Starting a business is a leap of faith, but for Matt Worley of Safe Electric and Plumbing, that leap initially felt more like a freefall. In a recent episode of The Successful Contractor Podcast, Matt shared the raw and inspiring journey of how working with a trades business coach helped him pivot from being $50,000 “upside down” to running a thriving $10.6 million home services empire in Columbus, Ohio.
Whether you are looking for professional contractor management services or simply trying to survive the turbulent first few years of business ownership, Matt’s story offers a masterclass in why software is only as good as its adoption and how a dedicated trades business coach can change your life.
The Turning Point: January 10th, 2019
In 2017, Matt’s company was generating roughly $400,000 to $500,000 in annual revenue. To an outsider, it looked like a functional small business, but the reality behind the scenes was grim. By January 10, 2019, Matt reached a breaking point: he had only $10,000 in his bank account, but he owed nearly $60,000 in back taxes.
“I was an ostrich with my head in the sand,” Matt admits. While he was a master electrician who could solve any technical problem on a job site, he hadn’t yet learned how to be a CEO. He spent his days in the field turning wrenches, believing that his physical presence on-site was the only way to ensure quality. It wasn’t until he engaged a trades business coach that he realized he was actually standing in the way of his own company’s growth.
Scaling Through a Trades Business Coach and Proven Systems
The true transformation began when Matt stopped trying to “wing it” and leaned into a proven system. By partnering with a trades business coach, he stopped making excuses about labor shortages or market conditions and started focusing on his own leadership. He realized that every failure in his company—from a missed service call to a financial deficit—was ultimately a reflection of his own processes.
Matt’s advice to other contractors looking to scale is built on three foundational pillars:
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Extreme Commitment to Training: Matt didn’t just sign up for classes; he obsessed over them. He realized that if his coaches identified a gap in his knowledge, he needed to fill it immediately.
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Radical Accountability: Matt shifted his mindset from “the boss” to “the leader.” A trades business coach helped him stop blaming his team for underperformance and start providing them with the tools and training they needed to succeed.
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Process Adoption over Tools: Matt famously believes that “software is only as good as its adoption.” You can have the best contractor management software in the world, but if your technicians aren’t using the price book, the tool is worthless.
Moving from Two Vans to a $10.6 Million Powerhouse
By following a structured growth plan, Matt didn’t just climb out of debt; he built a legacy. He grew Safe Electric from a struggling two-van electrical shop into a multi-trade powerhouse, adding plumbing and HVAC services. His “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” (BHAG) of operating 40 trucks, which once felt like a pipe dream, is now a reality within his grasp thanks to the clarity provided by his trades business coach.
Today, Matt’s company maintains healthy double-digit net profits. He has moved from the driver’s seat of a van to the boardroom, focusing his energy on “growing his own” technicians through sophisticated internal training programs.
Watch the Full Interview
Matt’s journey is a testament to what happens when you stop acting like an employee in your own business and start acting like an owner. You can watch the full interview and hear his specific strategies for managing growth below:
Optimize Your Trades Business for the Future
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start scaling your revenue, it’s time to look at the systems that drive your daily operations. Whether you need hvac business coaching to streamline your service calls or an electrical business coach to help you understand your margins, professional guidance is the bridge between a “job” and a “business.”
Don’t wait for a financial crisis to make a change. Like Matt, you can choose to take your head out of the sand today and build the $10M company you’ve always envisioned.
