The Trades Brief

The weekly newsletter helping skilled trades business owners hire smarter, price better, and understand what private equity is doing to their industry.

Your competitor is showing up first on Google. They're worse than you. Here's why.

Jul 7, 2026

•

5 min read

Your competitor is showing up first on Google. They're worse than you. Here's why.

The guy outranking you isn't spending more money. He's doing three things you're not.

Adam Thomas

We looked at how trades companies handle emergency calls. Most of what we found should scare you.

Jun 30, 2026

•

4 min read

We looked at how trades companies handle emergency calls. Most of what we found should scare you.

62% of calls to trades businesses go unanswered. Your phone might be your biggest leak.

Adam Thomas

A private equity backed competitor just moved into a small town. Here's what happened next.

Jun 16, 2026

•

4 min read

A private equity backed competitor just moved into a small town. Here's what happened next.

A small shop's biggest competitive advantage isn't something you can buy — and a private equity backed roll-up just proved it.

Adam Thomas

Blackstone just paid $2.5 billion for an HVAC company. Here's what that means for yours.

Jun 9, 2026

•

4 min read

Blackstone just paid $2.5 billion for an HVAC company. Here's what that means for yours.

Whether you want to sell or never sell, what's happening in your industry right now changes how you should be running your business today.

Adam Thomas