Most contractors think they have a marketing problem. James Hatfield knows it’s usually a speed and trust problem. As president of LiveSwitch, he helps service companies win more jobs by getting face to face faster, qualifying on video, and turning “free estimates” into efficient, high-confidence closes.

He grew up blue collar, built a painting and power-washing company, then went to business school to make the numbers plain English. That path, ladders to tech, led him to build tools that help owners sell quicker, train better, and keep more margin.

In this episode, James breaks down race to the face, why you often lose on speed only, and how virtual estimates can match or beat in-person close rates while cutting the cost of truck rolls [think a few hundred to six hundred dollars per visit]. He shows how QR codes on equipment claim the next call before Google does, how recording your work becomes training and process, and why the real AI race is the race for your data.

It’s a candid look at how speed, clarity, and captured knowledge create predictable profit, and why confidence in your numbers, in plain English, is the edge that scales.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

• Why speed wins more jobs than reputation, and how to race to the face
• How virtual estimates close at the same rate as in-person while saving truck roll costs
• The real cost of “free estimates,” and when to pre-qualify on video first
• How QR codes on installed equipment lock in repeat calls to you, not Google
• How to turn recorded walkthroughs into training, SOPs, and higher exit value
• Simple ways to make your financials plain English so you can act fast
• The 5 percent rule James uses to create room for retention and hospitality
• When to augment staff globally for sales and back office without hurting service
• How to integrate live video with your current CRM for one-click workflows
• Why building a personal board helps you grow beyond day-to-day firefighting

More From Profit & Grit

Book your complimentary Financial Insight Session with Tyler Martin, fractional CFO for home services and the trades, here:
http://cfointrocall.com

Learn more at http://cfomadeeasy.com

Follow the show for weekly interviews with HVAC, plumbing, and home service owners and experts who share what it really takes to grow, scale, and profit in the trades.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we’re sure you’ll love ours too!
To The Point Home Services Podcast, Toolbox for the Trades, Masters of Home Service, Home Service Business Coach With David Moerman, BlueCollar.CEO, The Home Service Expert Podcast, Next Level Pros, Blue Collar Business Podcast, Home Service Millionaire with Mike Andes, The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber, and Blue Collar Success Group

🎙️ Profit & Grit by Tyler Martin
Real stories. Real strategy. Real results for service-based business owners.

🔗 Website: ProfitAndGrit.com
📍 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thinktyler
📸 Instagram & TikTok: @profitandgrit
Tyler Martin, a fractional CFO for home services and the trades
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