Kate Raymond, CEO of Master Electricians Australia, joins Joey Hidalgo for Episode 1 of The Profitable Estimator Podcast – CounterMeasure Series. With 25+ years in construction law, regulation, and industry leadership, Kate’s story is a masterclass in challenging trade bias, embracing innovation, and building sustainable businesses.

In this episode:

• The quiet gender biases still happening on job sites
• How to lead with equity—no matter your trade or team size
• Why skilled migration isn’t a debate—it’s a necessity
• What estimating tools and AI sparkies should actually use
• The MEA resources every electrical business owner needs to protect their license and price profitably

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
🔗 Links + free bonus checklist in the show notes below.
👇 Subscribe to never miss a margin-boosting episode.

In this episode of The Profitable Estimator Podcast, Joey sits down with Lawrence Petruzzelli, a leading accountant and business advisor from Queensland. Lawrence shares his journey in accounting, why financial education matters more than ever, and how builders and estimators can protect their margins in today’s challenging environment.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Lawrence’s background in accounting and business advisory
• How MDB Accounting supports businesses beyond tax compliance
• The role of financial education and why most businesses struggle without it
• Insights into content creation and street interviews that spark financial awareness
• Practical advice for builders and business owners to improve financial outcomes

Timestamp
00:00 – Opening thoughts: the accountant’s view on estimating 
00:48 – Introduction: Joey welcomes Lawrence Petruzzelli 
01:30 – Lawrence’s background and MDB Accounting 
05:00 – Estimating costs, risk, and profitability challenges 
10:00 – Inflation, labour shortages, and cost pressures 
15:00 – Business advisory vs. traditional accounting 
20:00 – Financial education and content creation 
25:00 – Advice for builders and estimators under pressure 
30:00 – Final thoughts and key takeaways  

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#Estimating #ConstructionBusiness #Builders #Profitability #BusinessAdvisory #Accounting #Tradies #ConstructionEstimating #SmallBusinessFinance #TMC

We talk about the real reason apprentices struggle, where most tradies lose profit, and what it looks like to train a team that turns up on time and gets the job done right.

If you run a trade business, manage quoting, or want to grow with less chaos, this one’s for you.

Guest:
Corey Pont
Top Coat Painting, Melbourne VIC
25+ years of experience | Dulux Accredited | Committee Leader, Wyndham BizNet

Timestamps:
0:00 Opening remarks / cold open
0:18 Podcast intro — Meet Corey Pont of Top Coat Painting
2:34 What pulled a Kiwi-trained painter across to Australia?
6:45 What’s the main focus for Top Coat Painting in 2025?
8:44 What practical fix are we still missing for the trade shortage?
10:41 Where do painting businesses lose the most profit — and how do you stop it?
12:10 What systems keep your crew punctual and sites spotless?
13:44 What’s the biggest construction growth sector by 2030?
14:29 What's the most overhyped tech in the painting industry?
16:44 What advice would you give to new tradie business owners?

Subscribe for more episodes on estimating, trade business strategy, and building remote teams that work.

#TheProfitableEstimator #TradeBusiness #PaintingIndustry #Estimating #RemoteTeams