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Contractors have spent the last several years adjusting to higher material costs, labor shortages, changing consumer demand and a housing market that never quite returned to normal. Now interest rates are moving higher again. In September, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to a target range of 3.75% to

When a company’s operations start to strain, the first instinct is almost always the same. We bought the wrong tools. So the search begins. A better scheduling platform. A different CRM. Something with stronger reporting. The assumption underneath all of it is that somewhere out there is the right piece of software, and once it’s

by Nick Mraz – Cilio Pro Advisor Every disconnected tech stack started with good intentions. Someone needed a better way to manage leads. They bought a tool. Someone else needed to track job status. They bought another tool. The estimating process was a mess, so they added a quoting platform. A new manager came in

By Paul Wyman | A Cilio Pro Advisor A few weeks ago I had a tree contractor come out to repair some irrigation damage in my yard. He showed up, looked at the damage, and told me he did not have the right PVC elbow on his truck to fix it. The job was incomplete.

On March 19th, 2026, Cilio hosted a webinar titled “Leads, Labor & Lending.” The session brought together (6) industry experts to help home services contractors navigate a market that feels more unpredictable than ever.  Gary White, VP at Installations Made Easy, provided current housing and retail trends. Josh, CEO of Toolbelt, spoke about workforce and labor capacity. Ken Conway from Bayview Financial/Fastlane Lending shared insights on lending and

On July 9th, 2025, Cilio hosted a focused training session titled “Managing by the Numbers”, led by Gary Cohen of Certified Contractors Network (CCN). The session was designed specifically for home installation business owners looking to take control of their operations and drive real profit.  The training breaks down the key reasons why many home

The first quarter of 2025 has presented a complex landscape for the home improvement industry. Major retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Ace Hardware have reported mixed results, reflecting broader economic challenges such as tariff uncertainties, inflation, and shifting consumer behaviors.  For home installation contractors and remodeling professionals, understanding these trends is crucial for navigating

The latest earnings reports from Lowe’s and Home Depot provide some of the most positive news in recent years for contractors and the home improvement industry. For the first time in 2.5 years, both companies posted positive comparable sales, signaling strength in the Pro market and continued demand for home improvement projects. While large discretionary

Labor shortages in the home improvement industry are nothing new, but lately, they’ve been hitting harder than ever. As we look toward the next few years, one thing’s clear: skilled workers are going to be key to the success of contractors, installers, and businesses in this space. But with fewer people entering the field, it’s

On January 28th, 2025, Cilio sponsored a webinar titled “Home Improvement 2025: Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions”. The webinar moderated by Gary White, included guest speaker Todd Tomalak (Zonda), plus a panel of industry experts that included Josh Blake (Premier Services Group) and Nick Simmons (Install Partners). Each offered real-world perspectives on labor and operational challenges.