The Battle Plan Marketing Podcast

Hosted by Mark Ambrose

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Episodes

173

Latest episode

Feb 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Actionable advice to help grow your home services company. The Battle Plan Marketing Podcast is designed for contractors who are looking for effective tips and tactics to grow their business. Podcast topics include contractor marketing strategy, lead generation, web design, search engine optimization, reputation management, referral programs, content marketing, online advertising, social media, financials, sales, employee management, services, and general entrepreneurial interests. Mark Ambrose, host, speaker, and owner of Battle Plan Marketing LLC, has over 30 years experience in sales and marketing and over a decade in digital marketing and search engine optimization. Get more information at our website at https://www.battleplan-marketing.com.

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60 recent

February 25, 2026Episode 1731 hr 11 min

[Interview] Million Dollar Contracting Series: Hiring & Managing Employees - Part 12 - BPMP #173

This is the last episode in our deep dive series on Million Dollar Contracting — and we’re finishing where real growth actually happens:People.In this final conversation, Kim Hopkins breaks down how to:Attract quality employees (without begging)Hire the right people — not just available bodiesBuild a team that thinks like ownersRetain great employees for the long haulCreate customer success that drives repeat business and referralsHere’s the reality:You don’t scale a contracting business with hustle alone.You scale it with systems, profit structure, and a team that actually cares.Kim shares how he built a long-term, profitable electrical company with low turnover, strong culture, and customers who keep coming back.If you’re tired of constant hiring cycles, unreliable techs, and carrying the whole company on your back — this episode is your blueprint.🔥 Listen now.🔥 Apply it.🔥 Build something that lasts.📗 Grab the book: MillionDollarContracting.com🎯 Want more booked jobs without chasing leads? BattlePlan-Marketing.comBuy The Book:https://milliondollarcontracting.com/Guest Website:https://www.theelectricconnection.com/For more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing

November 12, 2025Episode 17241 min

[Interview] Million Dollar Contracting Series – Let’s Talk Real Profit - Part 11 - BPMP #172

Welcome back to our Million Dollar Contracting series with author and contractor Kim Hopkins. In this episode, we dive into the chapter that separates struggling businesses from seven-figure operators: PROFIT.Kim breaks down:Why “breaking even” is a trapHow most contractors underprice without even knowing itThe 10% rule for long-term success (most skip this and pay the price)How to build a profit-driven team that wants your business to winIf you're serious about growing your local service business—without burning out—this episode is a must-watch.📗 Grab the book: MillionDollarContracting.com🎯 Want more booked jobs without chasing leads? BattlePlan-Marketing.comBuy The Book:https://milliondollarcontracting.com/Guest Website:https://www.theelectricconnection.com/For more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing

September 24, 2025Episode 17158 min

[Interview] Million Dollar Contracting Series – The Collections Episode - Part 10 - BPMP #171

We’re back with another no-BS episode in our Million Dollar Contracting book series—and this one hits where it hurts: getting paid.Author and 40+ year Operator Kim Hopkins returns in Episode 171 to break down:How he went from losing $80K at a time to collecting every pennyThe common collection mistakes that bleed your bottom lineWhat to do when a GC, management company, or homeowner stalls (spoiler: it’s not small claims court)He’s been burned, bounced back, and built a system that works.If you’ve ever had to chase down a payment, you’ll want to hear this.📗 Grab the book: MillionDollarContracting.com🎯 Want more booked jobs without chasing leads? BattlePlan-Marketing.comBuy The Book:https://milliondollarcontracting.com/Guest Website:https://www.theelectricconnection.com/For more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing

September 10, 2025Episode 17048 min

[Interview] - How Tom Howard Turned 3 Failing HVAC Shops Into $25M in 16 Months - BPMP #170

In this power-packed episode, Tom Howard (VP at ServiceTitan + serial service business acquirer) lays out how he and his team took three underperforming HVAC companies and flipped them into a $25M machine—fast.You’ll learn:How to spot opportunity in a dumpster fire of a businessWhat radical transparency and equity can do for your teamHow AI is outperforming human CSRs—and cutting costsThe real cost of bloated teams and broken systemsWhy most owners get stuck at $2–5M—and how to punch throughThis is the kickoff to our Plumber + HVAC Dominance Series—real strategies, zero sugarcoating.️If you're running a local service business and want to scale without selling your soul, this one's non-negotiable.🎧 Listen now, take notes, and get ready to rethink how you lead.📕 Grab Tom’s book Fetching Millions on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/FETCHING-MILLION-Successful-Services-Business/dp/B0FGKCHKGD/📩 Connect with Tom: t.howard@servicetitan.com 📸 Follow @realTomHoward on InstagramFor more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing

