How to Build a Trade Business the Smart Way (Before You Even Start): Andrew’s Story
Most tradies wait until they’re drowning before they fix the business.
Andrew Hicks did the opposite: he joined the Academy three months before launching Discover Electrical.
Eighteen months later he’s grown a team, hired early (and smart), and built systems that let him work on the business, not in it—despite all the noise telling him to “get back on the tools.”
Here’s what he did (and how you can copy it).
The “Start Before You Start” Advantage
Andrew didn’t wait for chaos to teach him lessons. He learned the playbook first.
Joined Incubator early to set foundations: pricing, Cost of Ops, org chart, hiring plan.
Launched with systems, not guesswork (job management, processes, clear roles).
Hired an A-grade in week two—and backed himself to fill the schedule.
“I worked out I could afford seven weeks of wages. That forced me to hustle, negotiate supplier terms, and win work fast.”
Lesson: Preparing before you’re swamped lets you make brave decisions (like hiring capable people early) without flying blind.
Ignore the Noise: Get Off the Tools (On Purpose)
Andrew copped the classic comments:
“You should be digging trenches.” “Get on the roof or you’re not setting the example.”
He stayed the course.
Goal from day one: full-time admin ASAP so he could focus on sales, leadership, and growth.
Reality: part-time admin first, then a hybrid operations hire (admin + ops + marketing + scheduling) to take bigger chunks off his plate.
“I slid a new role across the table—pulled from my own responsibilities. He smiled as he read it. He wanted to help us grow.”
Lesson: Lead the business you want. The right back-office support multiplies owner impact more than another day on the tools.
Hire for Capability, Not Just Cost
Cheap labour feels safe. It isn’t.
Two weeks in, Andrew hired an experienced tradesperson he “couldn’t really afford”—then made the numbers work (supplier terms, faster billing, tighter cashflow).
Outcome: bigger jobs, fewer callbacks, more time for growth activity.
Lesson: Capability creates capacity. Put strong people in early and grow into them.
Systems That Create Control (and Confidence)
Andrew’s early non-negotiables:
Cost of Operations (Cost of Ops): know your real hourly cost before you price or hire.
Org Chart by responsibilities: then build hybrid roles that match the person you find.
Time blocking: coloured calendar for everything—toolbox talks, 1:1s, quoting, family pickups. If it matters, it’s blocked.
“Without time blocking, you get reactive. With it, you keep momentum on the big goals.”
Lesson: Systems beat memory. Block the vital few, and you’ll stop trading your priorities for other people’s urgencies.
Culture on Purpose: Toolboxes & 1:1s
Andrew runs toolbox talks every two weeks and monthly 1:1s with every team member.
They set work + life goals (“What do you want to achieve this month?” “How can I help?”).
He looks for chances to remove friction (training, support, even helping with a home project).
Result: real connection, real accountability, real morale.
Lesson: Culture isn’t pizza on Fridays. It’s consistent conversations that make people better at work and life.
Handling Overwhelm (Without Melting Down)
When the business heats up:
Breathe first, text second: buy 24 hours on a quote if needed. Reset.
Health non-negotiables: train 5–6am, protect sleep, eat well.
Visual journaling: Andrew sketches a “bucket” model—fill your own bucket first so it overflows to family and contribution.
“Looking after yourself isn’t selfish—it’s how you show up better for everyone else.”
Lesson: Owners who last treat energy like a KPI. Guard it.
If You’re About to Start (or Stuck Right Now)
Steal these from Andrew:
Join before you launch (or before you “have time”). Learn first, then build.
Know your Cost of Ops and set prices that protect margin.
Hire capability early and create roles around people who can grow the business.
Time-block the big rocks (sales, leadership, toolboxes, family). Keep the rhythm.
Lead the office first—admin/ops support unlocks your time more than another day on the tools.
Andrew’s journey shows you don’t need years of pain to figure this out. You need the right sequence: learn → set foundations → hire capability → systemise → lead.
👉 Listen to the full episode of the Tradies Success Podcast with Andrew Hicks (Discover Electrical) to hear exactly how he did it—and map the next steps for your business.
