How to Escape 80-Hour Weeks in Your Trade Business: Todd’s Story
Many tradies think working harder will fix their problems. More hours. More weekends. More sacrifice.
But what happens when you’re working 80–90 hours a week, missing family time, and still not making enough profit?
That was reality for Todd, owner of a signage and line-marking business, before he learned how to grow a trade business the smart way.
Today, Todd’s business runs with better systems, skilled staff, and strong margins — and he’s finally taking a 4-week holiday overseas without the business falling apart.
Here’s how he did it (and how you can too).
The Trade Business Burnout Cycle
Todd spent years stuck in the grind:
Long hours: 5am starts, late nights finishing quotes and payroll.
No balance: “My wife lost a husband. There was no life left.”
Hiring mistakes: Cheap juniors who created more work than they solved.
Constant overwhelm: Always putting out fires instead of building the business.
This is the classic trade business burnout cycle — working harder without seeing more profit or freedom.
The Turning Point: Smarter Hiring, Not Cheaper Hiring
Most tradies make the same mistake: they put on an apprentice or junior first to “save money.”
Todd learned the hard way this doesn’t work. Cheap hires cost more in:
Mistakes and callbacks
Time wasted on training and supervision
Lost opportunities because the owner is distracted
“The real cost of cheap hires is hundreds of thousands a year in lost opportunity.”
The shift came when Todd started hiring seniors with proven skills. Suddenly jobs ran smoother, he wasn’t being called every 5 minutes, and the business could actually grow without him.
Trade Business Systems That Create Time Freedom
Hiring was only part of the solution. To truly step back, Todd implemented systems that every trade business needs to scale:
Admin & Ops Support: A full-time office manager and VA to take admin and scheduling off his plate.
Shopping List Pricing System: A pricing tool that standardises quotes and removes emotion — meaning every job is profitable.
Cost of Operations (Cost of Ops): Understanding the true cost of running the business so he could set the right margins.
CRM for Trades: Tracking customers, quotes, and jobs from first enquiry to final invoice.
These trade business systems gave Todd the confidence to step away — knowing the company wouldn’t collapse without him.
Todd’s Chevy he finally has time to take out
The Holiday Test: Can Your Trade Business Run Without You?
For the first time in four years, Todd is taking a 4-week holiday with his wife.
The big test? Seeing if his business runs without him there.
“Every sector can run if I step out. It might not be 100% — it might even be better because sometimes I’m the blockage.”
This is the ultimate test of a trade business: can it survive, or even thrive, when you’re not around?
Lessons for Trade Business Owners Who Feel Stuck
Todd’s story shows that escaping 80-hour weeks is possible for any tradie who’s willing to change how they think about business:
Hire for experience, not just cost — the right people make you money.
Put admin and ops support in place early — don’t wait until you’re drowning.
Know your Cost of Ops — pricing mistakes kill profit.
Use systems, not memory — pricing tools, CRMs, and workflows create freedom.
Protect your health and relationships — you can always rebuild a business, but not your marriage or wellbeing.
Ready to Build a Trade Business That Runs Without You?
If you’re working long hours, stuck in the grind, and wondering how to grow your trade business without burning out, Todd’s story proves it’s possible.
The secret isn’t harder work — it’s the right hires, the right systems, and the right support.
👉 Listen to the full episode of the Tradies Success Podcast to hear Todd’s journey in his own words, and discover the practical steps to reclaim your time and scale your business.
