Why Most Trades Owners Can’t Scale Sales (And the Fix) Built on Doors, Not Google: The $500M Growth Playbook How Door-to-Door Scaled a $500M Company and Why It Works Anywhere
In this episode, Chris Lee sits down with David Royce — founder and former chairman of Aptive — to break down how a $500M+ pest control business was built (and scaled) through door-to-door, culture, and a recruiting system that translates to any home service company.If you’re in HVAC, plumbing, roofing, solar, or electrical, this isn’t a “pest control story” — it’s a blueprint for raising your growth ceiling by building a team that can win year-round (including shoulder season).You’ll hear why door-to-door puts you back in control when demand drops, how to make the shift from technician to manager to true scaler, and how the best companies turn “secret sauce” into systems, training, and repeatable process. David also breaks down what he means by “obsession,” why it shows up in every high performer, and how Aptive created real buy-in with a 25% employee equity pool that produced life-changing payouts for key people.If you want to stop relying on luck, seasonality, and “hoping the phone rings,” this conversation will change how you think about growth.Connect with David Royce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-royce-22539425/CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqbSPONSORSPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
Contractors Are Sitting on a 90% Margin Service (And Don’t Know It Yet)
You’ve got an add-on service sitting right under your customers’ feet — and it can save lives and add serious profit to your business.In this episode, Chris Lee sits down with Jeff LeBlanc to break down the “invisible” threat most homeowners don’t even know they’re living with: radon gas. Jeff explains what radon is, why you can’t see/smell/taste it, and why it’s tied to a shocking percentage of lung cancer. Then they shift into the contractor opportunity: how testing works, why it’s such an easy loss-leader, what mitigation actually involves, and why this can be a high-ticket, high-margin service that most home service companies still aren’t offering.They also talk through real-world install time, basic certification requirements, how to sell this through education (not fear), and why this vertical is wide open for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and general contractors who already have a customer database and membership plans.Connect with Jeff: jeff@radonrepair.caCONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/...FACEBOOK: / chrisleeqb TIKTOK: / chrisleeqb Partner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
AI Isn’t Replacing Human, It’s Losing You Jobs
OIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP: / 1bmudi9htk In 2025, two forces are colliding fast: AI and blue-collar trades.In this episode, Chris Lee sits down with the team from Callsource to unpack what’s actually happening when home service companies replace CSRs with AI voice/text bots — and why it can quietly destroy trust, create missed revenue, and damage your brand even when the phones are ringing.They break down real call data (including thousands of inbound calls handled by AI), the hidden “zero outcome” problem, incorrect dispositions inside the CRM, and why most owners don’t realize the damage until conversion drops and the backlog tightens. Then they get practical: what a hybrid AI + human model looks like, how to build a manual process first (even if it starts in a spreadsheet), and how fast follow-up and human empathy can recover deals your competitors would’ve taken.If you run a plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or other home service business and you’re considering AI for inbound calls, this is the episode you need before you flip that switch.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/...FACEBOOK: / chrisleeqb TIKTOK: / uc6m5_nuhcx-jdtyb4ge8giq Partner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
YOUR Prices Are the Reason Your Business Is Struggling
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bmudi9HTK/Most business owners think charging less makes them more competitive. In reality, it’s the fastest way to stay stuck, burn out, or shut down. In this episode, Chris Lee teaches you why “affordable” pricing quietly destroys teams, margins, and long-term stability — and how one early pricing mistake led to a $2.2M bankruptcy.Pricing isn’t just a number. It’s a signal to your market, your team, and your future. If you’ve ever wondered why your business feels harder than it should, this conversation will permanently change how you think about price, profit, and positioning.CHRIS SOCIALSCONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqb
How to Stand Out and Sell Without Competing on Price
Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bmudi9HTK/Can’t clearly communicate the pain you solve, who you solve it for, and why you’re the best option, you don’t have an offer… you just have a service.In this video, Chris Lee teaches you the simple structure that turns a basic service into a powerful offer customers actually buy. When you frame your message around pain, proof, and promise, your close rate goes up, your marketing hits harder, and you stop competing on price.If you want a business that grows because of your offer — not in spite of it — start here.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqbSPONSORSPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/