Matt Michel

Flower Mound

Contributor at Freelance

Host at Profiles in Prosperity

Small business tips (HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Pest, Pool) from a human, not an automated bot

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Articles

14 Recommendations for New Plumbers

1 week ago | contractormag.com | Matt Michel

Congratulations, you’ve just had your “entrepreneurial seizure” as Michael Gerber puts it. You’re ready to become a “businessperson.” Okay, Mr. Plumbing Entrepreneur, here are 14 recommendations for building your money machine. It’s a cliché, but attitude really does determine your altitude. How you view the world will determine how far you go and how much you will enjoy the journey. Cultivate a positive mental attitude. Approach problems as opportunities.
When a Plumber Becomes Their Own Worst Enemy

2 months ago | contractormag.com | Matt Michel

How would you handle a situation where you were called to clear a drain for a restaurant, only to get a call three days later that it was blocked again? This happened to a midwestern plumbing company. The plumber returned, cleared the drain, and presented an identical invoice to the restaurant manager except the total charge was 66% higher. The manager balked at paying. What would you do now? The plumber chose to return the following morning and put a balloon in the drain line.
Can women help plumbers solve labor shortage

Mar 28, 2025 | pmmag.com | Matt Michel

In the 1960s and 1970s, actress Jane Withers portrayed the character, “Josephine the Plumber” in a series of TV commercials for Comet cleanser. The character was so beloved and effective that the Los Angeles Times referred to Josephine the Plumber as “one of the longest-running continuing characters in TV.” Yet, women continue to be rarities in the field of plumbing. As a trade, plumbing needs more service plumbers.
9 Things to Try When the Phone Stops Ringing

Mar 10, 2025 | contractormag.com | Matt Michel

Sometimes the calls are not there. Sometimes the phone does not ring. When you need calls, here are nine things to try. Some work together. If you have a presence on social media for yourself or your business, you can run a special promotion. If a holiday is forthcoming, you can focus the promotion on the holiday. This can be done through your feed for free or you can take out targeted ads, focused on a specific demographic. Another digital option is Google Local Service Ads (LSAs).
Here Comes the Rebound

Mar 3, 2025 | contractingbusiness.com | Matt Michel

Do you wonder what happens to the contractors who sell to private equity? A lot of them are too young to retire. Their non-competes will soon expire. When they do, get ready for the rebound. Contractors who sell to private equity usually, though not always, stay on with the new entity. Few make it past two years. If they’re in their mid-60s, this might have been their last rodeo.
10 tips to make running a small business easier

Feb 18, 2025 | pmmag.com | Matt Michel

No one says running a small business is easy. However, there are ways to make it easier and they start every day with the way you begin the day. Start each day by giving thanks for something in your life and business. This puts you in the right mindset to approach the day with a positive mental attitude. No matter how many things may go wrong, you have a lot to be thankful for.
6 Reasons You Should Not Remain a Single Truck Operator

Jan 24, 2025 | contractormag.com | Matt Michel

You’re a single truck operator. You’re proud of your independence. No one’s your boss and you don’t have any employees to make life difficult. And you’re cheating yourself and your family. Here’s six reasons why. No employees means there’s no one else to do the work. You get a job and you have to get to it, even if it cuts into family time.
When to Exit Your HVAC Business, Part 2

Nov 15, 2024 | contractingbusiness.com | Matt Michel

You built a great company. Each year the profitability is better than the year before. With the private equity (PE) land rush, should you sell? Just because your business might be ready, does not mean you are ready. Maybe an exit is the wrong answer for now. No question, business ownership carries risk and stress. It may sound peaceful to walk away from all that risk and stress, but many business owners thrive on it. It’s part of the reason you do well running a company when others suffer.
10 Simple Ways to Show Appreciation to Your Customers

Nov 14, 2024 | contractormag.com | Matt Michel

No one likes to do business with companies that take their business for granted. We all want to be appreciated. It’s human nature to want to be appreciated, so show your customers the appreciation they desire. Here are ten ways. Say thank you… a lot. Train your team to say thank you. Thank people for calling you. Thank them at the door. Thank them when the work is completed.
9 things to make your trucks more effective in your plumbing business

Nov 7, 2024 | pmmag.com | Matt Michel

Your truck is your single best marketing vehicle (pun intended). It is an essential part of your brand building efforts and merits significant attention. Here are nine things that will make your fleet more effective. Between 60% and 70% of commercial vans are white. Among plumbing contractors, the number of white vans might even be more predominant. If you use white vans, this means you blend in instead of standing out. Yuck. Even more yuck is how white vans are perceived.