Artwork for podcast TF Unlocked: The Tradie Business Podcast
The Freedom Exit with Tom Howard
Episode 1620th May 2025 • TF Unlocked: The Tradie Business Podcast • Adrian Fadini
00:00:00 00:41:33

Share Episode

Shownotes

Get your free copy of The Smart Sales System.

The step-by-step sales framework built for trade business owners: https://tradesformation.systeme.io/smartsales

From sweeping trucks at 15 to helping build companies worth hundreds of millions, Tom Howard shows what it really takes to grow a serious home services business.

Adrian Fadini connects with Tom Howard from ServiceTitan to lay it all out.

Tom tells his story from the yard to the boardroom, how a life-altering misdiagnosis reshaped his priorities, and why knowing your numbers is the real leverage point in any plumbing, electrical, or HVAC business. He shares what he has learned across 20 plus acquisitions, how to think about exits long before you sell, and why clear pricing and incentives change everything for your team and your customers.

When you truly understand your numbers and build with an exit mindset, you get more control, more options, and a business that serves your life instead of trapping you.

You’ll learn:

  • Why trades can beat traditional careers when you treat your business like an asset
  • How knowing your numbers gives you real power and better decisions
  • The myth of “that will not work in my market” and how to bust it
  • Why every trade business needs an exit plan, even if you never plan to sell
  • What Tom learned from 20 plus acquisitions, including Fetch-a-Tech
  • How to think about pricing like a steakhouse, not a fast food outlet
  • Ways to use incentives and autonomy to build a high-performance team
  • How to balance goals, responsibility, and legacy as you scale

In this episode:

01:00 Meet Tom Howard and his origin story

05:00 Why trades beat finance and why numbers matter so much

10:00 Killing the “that will not work in my market” story and planning your exit

16:00 Acquisitions, Fetch-a-Tech, and building 100M plus businesses

25:00 ServiceTitan, community, and pricing mindset

35:00 Incentives, autonomy, and leading strong teams

40:00 Goals, responsibility, and building a legacy that lasts

Follow TradesFormation

https://link.me/trades_formation

https://tradesformation.com.au/

Connect with Tom Howard

Website: https://www.howarddeals.com | https://www.servicetitan.com

Follow

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube