You Can Stay Small and Succeed — But Please Don’t Get Stuck There!
Avoid getting stuck on the Road In-Between! Discover how a successful solo tradesman can scale smart or stay lean without burning out or losing control.
KickStart: Growing a large service company is not the only path to success. But do it wisely and consciously. Don’t be a just a decent living victim.
Running your own residential service business all alone can look really sweet. 😁 No staff drama. No schedules to juggle but your own. You’re in control, installing and maintaining stuff and ... not to be underestimated ... making good money on your terms.
So yeah—you can be successful as a “Lone Wolf” solo operator.
But here’s where it gets tricky…
A lot of solo service business operators start out small, get busy, try to “scale up”, (in Steve speak: “get big”) and then hit a wall. They hire a tech or two, maybe get an office, and then everything falls apart!
So, this chastened entrepreneur lets their techs go (they probably should have been fired months earlier) and slinks back on the truck, sadder but probably not much wiser. Not the end of the world- I went through this exact same scenario!
But even worse is when a residential services business doesn’t dramatically fall apart. Instead, it just bogs down and this poor business owner (I use the term loosely because in reality the business owns him) just kind of staggers along hopelessly.
Yep, they’re stuck on what I call “The Road In-Between.” (RIB)
So sad, because the RIB is a slow-motion train wreck that is totally avoidable! And yet I see it happen all the time across the residential services landscape.
What is “The Road In-Between”?
It’s that awkward no-man’s-land where:
You’re too busy to keep doing it all yourself.
But you’re too small to afford real “mid-level help”—like a manager or office admin—to take weight off your shoulders.
So, you end up working 60+ hours a week, still doing the installs, handling customer calls, managing quotes, checking inventory, AND trying to train yet another revolving-door new hire. Sound familiar? 🤔😥
You’re hustling too hard to enjoy your work, and you’re not quite big enough to step back. That’s The Road In-Between (RIB). And trust me—it burns good people just like you out.
So How Do You Get Off of the RIB?
Two options:
1. Stay Lean On Purpose
Stick to solo or a very small crew, raise your prices, choose your clients carefully, and optimize your workflow. Some home services pros thrive like this. If that’s your sweet spot—great. Build it intentionally.
OR...
2. Grow Into a Critical Mass Business
This is where you build a company that can function with or without you—whether you’re onsite, on vacation, or focusing on strategy. You’ve got systems. Crews you trust. And jobs getting done without constant babysitting.
Sounds awesome, right?
It is. But there’s a catch…
You’ve Gotta Hire—and Do It Right
Hiring isn’t just posting on Craigslist and hoping a warm body shows up with tools and basic trade knowledge. It’s tough. But it’s also the key to your Personal Freedom.
Let’s be real—employees will be your biggest challenge in business. But they can also become the most rewarding part.
You’ll have days where a tech disappears mid-job. And days where your team crushes a full home install and gets five-star reviews from a thrilled homeowner. Same week. Same crew. That’s the reality.
The problem is, most home service pros:
Don’t know how to find solid team members
Don’t have a system for hiring and training
Don’t know how to lead and keep people long term
That’s why I teach courses like Hiring the Very Best—to save you time, money, and frustration.
But let’s say you’ve already started building your team. Now what?
How to Keep Your Best Techs (Without Just Throwing Cash at Them)
Top Technicians don’t just work for money. What keeps the kind of people you want on your team- long term? They want to feel appreciated. They want to grow. They want to be part of something real. So how do you keep them locked in?
Let’s break it down:
1. Say “Thank You”—And Mean It
Simple, right? But it’s amazing how many residential services owners forget this. Make it a habit to personally and sincerely thank your team.
“Hey Charlie, great job with Mrs. Brown yesterday. She was pumped and left you a killer 5-star review! Thank you!”
It goes a long way.
2. Be Specific With Your Praise
Generic “good job” doesn’t hit like “Josh, that was a great set-up you did on that three-story—the client said it looked like pros from the big city were doing it.”
Recognize the details and your crew will take more pride in their work.
3. Shout People Out Publicly
Team huddles? Toolbox Talks? Use them to recognize wins.
“Hey folks, listen up! Big thanks to Tasha—she nailed the Smith install without a hitch and helped the client set up their own remote monitoring. That’s next-level service. Thank you, Tasha!”
Praise in front of peers builds trust and team pride.
4. Use Tangible Rewards (They Don’t Need to Be Expensive)
You don’t need to throw out $500 bonuses every week.
We traded our services with local businesses—like massage therapists, restaurants, or theaters—for gift cards. I gave them out to techs for going above and beyond. And trust me—when their spouse gets that “Date Night” gift card, you win loyalty with their Significant Other too! 💖
5. Serve Your Team
Want to build serious buy-in? Show them you’ve got their back.
Once a month, I’d bring breakfast to the shop or grill lunch after a Friday wrap-up. Nothing fancy—just a gesture. But it showed them I appreciated their hard work.
🗝️ Servant leadership gets results.
6. Yep—Cold, Hard Cash Still Works!
Everyone likes extra money. But make it intentional. Tie bonuses to things like:
Zero callbacks for the month
Perfect 5-star reviews
Wrapping big jobs up on time and under budget
When your techs see a path to more income through great performance, they’ll step up.
People Stay Where They Feel Valued
Hiring great people is only half the battle. If you want them to stay, you’ve got to lead, appreciate, and support them.
Because once you’ve got a team you trust?
You stop waking up in the middle of the night wondering if someone’s gonna show up. You start building a business that gives you time back—not just a bigger job title. PRICELESS!
Need Help Building This Type of Business?
At Home Front Success we’re building full online training programs to help you:
Attract the right techs
Onboard and train them fast
Keep them motivated and accountable
Set up business systems that support freedom- YOUR freedom and that is HUGE! 👍👍
In fact, we’ve built a course focused on finding and keeping the very best staff. Check it out here: Hiring the Very Best! course.
Don’t get stuck on The Road In-Between. There’s a better path—and we’ll help you take it.
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