In this episode of the Welding Business Owners Podcast, I sit down with Josh Hewitt — entrepreneur, HVAC company owner, host of the Tradesmen Experience podcast, and cofounder of Blue Collar Insiders and True Pros.

This conversation goes way deeper than just welding or HVAC. We talk about what actually makes a blue-collar business succeed long term: leadership, culture, communication, job costing, hiring, sales, customer experience, and learning how to think like a business owner instead of just a technician.

Josh shares hard lessons from growing multiple companies, getting stuck in the same problems most trades business owners face, and what it really takes to build a team that cares about the customer as much as you do. We also dive into why so many businesses stay chaotic even when they’re busy, the danger of “out-earning” your mistakes, and how systems and leadership completely change the game.

If you own a welding business, fabrication shop, HVAC company, or any blue-collar business, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can apply immediately.

Topics we cover:

• Leadership and company culture
• Hiring people who actually care
• Why most trades businesses stay stuck
• Job costing and understanding your numbers
• Customer experience and communication
• Building systems that scale
• Sales without feeling “salesy”
• Managing teams and accountability
• Why being busy does NOT always mean profitable
• The Welding Business Summit & Fabricator Olympics

Check out Josh Hewitt:
Instagram: @bluecollarinsiders
Blue Collar Insiders
Tradesmen Experience Podcast

Learn more about the Welding Business Summit:
WeldingBusinessSummit.com

September 11th and 12th.

www.WeldingBusinessSummit.com

www.FabricatorOlympics.com

Trying to build a welding business while working a full-time job?

That’s exactly what Dan from DC Built is doing—and in this episode, we break down what it really takes to grow a welding business on nights and weekends.

This isn’t theory. This is what it looks like when you’re juggling a day job, limited time, and still trying to build something that actually makes money.

We get into:

• How Dan balances a full-time job while growing his welding business
• How to decide which jobs are actually worth your time
• Pricing when you can’t afford to waste hours on low-profit work
• The biggest mistakes guys make when starting on the side
• What’s helping him build real momentum without going full-time

If you’re trying to turn your welding skills into a real business—but you’re stuck working a job during the day—this episode will give you a more realistic path forward.

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🎯 This episode is for:

• Welding business owners working a full-time job
• Side hustle welders trying to grow
• Fabricators looking to make more money with limited time

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Subscribe for more real-world advice on building a profitable welding business, pricing your work, and growing without wasting time.

#WeldingBusiness #SideHustle #WeldingLife #Fabrication #TradesBusiness #SmallBusiness

September 11th and 12th.

www.WeldingBusinessSummit.com

www.FabricatorOlympics.com

What happens when your welding business starts succeeding… but your life starts falling apart?

In this episode, Tyson from Fine Iron breaks down the reality most shop owners don’t talk about. He went from a high school biology teacher to building a fast-growing fabrication business—but the growth came at a cost. Long days, constant pressure, and a business that completely took over his life.

Eventually, he hit a breaking point.

Instead of pushing harder like most guys would… he did the opposite.

He downsized.

Cut the team in half, rebuilt his systems, and started focusing on efficiency instead of just more work. What came out of that decision is a completely different kind of welding business—leaner, more profitable, and built to actually support his life instead of consume it.

We also get into:

• How he rebuilt his shop after burnout
• Why “more employees” isn’t always the answer
• Using tech like laser welding and 3D scanning to do more with less
• The shift from chaos to systems that actually work
• How he turned new tech into a second revenue stream
• And what most welding shop owners are doing wrong when they try to grow

If you’re running a welding business and feel like you’re constantly chasing your tail… this one’s going to hit home.