UpScale - Build your profitable Trade and Construction business

When was the last time you actually reviewed your pricing? Download for Free - Our Tradie Pricing Calculator: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/pricing-calc-podcast-v2In this episode of the UpScale Business Podcast, Mitch sits down with Lucy from our accounting team to talk about inflation, rising costs, and how trade business owners can price with confidence.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Connect with the hosts on Instagram⁠@erinaroxx⁠⁠@mitchvan_⁠Material costs are creeping up. Wages are increasing. Overheads are climbing. And for many tradies, pricing still feels like a guess instead of a clear, calculated number.This episode breaks down why pricing should never be based on emotion. It should be based on maths.You will learn• How to calculate your true hourly break even rate• Why most tradies are undercharging without realising it• How to factor in overheads, non billable time, and staff efficiency• The real cost of discounting your price by 10 percent• Why confidence in pricing starts with knowing your numbers• How inflation silently eats into your profit marginsMitch walks through simple pricing maths that any electrical, plumbing, building, or trade business owner can apply immediately. The team also talks about the mindset side of raising your rates, why the fear usually comes from inside the business, and what actually happens when you increase your prices properly.If you have ever avoided reviewing your hourly rate, felt awkward putting prices up, or worried about losing work, this episode will give you clarity and practical steps to fix it.

If you’re flat out on the tools, cash is tight, builders are paying late, and you’re wondering if your trade business is actually worth the stress, this episode is for you.Greg is a Melbourne sparky who went from grinding for 65k to 70k months and feeling cooked, to building a team of eight and pushing toward 160k months with systems that hold up even when he steps back. Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/Just the real stuff that changed everything: fixing pricing, chasing invoices properly, cutting off slow payers, and putting lead generation on the calendar so it actually happens.We talk about what it’s like when you’re doing everything yourself, why scripts can make sales calls harder, and how Greg built confidence in his rates by understanding his numbers. He also shares how tracking conversions and job margins helped him double down on the right clients, walk away from the wrong ones, and stop discounting just to win work.You’ll hear practical lessons on hiring for culture, delegating without losing control, building a crew that performs, and shifting your mindset so problems don’t feel world ending. If you want a trade business that runs smoother, pays you properly, and keeps growing without burning you out, you’ll get a lot from this one.

Hiring good people is one of the hardest parts of growing a trade business. Most issues don’t come from bad workers. They come from rushed decisions, poor systems, and hiring without a plan.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/In this episode of the UpScale Business Podcast, our Coaches Dave and Erina break down the real reason hiring feels so painful for tradies and how to fix it with a simple, repeatable system. Drawing on experience coaching over a thousand trade businesses, they share the mistakes they learned the hard way and what actually works when it comes to hiring and keeping the right people.You’ll hear why panic hiring creates long term problems, why culture is more than just being a good bloke, and how moving from being on the tools to leading a team requires a mindset shift. This episode walks through how to plan for hiring financially, forecast work properly, and understand what you can realistically afford before bringing someone on.Dave and Erina also explain how to attract better staff by treating hiring like lead generation, using your brand and social presence to stand out, and creating job ads that actually reflect your business. They cover practical interview questions, cultural fit, and why onboarding is where retention really starts.The episode wraps up with a simple hiring framework that helps tradies remember the key steps to hiring well, from hunting for the right people to embedding them properly into the business.If you’re struggling with staff, thinking about your first hire, or tired of hiring headaches, this episode will give you clarity, structure, and confidence around building a team the right way.

Imposter syndrome shows up in a lot of trade businesses right when things start going well. You’ve hired a team, the work is rolling in, and suddenly you’re questioning whether you really deserve to be here or what the next move should be.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/In this episode of the UpScale Business Podcast, Lucy and Marc unpack why imposter syndrome isn’t actually the problem. It’s a signal that your role is changing and your business is asking more from you than just being on the tools.We talk about why fast growth can feel uncomfortable, why so many tradies struggle to step off the tools, and how self-doubt often shows up as underpricing, discounting, or avoiding key business decisions. You’ll hear why knowing your numbers changes everything, how setting clear goals builds confidence, and why structure and data help remove the guesswork from running a trade business.This episode is especially relevant if you’re doing well but feel unsure about pricing, hiring, or where to focus your time next. If you’ve ever thought “I don’t really know how we got here” or felt guilty working on the business instead of on the tools, this conversation will hit home.You’ll learn how to recognise the signs that it’s time to shift your role, why avoiding those changes can quietly hold your business back, and how having the right support, systems, and community makes growth feel manageable instead of overwhelming.Whether you’re a one-person operation starting to grow or already leading a team, this episode will help you reframe doubt into clarity and take the next step with confidence.Need help growing your trade business?Follow us on Instagram for daily content for tradies@upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist⁠Get started now⁠⁠⁠Follow us for more trade business tips and success stories:⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ I⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ I⁠⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ I⁠⁠ ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠

Starting your own trade business can happen fast. One minute it’s a side gig, the next you’re all in, juggling work, quotes, invoicing, lead generation, and family life at the same time.Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily Content for your Trade Business  @upscalebusinesscoachingBook a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠https://upscale-coaching.com/application-podcastHear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business. https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/In this episode of the UpScale Business Podcast, Mario shares his journey of starting his electrical business while still working full time, becoming a new dad, and making the call to go all in sooner than expected. He talks honestly about the uncertainty, long days, and mindset shift that comes with leaving steady pay to back yourself.We unpack what it’s really like being a one-man band, why running a business is very different from working in one, and how structure, accountability, and the right support can make the transition smoother. Mario explains why he joined coaching before officially starting his business, how having a plan gave him confidence, and why consistency in outreach and lead generation matters even when results don’t show straight away.This episode is a must-listen if you’re thinking about starting your own trade business, currently subbing while building your own work, or feeling overwhelmed trying to do everything yourself. You’ll hear practical insights on planning your exit, creating a runway, staying consistent, and setting your business up properly from day one instead of fixing mistakes later.If you want more time with your family, more control over your schedule, and a clearer path forward in your trade business, this conversation will resonate.