The Blackex Blog
Building something you believe in.
Real talk for owners and founders on purpose, profit, cash and structure.
From Terrence
Why I Started Blackex
Air Force veteran Terrence Craddock on why he started Blackex: to help business owners who believe in what they are building.
Read the postFrom Terrence · 2 min readYour Business Is Your Belief, Built Out
Every business starts with a belief. Here is how to protect that belief when the day-to-day gets heavy, from an owner and consultant.
Read the postFrom Terrence · 2 min readWhat the Air Force Taught Me About Running a Business
Lessons from military service for small business owners: mission first, take care of your people, and decide with good information.
Read the postFrom Terrence · 2 min readThe Shy Kid Who Found His Voice
From a shy Philly kid to a business owner: why confidence is built, not born, and what that means for owners who hate selling.
Read the postFor business owners
How to Get More Calls From Your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a local customer sees. Simple steps any owner can take this week to show up on Google and get more calls.
Read the postFor trade owners · 5 min readBusiness Consulting for Tradesmen: What It Fixes and What It Costs
What a business consultant actually does for HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other trade companies: pricing, job costing, memberships, cash and getting the owner off the tools. Plus what it costs.
Read the postFor owners · 3 min readThe Charges Nobody Approved: A One-Hour Check on Your Recurring Costs
Software, subscriptions and auto-renewals creep up every year. A one-hour check to find the recurring charges your business no longer needs.
Read the postFor owners · 3 min readYour Business on One Screen: Inside the Blackex Client Portal
Your score, your plan, your weekly numbers and the profit you've recovered, in one place. A tour of what Blackex clients see every week.
Read the postFor owners · 2 min readPaying for ServiceTitan but Not Seeing the Results? A Guide for HVAC and Trade Owners
A ServiceTitan specialist's guide for HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other trade owners: the setup gaps that cost money and how to fix them.
Read the postFor owners · 3 min readSales Are Up. So Why Is the Bank Account Empty?
Profitable on paper but short of cash? Here are the three places the money is usually sitting, and one page that fixes the surprise.
Read the postFor owners · 2 min readWhen Did You Last Raise Your Prices?
Costs went up. Did your prices? The simple math behind why a small price increase is the fastest profit improvement most businesses have.
Read the postFor owners · 2 min readThe Job You Keep Losing Money On
If you never compare what a job cost with what you bid, the same kind of job will keep losing money. A 15-minute habit that fixes it.
Read the postFor owners · 2 min readWhat a Fractional CFO Actually Does, and When You Need One
A fractional CFO gives a growing business senior financial leadership for a monthly fee. What they do, what they do not do, and six signs you need one.
Read the postFor owners · 2 min readIf You Took 30 Days Off, What Would Break?
A business that cannot run without its owner is harder to grow, harder to sell and exhausting to run. A simple test and five ways to fix it.
Read the postFor startups
How to Price Your Product or Service Before You Open
Most new businesses guess at their prices. Here is a simple way to set a price that covers your costs, pays you and leaves a profit, with a worked break-even example.
Read the postStartups · 2 min readWhat a Lender Wants to See Before Saying Yes
Applying for a startup business loan? The five things lenders judge, the documents to prepare, and the mistakes that get new businesses turned down.
Read the postStartups · 2 min readSeven First-Year Mistakes That Are Cheap to Avoid
The habits that cost established companies money start in year one. Seven common startup mistakes and the simple fix for each.
Read the postStart here
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