From One Truck to $12M: How Dustin Smith Built a Plumbing Empire in Memphis

From One Truck to $12M: How Dustin Smith Built a Plumbing Empire in Memphis

Ryan Redding • Jul 22, 2025

Button

From One Truck to $12M: How Dustin Smith Built a Plumbing Empire in Memphis

Dustin Smith is the Owner of Smith’s Plumbing Services, which specializes in residential plumbing services and installation. He also founded 901 Gives, a nonprofit organization that supports local initiatives by providing meals, sponsoring educational events, and assisting families in need. Recognized for his leadership and dedication, Dustin has been nominated for the Memphis Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40.

In today’s episode, Ryan and Dustin discuss how Dustin grew his shop from a zero-person startup to a company with over 50 employees.

Sponsor for this episode...

You’ve got your business off the ground, built a reliable team, and set goals for future growth. You’re ready to dominate, but you’re not seeing results. Now what?

As a home service business, you need to manage your brand. KickCharge Creative is a full-scale branding and digital marketing agency that sets the standard for home service companies in everything from branding , vehicle advertising, and print collateral to web design and digital strategy .

We help small home service businesses tell their stories in big ways. We’ll be your brand ambassadors, selling your story on the internet, social media platforms, smartphones, and even on your vans or trucks.

Ready to power up? Request a quote to get KICKCHARGED® and take your business to the next level.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Explore Recent Episodes

Episodes

Revolutionizing Home Comfort: Keating Kuhn on Clean Air and Smarter HVAC Solutions

By Ryan Redding • July 29, 2025

Keating Kuhn is the Co-founder of Gold Eagle Services, a leading HVAC and indoor air quality company creating healthier and more energy-efficient homes. With over 11 years of experience in the industry, Keating specializes in advanced mold remediation techniques like Pure Maintenance dry fogging.

How This Plumbing Company Went From $0 to $7 Million in 11 Months

By Ryan Redding • July 15, 2025

Patrick Fee is the Co-founder of Mr. Drain Plumbing, a top-rated local plumber. With over 25 years of experience in the plumbing industry, he began his career in engineering before working as a Regional Manager at Rooter Hero Plumbing & Air. In today’s episode, Ryan and Patrick talk about how Mr. Drain Plumbing grew to $7 million in just 11 months.

How This 3rd Generation Business Is Growing To 9 Figures With Matthew Stock

By Ryan Redding • July 8, 2025

Matthew Stock is the Owner and CEO of U.S. Waterproofing, a third-generation, family-owned company. Under his leadership, the company has become a leading provider of basement waterproofing and foundation repair services in the Midwest. In 2022, Matthew oversaw a strategic partnership with Rotunda Capital Partners to support the company's expansion. In today’s episode, Ryan and Matthew discuss what it means to scale a third-generation family-owned business into a national platform.

How To Grow Your Business Past $3 Million With Paul Olsen

By Ryan Redding • July 1, 2025

Paul Olsen is the CEO of Koala Cooling, a home services company. He previously served as a Master Plumber. Before Koala Cooling, Paul held plumbing roles at various companies, including 1st Home and Commercial Services and ABC Home & Commercial Services. In this episode, Paul and Ryan talk about the importance of processes and smart marketing to scale beyond $3 million.

How Smart Energy Tech Is Revolutionizing Home Electrification With Brian LaMorte

By Ryan Redding • June 24, 2025

Brian LaMorte is the Founder and Co-owner of LaMorte Electric Heating and Cooling, an environmentally conscious electrical and HVAC contracting company. As a licensed electrician and HVAC technician, he began his career as an Electrician at Cornell University. Brian is also active in climate advocacy, coaching other contractors on transitioning to clean energy technologies and supporting community-wide electrification efforts. In this episode, Ryan and Brian discuss how to mitigate peak electric demand.

How This Sparky Overcame New Business Struggles With Vinny Tingley

By Ryan Redding • June 17, 2025

Vincent (Vinny) Tingley is the Founder of Tingley Home Services, an HVAC and electrical company he started in 2003 before selling to an employee in 2021. As a licensed master electrician, he specializes in residential wiring, lighting, and troubleshooting. Vinny is also involved in the Natick Rotary Club, where he has led initiatives in opioid addiction prevention, youth programs, and international outreach, earning recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow. In this episode, Ryan and Vinny talk about the challenges Vinny faced as a new business.

The Long Game in Trades: Why Mentorship and Culture Win

By Ryan Redding • June 10, 2025

Chris West is the Founder of Chris West Plumbing, Inc., which he has developed into a leading brand in the industry. With 25 quality-vested team members, Chris West Plumbing was awarded 2024 Arkansas Business of the Year. Chris is an Army veteran with 35 years of experience in the trades. In this week’s episode, Ryan and Chris share leadership insights, including maintaining a strong work culture and growing talent in-house.

How Lazy Owners Built an Innovative Multimillion-Dollar Home Service Business

By Ryan Redding • June 3, 2025

Corby Felsher is the Founder and Owner of Central Park Cleaning, a premier house-cleaning service. Luisa McGrath serves as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. Under their leadership, Central Park Cleaning has achieved a 25% improvement in operational efficiency by implementing advanced time tracking and employee management systems. In this episode, Ryan, Corby, and Luisa discuss how they run their business on autopilot through systems and processes.

How Ray Stubbs’ People-First Approach Grew His Business 10X in Four Years

By Ryan Redding • May 27, 2025

Ray Stubbs is the Owner and President of Tru North Heating & Air, an HVAC repair shop he purchased in 2020. Under his leadership, Tru North has scaled from $400,000 to $4 million. With 16 years of experience in home sales, Ray worked with four $100+ million remodeling companies, including Power HRG, Bath Fitters, Empire Today, and The Solid Wood Cabinet Company. In this episode, Ryan and Ray discuss how Ray’s focus on people allowed him to scale his business to new heights.

No Gimmicks, Just Trust: Redefining HVAC Services With Blake Vantrease

By Ryan Redding • May 20, 2025

Blake Vantrease is the Owner of Honest Air Heating and Cooling, which he started to provide exceptional customer service through honesty, reliability, and expert knowledge. With over a decade of experience in the heating and air industry, his expertise and integrity have earned Honest Air numerous five-star reviews. In this week’s episode, Ryan and Blake discuss how Blake scaled his small business non-traditionally — without any marketing strategies.