Growth without profit is like running on a treadmill—you’re moving fast but getting nowhere. Jake, an HVAC owner, learned this the hard way when his $5 million sales milestone left him exhausted and almost broke. The truth is, more jobs often multiply your profit leaks instead of fixing them. That’s where Sneaky Leaky (our new mascot who points out profit leaks) slips in—through wasted time, underpricing, and overhead creep. In this episode, I’ll share real steps you can take to increase profit without working harder, so you can finally keep more of what you earn.
What You’ll Learn…
- Why you can’t outsell Sneaky Leaky when profits are dripping away
- How to increase profit by focusing on job margins instead of chasing sales
- The one mindset shift that stops you from “growing broke”
- How tiny price adjustments can protect your business from cost creep
- Why overhead creep quietly strangles your bottom line if you ignore it
- How wasted time can cost six figures and what to do about it
- The profit system that helps increase profit and reduce your daily stress
Key Moments…
[2:10] Why more sales don’t always increase profit
[5:45] Jake’s $5M story and the harsh reality behind it
[10:20] The myth that growth alone will increase profit
[14:50] Four steps to measure margins and protect profits
[20:15] Spotting overhead creep before Sneaky Leaky drains you
[24:00] Tracking wasted time that eats six figures a year
[29:30] Why a profit system is the real way to increase profit
Why more sales don’t always increase profit
Many owners think hitting the next sales milestone will solve their money struggles, but that’s rarely true. Without a plan, more jobs just multiply the leaks in your business. Sneaky Leaky shows up in underpriced work, hidden costs, and inefficiencies. Instead of chasing volume, you need to look at where your money is slipping away. Shifting your focus is the first step to increase profit.
Jake’s $5M story and the harsh reality behind it
Jake grew his HVAC company to $5 million in sales, but he was exhausted and barely scraping by. On the outside, he looked successful, but inside his business, profits were almost nonexistent. Like many owners, he thought more trucks and more jobs would fix it. Instead, the leaks in his business only got bigger. His story is a clear reminder that sales growth without structure will not increase profit.
The myth that growth alone will increase profit
Revenue is often treated as the main success metric, but that can be misleading. As companies grow, their fixed costs—software, payroll, subscriptions, and insurance—also climb. Without regular adjustments, these costs creep up faster than revenue. Owners who ignore this end up running larger businesses with smaller margins. True stability comes when you manage growth with a profit system designed to increase profit.
Four steps to measure margins and protect profits
To keep more money in your pocket, you need visibility into your numbers. That starts with measuring profit margin on every type of job. Revisiting pricing regularly ensures you’re covering rising costs. Watching for overhead creep keeps your expenses in check. And tracking wasted time gives you the clarity to make smart choices—all strategies that directly increase profit for you and your business.
Spotting overhead creep before Sneaky Leaky drains you
Overhead creep happens when small recurring expenses go unnoticed. A few extra subscriptions, more phones, or small purchases for the team may not seem like much at first. But over time, these add up and quietly strangle your profits. Printing out credit card and bank statements and going over them with a highlighter can reveal surprising leaks. Catching these early is one of the easiest ways to increase profit.
Tracking wasted time that eats six figures a year
Wasted time is a massive hidden cost in home service businesses. Whether it’s techs running for missing parts, sitting in traffic, or doing callbacks, those minutes add up. Even 15 minutes lost per tech per day can equal six figures of lost revenue. Sneaky Leaky loves to hide in inefficiencies. Tightening up scheduling and job prep is an overlooked way to increase profit.
Why a profit system is the real way to increase profit
Small fixes help, but without a larger system, your profits will always feel unpredictable. A profit system diagnoses leaks, restructures your cash flow, and keeps your business lean as it grows. It helps you pay yourself first and build predictable profitability. The right system creates peace of mind, not just busywork. That’s how you can finally increase profit and love your business again.
Episode Resources:
Join the Profit Blueprint Masterclass on Tuesday, Sept 23 | 8 am PT / 11 am ET https://taxcoach4you.com/blueprint/
Diane’s Resources:
Profit Impact Call: https://taxcoach4you.com/profitimpactcall
Profit First Method: https://taxcoach4you.com/profit-first
15 Profit Leaks eBook: https://profitcoach4you.com/profitleaks
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