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the Trade Traction Podcast with Dennis The ApprenticeAuthor: Dennis The Apprentice
Personal stories, motivation, and advice from successful tradespeople to help the next generation of apprentices find success in any trade. Language: en-us Genres: Education, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Billable Rate Vs. Hourly Rate - Which One Makes You Money?
Friday, 27 February, 2026
Send a textAre you a plumbing contractor tired of working for free?Welcome to Trade Traction — the podcast dedicated to helping plumbing contractors finally turn a profit and build the company they once dreamed of.In this episode, we break down one of the biggest mistakes in the plumbing business: confusing revenue with profit. Just because you wrote an invoice doesn’t mean you made money. If you’re not factoring in truck costs, fuel, insurance, inefficiency, material shrinkage, your salary, and real profit… you could be running hard and still going broke.We dive deep into:Why most plumbing companies aren’t actually profitableThe truth about hourly rates vs. billable hourly rateHow to properly calculate your plumbing pricingWhy profit is your responsibility as a business ownerHidden costs you must include in your service ratesThe mindset shift needed to charge what you’re worthHow to stop undercharging for plumbing servicesWhy service plumbing is inherently inefficient (and how to price for it)How to build a profitable plumbing company that supports your family and your teamIf you’re a plumbing business owner struggling with low margins, pricing your services, managing overhead, or figuring out how to make real money in the trades — this episode is for you.It’s time to stop the “commotion” — all the busy work with nothing to show for it — and start building a plumbing company that actually produces profit.Because profit isn’t optional. It’s your responsibility.Subscribe to Trade Traction for practical, no-fluff strategies on: ✔ Plumbing business growth ✔ Service pricing strategy ✔ Increasing plumbing profit margins ✔ Building systems in your trade business ✔ Leadership for contractors ✔ Escaping the cycle of working harder for lessLet’s stop working for free and finally build the company you dreamed about when you started.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – The Revenue Lie: Why Your Last Invoice Doesn’t Mean Profit 02:10 – Why 8 Out of 10 Plumbing Companies Aren’t Making Money 04:35 – The Problem with Hourly Rates in Service Plumbing 07:15 – Billable Hourly Rate Explained for Contractors 10:05 – What You’re NOT Including in Your Pricing 13:40 – Why You Must Charge for What You Want (Not What You Have) 16:25 – Trucks, Tools & The True Cost of Service Calls 19:10 – Why Plumbing Is Inherently Inefficient 21:30 – Understanding Customer Value vs. Your Perception 24:15 – The Art of Presenting Options & Pricing 26:40 – Stop Working for Free & Start Building ProfitIf you’re ready to turn your plumbing business into a profitable, sustainable company, hit Subscribe and join us every week on Trade Traction.#PlumbingBusiness #PlumbingContractor #ServiceBusiness #TradeBusiness #PlumbingLife #ContractorSuccess #SmallBusinessGrowth #PlumbingPricing #BlueCollarBusinessThe Podcast that helps plumbing and heating service contractors stop working for free and actually turn a profit. Connect with me on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennistheapprentice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064205912242 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennistheapprentice Thank you once again for your support and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your peers! Stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way every week.
