode, Steve discusses how we all experience chaos in life and business, and why self-awareness is key to breaking negative cycles. He shares personal insights on overcoming subconscious habits, building financial security, and creating a life that leads to long-term happiness.

In this episode, Steve discusses:

• Why we continue to repeat negative habits and patterns
• The impact of childhood experiences on decision-making and self-sabotage
• How to transition from chaos, to a place of happiness and stability
• Why "faking it until you make it" can be necessary for building confidence in business
• The psychological shift that happens when you save your first $100,000
• The importance of financial security and retirement savings for long-term peace of mind
• Why fixing past emotional baggage is essential for sustaining success
• The dangers of reverting to bad habits if you don’t address past struggles
• How overcoming guilt around money and success allows for sustainable wealth-building
• How hitting rock bottom can serve as a catalyst for growth and reinvention

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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Tim and Derek dive into the power of emotional anchoring in sales and client relationships. Using a real-life situation where Derek experienced an emergency at home, they break down how contractors can use emotional connection to better serve clients, build trust, and close more deals.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:00] - Introduction: Tim welcomes Derek back to the show
• [00:30] - Derek shares a personal emergency that tested his understanding of emotional anchoring
• [01:27] - The shocking moment when Derek’s ceiling collapsed and how he reacted
• [03:21] - Reaching out to a trusted contractor in an urgent situation
• [03:51] - What emotional anchoring is and how it influences customer decision-making
• [04:45] - How Derek’s contractor used emotional anchoring to reassure him
• [06:09] - The key emotional triggers that influence purchasing decisions
• [07:42] - Why trust and familiarity matter in high-stakes sales situations
• [08:34] - How contractors can recognize and leverage emotional cues in conversations
• [10:56] - The difference between emotional anchoring and mirroring
• [12:18] - Why every buying decision has an emotional component
• [14:41] - The role of storytelling in making emotional connections with clients
• [16:08] - How mastering emotional anchoring makes you the most likable and trusted contractor

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...