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As we move into 2026, many businesses I speak with are feeling the same pressure; materials are continually increasing, wages are up, overheads are up. Yet many owners have not lifted their prices for over 12 months... or more! Seriously! How can they still be profitable? That is not how an Industry Leader operates.

Your pricing is not just a number on a quote. It is a statement about how you value your time, your expertise, and the standard you are setting in the market. If you wish to be perceived as an Industry Leader in 2026, your pricing needs to reflect it. The New Year is the ideal time to reset. Suppliers review their rates, new projects are being planned, and customers will expect changes. So, here is how to increase your prices with confidence and professionalism.

If your business only works when you’re there, it isn’t a business; it’s a job with overheads. 

Industry Leaders design companies that run without them. Technicians hold them together with duct tape and late nights. A real test? Take a proper break. Not to escape; to expose. Time away surfaces the weak joints, lazy standards and single-point-of-failure decisions that are costing you profit and valuation.

For too long, the trade and construction industry has bled profits and productivity through unseen waste; and it is not just materials and labour! It is time to stop the bleeding, reclaim your margins, and build a legacy of true efficiency. This is not about saving or making a few extra bucks; it is about forging a business that builds credibility, a team that thrives, and a sustainable future that is built on solid ground.

Successful business owners know that establishing an initial connection with potential clients is essential. It’s not just about what you do; it’s about how you present yourself and your business.

Enter the Business Credibility Pack—a collection of marketing materials and stationery that presents your company in the most professional light. Let’s explore how these packs can help you create great first impressions and meaningful connections during your face-to-face meetings.

You work hard. Long days, stacked schedules, and a constant stream of tasks. But working hard doesn’t automatically lead to profit.

Here’s the truth: if you’re not reviewing your jobs regularly; what was quoted, what was delivered, and what it cost, you’re leaving your profit margin to chance.

If you’re struggling to find quality team members in your business, you’re not alone. The reality is, the external environment probably won’t change in the short term, yet instead of looking to blame and make excuses for hiring less than the best for your business, ask yourself…what can I be responsible for?

Here are seven of the biggest hiring mistakes we see in the trade and construction industry, along with what you could do instead.

How to Build a Winning Team That Delivers Consistently Profitable Work. Check out the latest article from PROTRADE United written by Jon Mailer. In the trade and construction industry, your team is your business. Tools, process, and vehicles are irrelevant without the right people behind using them. And yet, many business owners still treat hiring as a reactive scramble rather than a long-term game. 

Historically in some sectors within the trade and construction industries, pricing work can be a race to the bottom. Plumbers, electricians, painters, landscapers, and other skilled professionals are stuck in a cycle of providing free quotes, aggressive discounting, and competing on price alone. 

If you want to win more work at higher margins, then keep reading…

When you think of your accountant, words like “reliable,” “advisor,” and “expert” may come to mind. After all, your accountant is ideally trained to assist you with managing your financial reporting, ensure you comply with tax regulations, lodging tax returns and to advise you on financial strategies and cash flow.

But possibly your accountant could be holding your business back?