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About this Episode
Adam Swain, owner of Swain Co. in Indianapolis, joins the show to talk crawl spaces, basements, and building a values-driven contracting company. Adam grew up in the trade, launched the business with his father, and shares the pivotal moment in 2017 when his dad passed away—and how the team rallied to grow stronger than ever. We get into training that actually sticks (including hands-on booths at their shop), why they use zero-commission sales, hiring from within, giving back to the community, and the unusual reality of competing with family members—“the crawlspace mafia,” as Bill jokes. Adam also offers hard-won advice for smaller contractors ready to scale without sacrificing integrity.
Key takeaways
- Growing through adversity: the inflection point after losing a founder
- Training that matters: on-site booths, leadership development for foremen
- Zero-commission sales and why it builds trust (and better jobs)
- Hiring from within and creating real career paths
- Community impact as a growth lever (local sports, charities)
- Competing with family—staying cordial while staying sharp
- Practical advice to level up: humility, listening, and taking the first leap
Visit Rainmaker For Contractors:
https://rainmakerforcontractors.com/
Check Out Our Podcast Page:
https://rainmakerforcontractors.com/podcast/
I’m Bill Crawford, Owner of Rainmaker For Contractors. RFC began as a passion after owning a Home Improvement Franchise in the Chicagoland area for 15 years. I’ve taken what I’ve learned from being an owner used what has worked – And thrown out what has not. As a result, I’ve created an internet marketing agency focused on helping contractors grow their businesses. An important factor in Rainmaker For Contractor’s current success is predicated on my experience training over 650 employees and setting up and monitoring over 500 waterproofing trade shows.
