Did you know that most contractors don’t lose money because of bad clients — they lose money because they avoid uncomfortable conversations? In today’s episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, host Chris Moore breaks down how systems, structure, and communication can eliminate the stress around tough conversations and protect your profits, reputation, and culture.

The good news? Hard conversations aren’t a personality trait — they’re a skill. And skills can be learned, practiced, and strengthened. With the right systems, scripts, and structure, even the toughest conversations become easier and far less emotional.

Need help navigating these hard conversations? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

Winter is here — and for many painting contractors, this season brings the familiar question: “How do I make the most of my time?” In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, host Chris Moore shares a practical framework to help you use the slower months to strengthen your business, sharpen your systems, and set yourself up for a successful 2026.

You’ll learn:

🧾 What financial systems need attention during winter (time tracking, materials, expense processes)

📣 How to tighten your marketing plan, content strategy, and budget for 2026

📞 Ways to upgrade your sales process, customer experience, and estimating workflow

👥 What to refine in your recruiting and onboarding systems

🛠 The operational tools, SOPs, and project workflows that prevent chaos in busy season

🧹 Why winter is the perfect time to clean and declutter your shop, office, files, and personal life

This season is about finding the sweet spot between resting and rebuilding. If you want to hit the ground running in 2026 with a more organized, efficient, and predictable painting business, this episode is your winter playbook.

Need help figuring out what to work on this Winter? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

Change can be hard for everyone involved in your business. The owner, the leadership team and the field teams. In this episode, we have Bracken Anderson, Senior Partnerships Manager at BusyBusy join us to share some insight and tips on how to help implement tech successfully into your jobsite operations!

Interested in learning more about BusyBusy? Connect with Bracken at bracken.anderson@alignops.com.

Need help figuring out what tech to utilize and how to start utilizing it in your business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

From understanding how taxes differ for S-Corporations and LLCs to deciding when to accelerate expenses or defer income, we break down what really matters — and what’s just noise when it comes to your taxes. You’ll also learn how to use deductions like the Augusta Rule, mileage reimbursements, and home office expenses the right way (with documentation that keeps you audit-proof).

If you’re a painting contractor or small business owner who’s tired of getting surprised at tax time, this episode will help you make smarter financial moves, keep more of your hard-earned money, and start 2026 on the right foot.

Need help planning financially or strategizing for taxes in your business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

Finances are emotional — especially when you don’t know your numbers. In this episode, we break down three steps every painting contractor needs to take to gain control of their finances: awareness, forecasting, and benchmarking. If you’re tired of reacting and ready to take charge of your profitability, start here!

Need help gaining clarity on the numbers part of your business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

Managing people is one of the toughest — and most rewarding — parts of running a painting business. In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, host Chris Moore breaks down five essential systems every contractor should implement to lead their team more effectively and create accountability that drives results.

You’ll learn:
✅ How to simplify compensation and make it performance-driven
📊 What KPIs matter most for estimators and project managers
🧾 How to track and assess progress with accountability systems
🗓 The right cadence for one-on-one, team, and handoff meetings
🎯 How to coach, support, and communicate effectively as a leader

Whether you lead a crew of two or a full operations team, this episode will help you manage people with more clarity, consistency, and confidence — so you can focus on scaling your painting business the right way.

Need help implementing these people management systems and standards into your business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

In this episode of the Elite Business Advice Podcast, Chris Moore sits down with Jon Beach, founder of Skilled Trades Media, to unpack one of the most overlooked marketing tools for painting contractors — brand awareness.

If you’ve ever wondered how to get your painting business noticed, remembered, and trusted in your local market, this episode is for you. Jon and Chris dive into what brand awareness really means, when to start investing in it, and how to balance it with your lead generation marketing efforts.

You’ll learn:
🎯 What brand awareness is (and why it’s not just about getting leads)
💡 How to make your painting company locally famous
📈 When and how much to invest in brand-building
🧠 Tips for contractors to build awareness with or without an agency
⚖️ How to balance long-term branding with short-term sales goals

To connect with Jon visit www.skilledtradesmedia.com or shoot him an email at jonbeach@skilledtradesmedia.com!

Need help with creating an overall marketing plan for your painting business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!

What happens when Nick Slavik and Michal Cheney sit down to talk shop? You get real stories, smart strategies, and proven advice from two painting industry leaders. Tune in to hear how the hosts of Ask A Painter Live and Women in Paint Podcast run their businesses — and how you can do the same.

Need help with implementing some of the things covered in this episode in your painting business? Schedule a free business analysis meeting with us at www.elitebusinessadvisors.com!