ServicePro CFO

$20 million firms with a mess in accounting, what’s going on? In this episode of the Service Business Mastery podcast, Tersh David Blissett and Jawad Olabi dive into the chaotic world of corporate accounting and its surprising impact on trades businesses. Jawad shares a startling revelation from his journey into mergers and acquisitions during the COVID boom. 🔍 Imagine discovering $20 million firms with accounting so disorganized that private equity firms swoop in at the last minute, renegotiating terms and exploiting financial discrepancies. This messiness allows private equity to thrive, capitalizing on risks like unverified add-backs and customer concentration issues. 💡 Jawad highlights how this chaotic landscape inspired him to focus on providing robust accounting and finance support to trade firms. By leveraging platforms like ServiceTitan, he aims to bring order to the chaos and help these businesses navigate the private equity landscape effectively. Tune in to uncover more about these intriguing economic trends and the future of trade businesses. 🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://youtu.be/W2trN6MVyak #PrivateEquity #TradesBusiness #HVAC #Plumbing #Electrical #CorporateAccounting #BusinessGrowth #ServiceTitan #Podcast

🔍 Money's not free anymore—-what does this mean for trade businesses? In this episode of the Service Business Mastery podcast, host Tersh Blissett and guest Jawad Olabi tackle the evolving economic landscape and its impact on trades businesses. Tersh asks, "Are we still going to see crazy multiples, or are we going to come back down to four and five times?" Jawad responds by explaining that while he can't predict with 100% accuracy, multiple industries have experienced boom and bust cycles with private equity. The best assets will still demand rich multiples, even as prices and multiples come down overall. However, if your $20 million firm has a messy accounting department, private equity will be able to renegotiate terms at the last minute. This experience led him to focus on providing accounting and finance support for trade firms, specifically those using ServiceTitan. 💡 If interest rates come down, it could spark renewed buying activity. He highlights the importance of financial accuracy, noting that many private equity debts are variable and adjust with rising interest rates, which can create financial strain. 🎧 Dive into this episode to understand the economic trends affecting your trade business and how to navigate them. Listen now: https://youtu.be/W2trN6MVyak #EconomicTrends #TradeBusinesses #HVAC #Plumbing #Electrical #PrivateEquity #FinancialStrategy #BusinessGrowth #podcast

Inflation unexpectedly boosted profits in trades. In this episode of the Service Business Mastery podcast, host Tersh Blissett and guest Jawad Olabi dive into the surprising effects of economic trends on trade businesses. 💡 Inflation has had a wild impact on the trades. Markups were going up, and inflation almost had the benefit of increasing profit in the industry, which makes no sense! This unexpected twist has led to a new way of thinking about pricing strategies, especially during the shoulder months. 🔍 Coming from the energy industry, Jawad has seen it all. For almost 100 years, cartels like OPEC controlled pricing. But now, with major producers like the US and Russia, the industry has to operate lean and efficient. For trade businesses, this means knowing your minimum operating costs and pricing strategically between what you can push for and what the market can bear. 💡 Tersh shares a practical scenario. Imagine your board is empty for the next week. Your team needs to call you and know the break-even price to close a deal. Understanding these numbers reduces guessing and ensures financial stability, even during tough times. 🎧 Dive into this episode to uncover more about these economic shifts and practical strategies for your business. Listen now: https://youtu.be/W2trN6MVyak #EconomicTrends #TradeBusinesses #HVAC #Plumbing #Electrical #PricingStrategy #BusinessGrowth #Podcast

Don't let economic recovery fool you—market manipulation has consequences! 📉🔍 In this episode of "Service Business Mastery," hosts Tersh David Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Jawad Olabi to discuss the true state of our financial markets post-COVID. During COVID, the market saw a dramatic V-shaped recovery fueled by massive government stimulus and cheap liquidity, creating a synthetic environment that's bound to face repercussions. The current market stability is highly manipulated, from real estate to private equity. The reliance on cheap liquidity has masked underlying vulnerabilities, creating a façade of health in the market. Our political landscape also impacts economic decisions, with short-term gains often prioritized over necessary, albeit painful, long-term economic reforms. This episode is crucial for anyone looking to understand the true dynamics behind market movements and prepare their business for potential future challenges. 🔍 Tune in to uncover the hidden truths behind market stability and learn how to navigate the complexities of a manipulated market. 🎧 Listen to the full episode Service Business Mastery Podcast #FinancialManagement #MarketManipulation #EconomicTrends #PrivateEquity #BusinessStrategy #ServiceBusinessMastery

Private equity promises big gains, but delivers endless spreadsheets. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, hosts Tersh David Blissett and Joshua Crouch discuss with guest Jawad Olabi the often-overlooked realities of working with private equity firms. Many believe they're partnering with brilliant minds from top schools, but the reality is often far less glamorous. Instead of transformative business insights, you'll find yourself buried in spreadsheets and managing KPIs, losing touch with the core elements that made your business special in the first place. Even though private equity remains hot, the economic landscape is shifting. Jawad highlights how suppressed interest rates have long supported the private equity model, but rising rates are changing the game. Securing financing is becoming more challenging, making deals tougher to close. High interest rates are squeezing both firms and customers, complicating growth and sustainability. This episode sheds light on the true costs and challenges of private equity partnerships and offers critical insights for navigating the current financial environment. 🔍 Get the real scoop on private equity and financial management now Service Business Mastery Podcast . #ServiceBusiness #FinancialManagement #PrivateEquity #BusinessGrowth #ServiceTitan #CFO #ServiceBusinessMastery

What is the outlook for Private Equity in the Trades?

I recently joined Tersh Blissett at the "Service Buisness Mastery" Podcast to chat about Private Equity in the Trades and our 2024 Economic Outlook.

In this clip we go over the history of Private Equity, their interest in the Trades, and our outlook moving forward.

Step into 2024 with confidence using our Ultimate Industry Guide for the Trades titled "2024 Economic Outlook for the Trades".

At ServicePro CFO we hear from Trade firm owners that their Profit & Loss Statements (P&L) can often seem confounding:

"It feels like a foreign language."
"It's so complex; I get lost in the details."
"How is this supposed to inform my business decisions?"

And they are not alone. The need for clarity is a common theme, and it begins with stripping back the complexity to reveal simple, actionable insights.

Gaining true financial insight requires an understanding of the foundational elements that impact your firm's cash flow and expenses. By logically grouping expenses into high level "buckets" and visually trending their progression over time, trends start to surface, directing our focus and informing our strategies.

To learn more visit our website https://serviceprocfo.com/

What are the 2024 economic projections for the Trades? And how are contractors can get ahead of these financial trends.

Check our latest podcast where we joined ServiceTitan’s Jackie Aubel on the “Toolbox for the Trades” to chat about how to think about accounting going into 2024.

The Messy Side of Accounting in the Trades | Podcast Ep. 54 | Toolbox for the Trades After growing battle weary overseeing forced layoffs during the pandemic, Jawad Olabi searched for peace and found prosperity helping underserved trade compa...