Tradies In Business

Hosted by Nicole Cox

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Episodes

713

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

Whether you're a plumber, electrician, builder, motor mechanic, landscaper, tiler, glazier, painter, carpenter, concretor or any of the myriad of trades and contractors that keep the world running, this podcast has been produced with you in mind. Your host, Nicole 'Nic' Cox, was born into a tradie family and has first-hand experience of the gut-busting, money stress and pressures that trade businesses can place on their owners and their families! Nic strongly believes in the opportunity that exists for all tradie business owners to create a flexible, financially secure business for now and for their families' future. She interviews guests on a range of topics such as marketing, finance, human resources, legal issues, mindset, motivation, physical and mental health, industry updates and more! Nic loves a laugh and a good story, so tune in for a unique look at how to 'get off the tools' and break the cycle of financial hardship and stress to create the trade business you really wanted!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 16, 202627 min

TIB712 Real Tradie Stories - The Plot Twist Nobody Saw Coming with Steve Rooney

Steve Rooney is no stranger to the Tradies in Business podcast, but this time he's back with a plot twist nobody saw coming. Fourteen years of running his own landscaping business, a community of mates, hard lessons in business partnerships, and a whole lot of head noise led Steve to one of the biggest decisions of his life. What he chose next will surprise you, and the reasoning behind it might just make you rethink what success in business actually looks like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 1, 202640 min

TIB711 Real Tradie Stories - From the Coast to the Outback with Nick Allen

Running a trade business 700km from home while raising a young family on the coast is no small feat, but for Nick Allen of NJA Electrical, it's exactly what he built over 13 years in remote Western QLD. Nick shares what it's really like earning trust and loyalty in a town of just 200 people, where your reputation follows you everywhere and relationships run far deeper than just a job and an invoice. From flying in and out of Blackall to working a two-week on, two-week off roster, to taking on his first employee so the business could keep running while he's home, Nick walks through how he structured his work around his life. He also opens up about the eventual move inland to Dalby, trading coastal living for more space, lower cost of living, and a lifestyle that finally matched where his heart had always been.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 19, 202648 min

TIB710 Hard Hits and Few Wins: The Budget's True Cost for Tradies

The federal budget has landed and for most tradie business owners, the news is not good. Nic brings in Angus Gasbarri, founder of Earnt Advisory, an accountant who has built his career working closely with trade and construction businesses, rounding out his expertise with a background in mortgage broking. Together they talk about the biggest budget changes affecting tradies and small business owners, covering negative gearing, capital gains tax, and the new minimum tax on trusts. What these changes mean in real terms and why now is the time to pick up the phone and call your accountant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 4, 202623 min

TIB709 The HR Shortcut That Could Cost You Everything

HR mistakes don't always look like mistakes; sometimes they look like efficiency. Nicole sits down with Kristy-Lee Billett, CEO of People Powered Business and founder of People Powered HR, who brings 20 years of experience helping small businesses build great teams without the chaos, the confusion, or the crippling contracts. Together they unpack the growing risk of using AI for people management, why ChatGPT confidently quoting fictional legislation is more common than anyone wants to admit, where AI can genuinely help in your business, and what tradie business owners are quietly getting wrong with employment contracts, award compliance, and conditions of employment, often without realising it until it's too late.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 20, 202624 min

TIB708 Real Tradie Stories with Josh Prineas from Ecostream Plumbing

Starting a trade business can feel like a massive leap, especially when you’re not sure if you’re ready or where to begin. This week, Nic sits down with one our our Tradiepreneurs, Josh Prineas from Ecostream Plumbing, a plumber who backed himself and went from side jobs to running his own business in just two years. They talked about Josh’s journey into the trades, the moment he decided to go all in, and what those early stages of business actually looked like. From pushing through fear with marketing and networking, to learning the hard lessons around perfectionism, hiring, and setting boundaries, it’s a real look at building a business from the ground up and what actually moves the needle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 6, 202629 min

TIB707 Why Avoiding Your Numbers Is Costing You

Avoiding your numbers doesn’t make the pressure go away, it quietly makes it worse. Daniel Palmer from Bold Wealth talks about why so many tradies put off getting on top of their finances, how that avoidance impacts long-term wealth especially super, and what actually changes when you face it head-on. Daniel also shares why having the right people around you matters, how to protect your income, and how to make clear financial decisions that support where you actually want to go.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 23, 202635 min

TIB706 From Sole Trader to Confident Leader: Nic Stephen on People Skills for Trade Businesses

Moving from being on the tools to leading a team is where many tradies start to feel the pressure, and it’s often the people side of the business that creates the biggest challenges. Nic Stephen from You Who shares what effective leadership actually looks like in a trade business, and why most “people problems” come back to how leaders show up. The conversation covers adaptive leadership, building trust through vulnerability, and how curiosity and better questioning can shift conversations and outcomes with a team. It also breaks down passive-aggressive behaviours, avoiding tough conversations, and how to create healthy conflict that strengthens relationships rather than breaking them down, along with practical ways to reflect, reset, and lead with more clarity day to day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 9, 202630 min

TIB705 The No-BS Guide to Digital Marketing for Tradies

Most tradies don’t need more marketing.. They need clarity on what actually works. This week, Nic is joined by Rhys Clay, Partner and Head Geek at Kaha Digital, to strip digital marketing back to the essentials for service-based trade businesses. They unpack vanity metrics, overpriced packages, and the common traps that keep tradies stuck, while highlighting what genuinely drives results: a strong Google Business Profile, the right kind of reviews, trustworthy photos, and in many cases, a simple one-page website. If you want more phone calls, better-quality inquiries, and a clear online plan without the fluff, this episode will reset how you approach your digital presence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 23, 202640 min

TIB704 The Trade Deficit Is Real and What We Can Do About It

Australia’s growing trade deficit isn’t just a headline, it’s something business owners are feeling every day. Nic chats with tradie turned Workex founder Ian Cooper to unpack the real pressure on the ground, from a 48% apprenticeship churn rate to ageing workforces and stretched safety systems. With experience spanning trade school, food and beverage manufacturing, project management and entrepreneurship, Ian shares how those frontline challenges led him to build Workex Solutions, a digital compliance and reporting platform designed specifically for tradies. The conversation talks more about smarter safety processes, streamlined SWMS and permits, and how practical technology can reduce admin while protecting crews on site.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 9, 202633 min

TIB703 Real Tradie Stories with Daniel Smith from Dreamscapes Landscapes & Garden Solutions

Feeling stuck on the business hamster wheel, working hard but never quite getting ahead is where Daniel from Dreamscapes Landscapes & Garden Solutions found himself before he took the leap, asked for help, and started seeing real change. Nic sits down with Daniel about his first 12 months in business, the early grind of taking any job to make payroll, learning pricing and systems the hard way, and moving from solo operator to confident leader. Daniel shares what finally pushed him to seek support, how vulnerability and community changed everything, and why building a business that supports your life (not consumes it) matters more than ever, with plenty of honest lessons for tradies at any stage of the journey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.