Systems That Scale by CEO929.com
Systems That Scale is a business podcast for operators, founders, and consultants who are done guessing and ready to build repeatable, scalable systems.
Hosted by CEO929, this show breaks down the exact systems behind growth—sales, operations, marketing, automation, delegation, and execution—used by real businesses in the trenches. No hype. No theory. No “guru talk.”
Each episode delivers practical frameworks, breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes insights pulled directly from real-world implementation across service businesses, local brands, digital companies, and consulting operations.
If you’re building a business that needs structure, leverage, and scale—not motivation—this is your room.
Systems That Scale by CEO929.com
Scale Your Electrician Business: SOPs for Predictable Growth | Systems That Scale
Welcome to Systems That Scale, the podcast from CEO 929. Each week, we break down the frameworks, automations, and revenue systems that help service businesses scale without the chaos. I'm your host, and today we're diving into how electrician businesses can scale with standard operating procedures or SOPs for truly predictable growth. Let's get into it. Last year, Antoine Campbell sat with an electrical contractor who had just celebrated his best revenue month yet,$90,000. He looked frankly, miserable. His phone was glued to his ear, his truck was filled with half-finished paperwork, and he hadn't seen his kids play soccer in weeks. Antoine, he told him, I feel like I'm drowning. More money just means more headaches. Sound familiar? This story is all too common in the home service industry, especially for electricians. You start with incredible technical skill, a strong work ethic, and a desire to serve your community. You build a reputation, clients start pouring in, and before you know it, you're buried. You're still the primary technician, the dispatcher, the customer service rep, the accountant, and the sales guy. Trying to do it all is the fastest way to cap your income and burn out faster than a faulty circuit. The real issue here isn't just working hard, it's that your business depends entirely on you. Every call you miss, every estimate you delay, every scheduling conflict directly impacts your bottom line. The CEO 929 team has seen this pattern destroy hundreds of promising home service businesses. They hit a revenue ceiling, typically between$70,000 and$150,000 a month, because these owners simply cannot personally handle any more volume. This is exactly why Antoine often talks about the owner's trap, that self-imposed limitation that stops so many from truly scaling. So, how do you break free from this cycle? To truly achieve predictable, rapid growth in your electrician business, you need to detach your personal time and effort from your company's output. This isn't some abstract MBA level concept. It's about building a machine that runs smoothly, efficiently, and profitably, even when you're not physically in the truck or at the office. And that machine, as Antoine Campbell repeatedly emphasizes, is built on standard operating procedures or SOPs. Without them, you don't have a scalable business. You have an incredibly demanding, self-created job. Now, most business owners know they need SOPs. They've read the articles, maybe even downloaded a template or two. So why do so many fail to truly implement them, especially in a trade like electrical contracting? What the CEO 9209 team has observed are a few recurring reasons, and, frankly, some of them are tough pills to swallow. First, there's the I'm too busy excuse. It's a convenient shield, but it's a lie. You're too busy operating in your business to work on your business. Building SOPs feels like it slows you down, like it's a distraction from the immediate fire you need to put out. But it's actually an investment that pays dividends in freed up time, often adding 10 to 15 hours back into an owner's week within 90 days. Think about that. An extra day or two every week to focus on high-leverage activities or just to live your life. Then there's the ego trap. My guys know how to do it, or it's all in my head. This is a dangerous mindset. What happens when your most experienced technician gets sick, goes on vacation, or worse, leaves your company? Suddenly, all that in their head knowledge walks out the door. Good systems protect your business and empower your team. Another major mistake is trying to create perfect, overly complex SOPs from day one. People get bogged down in flowcharts and binders full of theoretical procedures that no one will ever read. That's not how you build effective systems. The ACE framework, Antoine developed, automate, create, execute, addresses this exact problem. The core idea is to start small, create minimum viable processes, and iterate. A simple checklist that saves 10 minutes per service call is infinitely more valuable than a 50-page manual gathering dust. Finally, there's the resistance from the team. Change is hard. Your electricians might feel like you're micromanaging them or stifling their autonomy. This is where leadership comes in. You need to explain the why, not just for the business, but for them. SOPs mean fewer errors, less rework, clearer expectations, and ultimately a more organized and less stressful workday for everyone. When your team understands how SOPs benefit them directly, compliance and adoption rates skyrocket. Quick reminder: if you're getting value from this episode, you can apply for a free revenue system audit at CEO929.com.audit. The CEO929 team will analyze your business and show you exactly where you're leaving money on the table. Now, back to the episode. So, you're ready to start building those vital SOPs, but where do you begin? When you're looking to scale an electrician business with SOPs, don't start by documenting every single technical task. That comes later. Your first priority should be the client journey. From the moment they first hear about you to the moment they pay their invoice and leave a review, every touch point needs a system. Think of it like this Your client's experience is a series of interconnected steps. Each step is an opportunity to impress or to fail spectacularly. The CEO 929 framework for predictable revenue focuses heavily on this because a chaotic client experience means lost leads, fewer repeat customers, and a stalled business. This is where you identify the critical moments that build trust and drive repeat business. Here's what you can do today to start creating your core SOPs. Focusing on the client journey first. 1. Map your client journey. Grab a whiteboard or a blank document and sketch out every major touch point a client has with your business. From initial inquiry all the way through post-service follow-up. Don't worry about perfect detail yet, just list the steps. Initial inquiry and lead qualification. Estimating and quoting. Scheduling and confirmation. On-site procedure. The client-facing aspects, not just the technical work. Invoicing and payment collection. Post-service follow-up and review generation. 2. Pick one critical touch point. Out of that list, choose one area that causes the most friction headaches or lost revenue. For many, Antoine often suggests starting with initial inquiry and lead qualification or post-service follow-up and review generation. Why? Because these are high-impact, often overlooked areas that don't require deep technical knowledge to document. 3. Draft a simple SOP for that touch point. Don't overthink it. Start with bullet points. What are the key steps? What information needs to be collected? What needs to be communicated? Who is responsible for each step? For example, if you chose initial inquiry, your SOP might include greet with script. Ask five qualification questions. Record info in CRM fields, X, Y, Z. Offer, next step. 4. Train and test with your team. Present your draft SOP to the team members responsible for that touch point. Explain the why, how this SOP will reduce errors, improve client satisfaction, or save them time. Get their feedback. Then, implement it. The CEO 9229 team emphasizes starting small, gathering feedback, and iterating quickly. Your SOPs are living documents. 5. Measure and refine. Give your new SOP a week or two, then review its effectiveness. Are you seeing improvements in the metrics you care about for that specific area? Are there still pain points? What can be added or removed to make it even better? This iterative process is key to building robust systems that actually get used and drive results. That's a wrap on this episode of Systems That Scale. For more insights on building predictable revenue, visit CEO929.com blog. And when you're ready to install real systems in your business, apply for your free audit at ceo929.com audit. Until next time, keep building those systems.