August 20, 2025Episode 16955 min

[Interview] - Million Dollar Contracting by Kim Hopkins - Part 9 - BPMP #169

Think great work is enough to grow your service business? Think again.In this episode, we sit down with Kim Hopkins, author of Million Dollar Contractor, to break down the three skills every local service pro must master to scale—people skills, technical skills, and admin systems.Kim built a multi-million dollar electrical business from the trunk of a sedan—and he’s sharing the no-fluff strategies that actually get you more jobs, better referrals, and a business that doesn’t own you.What You’ll Learn:Why 1-star reviews are almost never about your workHow doing just 10% more can double your repeat businessThe admin systems that separate real businesses from chaosHow to grow without losing your weekends (or your mind)Whether you're a solo operator or running a growing team, this one’s a must-watch.Subscribe for more real-world tactics that book jobs—not just hype.📗 Grab the book: MillionDollarContracting.com🎯 Want more booked jobs without chasing leads? BattlePlan-Marketing.comBuy The Book:https://milliondollarcontracting.com/Guest Website:https://www.theelectricconnection.com/For more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing

July 9, 2025Episode 16855 min

[Interview] - Million Dollar Contracting by Kim Hopkins - Part 8 - BPMP #168

We continue the “Million Dollar Contracting” book review series with special guest and author, Kim Hopkins, Founder & Owner of The Electric Connection out of Los Angeles CA, in business for over four decades.In this episode Kim we cover Sales, chapter 8 of his book.Kim shared the lessons he learned on what customer types are ideal and which ones to avoid and the signals each one gives off telling you who they are.Topics discussed included:The key questions and deal breakers customers have (they’re probably different than what you’re selling)Flat-rate / fixed pricing versus time plus materialsDeveloping a price bookFree phone estimates vs free field estimatesTruck roll chargesWhat the customers wants and what they needBeing a good humanOnce again, here’s an opportunity to learn from 40+ years of experience from a very successful operator who’s willing to share his knowledge.Enjoy!Buy The Book:https://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Contracting-Business-Financial/dp/B0CYHF7WD8/Guest Website:https://www.theelectricconnection.com/For more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing

June 18, 2025Episode 16745 min

[Interview] - Million Dollar Contracting by Kim Hopkins - Part 7 - BPMP #167

We continue the “Million Dollar Contracting” book review series with special guest and author, Kim Hopkins, Founder & Owner of The Electric Connection out of Los Angeles CA.In this episode Kim shares two of the most important lessons he’s learned in four decades of running his electrical services company.We also touched on a few key points of Chapter 7 of his book, this chapter is on Internet Marketing.Enjoy!Buy The Book:https://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Contracting-Business-Financial/dp/B0CYHF7WD8/Guest Website:https://www.theelectricconnection.com/For more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing

May 21, 2025Episode 16646 min

[Interview] - Million Dollar Contracting by Kim Hopkins - Part 6 - BPMP #166

We continue the “Million Dollar Contracting” book review series with special guest and author, Kim Hopkins, Founder & owner of The Electric Connection out of Los Angeles CA.Nearly the entire episode was devoted to the essential ingredients of a high-converting website for contractors.From fundamental structure, to essential conversion elements, and how pretty it should look are all discussed.Kim shared how his company targets lucrative keywords that have little to no competition.Designing a website that aligns with the stage of development your company is in. The needs for one, differs from those of another.For those who make it the end, there’s a sweet little golden nugget awaiting you.Enjoy!Buy The Book:https://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Contracting-Business-Financial/dp/B0CYHF7WD8/Guest Website:https://www.theelectricconnection.com/For more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing

April 30, 2025Episode 1651 hr 11 min

[Interview] - Million Dollar Contracting by Kim Hopkins - Part 5 - BPMP #165

In this interview we explore Chapter 5 on Promotions of this “Million Dollar Contracting” book review series with special guest and author, Kim Hopkins, Founder & owner of The Electric Connection out of Los Angeles CA.40+ years of promotional wisdom was shared once again in this episode. What channels wasted money and where he found his best returns through the decades.Kim talked about growing repeat and referral business from past customers through maintenance contracts / service agreements, referral programs, newsletters, specials, and more.Simple yet highly effective things like stickers, promotional items, signs, truck wraps and more.Relationship strategies and the power of establishing many referral sources are touched on again. More of the good stuff here. Enjoy!Buy The Book:https://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Contracting-Business-Financial/dp/B0CYHF7WD8/Guest Website:https://www.theelectricconnection.com/For more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing

April 9, 2025Episode 1641 hr 0 min

[Interview] - Million Dollar Contracting by Kim Hopkins - Part 4 - BPMP #164

Today we provide Chapter 4 of this “Million Dollar Contracting” book review series with special guest and author, Kim Hopkins, Founder & owner of The Electric Connection out of Los Angeles CA.Promotion is the subject of chapter 4 and we had a fun time discussing many of the methods Kim has successfully used over the last 40+ years.More of the good stuff here. Enjoy!Buy The Book:https://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Contracting-Business-Financial/dp/B0CYHF7WD8/Guest Website:https://www.theelectricconnection.com/For more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Grow Sales Without Ads:https://plumber-dominance.com/reactivationBattle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing