The Struggle: Hard Work, No Profit, and No Time
Brenton, the owner of a civil construction company, and Marcus, a director of a family-owned painting and decorating business in Gippsland, had been grinding away for years. Despite consistent work coming in, they were barely scraping by, with cash flow issues constantly creating stress. The business was demanding all their time, leaving little room for family, personal life, or even a moment to breathe.
Like many tradies, they were skilled in their craft but struggled with the business side of things. The challenges they faced were ones we see often:
- Taking on jobs that weren’t actually profitable
- Struggling to price correctly for sustainable margins
- Running a business reactively rather than strategically
- Working long hours but seeing minimal financial reward
The Turning Point: Making the Decision to Get Help
It wasn’t until Brenton and Marcus hit a breaking point—when cash flow issues nearly forced them to let go of key staff—that they knew something had to change. For Brenton, it was his wife who first suggested business coaching, recognising they needed expert guidance to break the cycle.
Brenton took the leap and started working with Ladies with Tradies. As he implemented changes and started seeing results, he shared his experience with Marcus, who was facing similar struggles. Seeing the transformation firsthand, Marcus decided to follow suit.
“To be honest, we weren’t sure if coaching would work for us. But we figured, if we kept doing the same thing, we’d keep getting the same results,” says Brenton.
The Coaching Experience: A Game Changer
From the very first session, we worked with Brenton and Marcus to identify where the money was going and why their hard work wasn’t translating into profit. We focused on three key areas:
- Pricing for Profit – Teaching them to stop underquoting and start charging what their work was actually worth.
- Cash Flow Control – Setting up financial systems to ensure they had money in the bank when they needed it.
- Team Efficiency – Hiring and training the right staff so they could step back from the tools and focus on growth.
The Result: More Profit, Less Stress, and More Freedom
Within the first six months, they noticed a shift. Jobs were bringing in better margins, and they had a clearer financial picture. After a year, they’d increased their revenue significantly. But the real win? They doubled their profit in 24 months.
“We finally feel like business owners, not just tradies stuck in the grind. We’re working smarter, not harder, and we’re actually enjoying life outside of work,” says Marcus.
And for the first time in years, they took multiple family holidays without stressing about the business falling apart.
Why This Matters
If you’re stuck in the cycle of working harder but not seeing the rewards, know that you’re not alone—and that there’s a way out. Brenton and Marcus aren’t an exception. They just made the decision to change how they were running their business.
The question is—are you ready to do the same?
If you’re keen to get out of survival mode and start making real money (without working yourself into the ground), let’s have a chat. Book a free call with us and let’s figure out the next steps for your business.
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