How to Build a Profitable, Scalable Trades Business: Lessons from Dana Staszkiewicz

The home services industry moves fast, and growing a company takes more than just technical know-how. Real operational discipline, financial mastery, and a focus on people are the building blocks of a business that lasts. So, how do you transform a good company into a great one, especially in a rapidly changing market?

In this episode of Catalyst for the Trades, Jennifer Bagley sits down with Dana Staszkiewicz, co-founder of Opus & Golds and former COO of All Hours Plumbing. Dana and her brother scaled the company from $12M to $20M in under three years, without a playbook. Now, Dana helps owners and team leaders master their numbers, build reliable processes, and actually hold their teams (and families) accountable for high performance.

This episode is packed with practical wisdom for owners juggling growth, legacy family dynamics, and up-to-the-minute operational challenges. Dana shares the real story of what it takes to level up—and the critical mistakes you can avoid along the way.

Why You Should Listen

If you’re running a trades business and feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of scaling up, hiring (or firing) family, or managing change among your OG team members, this episode is for you. Dana and Jennifer break down exactly how to move from chaos to control, whether your goal is to exit, pass the company to the next generation, or simply build a more resilient shop.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. Get Control of Your Finances

Dana reveals how she and her brother moved from “checking the bank balance” to actually budgeting, forecasting, and analyzing performance every single week. Discover why financial discipline is the first step to real profit (and better decision-making).

2. Build Systems, Not Just Sweat 

No job descriptions, no processes, no accountability? That’s where most companies start. Dana explains how documenting roles, building SOPs, and defining KPIs were the game-changers for sustainable growth (and peace of mind).

3. Why Accountability Makes or Breaks Growth 

Dana unpacks how holding people, especially family, accountable can be make-or-break for your culture and your bottom line. Learn how she built a culture where everyone knows what they need to hit daily, weekly, and monthly.

4. How to Navigate Family and Legacy Challenges 

Do you have long-time employees or family in key roles? Learn how Dana handled the toughest conversations, earned respect as a “corporate outsider,” and helped everyone level up together.

5. The Power of Regular, Action-Oriented Reviews 

Find out how quarterly and annual operational reviews, from job costing to marketing ROI, help you make course corrections before small problems become big ones.

6. Self-Development That Actually Fits Your Schedule 

Hear Dana’s tips for making self-improvement a daily habit, without sacrificing your business or your family (yes, even if you’re just catching a podcast while walking the dog).

7. Why Community (and Consistent Support) Fuels Success 

Dana shares how mastermind groups, coaching, and connection with peers, especially for women in trades, can break isolation and spark innovation.

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