October 14, 2026
If You Market to Everyone, You’re an Expert to No One | Tracy Fryer
If you market to everyone, are you an expert to no one?
TRADIE. BUSINESS OWNER. PODCAST HOST.
Build the business
behind the trade
Business coaching for tradies, from someone who's been on the tools. I spent years building a trade business and learning the business side the hard way. Now I share what worked, what didn't, and bring Perth trade business owners together.
$30M
Revenue Built at Smartfix
130+
Managed staff
Private
Trade network
40under40
2026 Award Winner
Private
Trade network
40under40
2026 Award Winner
Built from experience
I’VE BEEN IN THE TRADE. I’VE BUILT THE BUSINESS.
I’m Kane Tyler Smith. I’ve spent the last 19+ years in the trades, from being on the tools to building and running Smartfix here in Perth.
Most of what I know about business didn’t come from a textbook. It came from hiring people, getting pricing wrong, fixing systems, managing cash flow, making tough calls and adapting as the business grew and changed.
Hypotential, the podcast and the work I do with other trade business owners all come from that experience. If you run a trade business in Perth and everything still runs through you, you’re who I built this for. Start with the free weekly email, or come along to the next Hypotential night.
Support you & your business
Three ways I can help
Whether you want a community around you, ideas in your ears, or to work with me directly, there's a way in that fits where your business is right now.
01
Unlocking business podcast
Real conversations on building a business in the trades. Hosted by me, with the operators, founders and experts I learn from.
Learn more02
The hypotential network
Private network for tradies. Community, monthly online workshops and in-person networking events. Grow alongside people who get it.
Learn more03
Work one-on-one
One-on-one business coaching for owners ready to go deeper. Apply to work directly with me, I take on a limited number of businesses, by application only.
Learn moreThe smartfix story
How I know it works
Eight years, one ute, and a business that grew to 130+ staff before I pulled it back to something better. Here's how it actually happened, year by year.
2018
Solo.
1 Ute
I start Smartfix out of Perth’s north. Zero staff, zero playbook.
2020
$1.3M
7 Staff
First real system, first real leadership pressure, and revenue tracking built from nothing.
2022
$6.3M
24 STAFF
Expanded into plumbing and multi-trade operations. Culture got defined the hard way, through the growing pains.
2024
$30M
130+ Staff
More trades, more offices, more revenue. From the outside it looked like success. Inside, it was managers managing managers, and I’d lost touch with almost everything.
2026
Now.
30 Staff
I pulled it back to 30 staff and one office. It’s profitable, calmer and doesn’t need me in every decision. Everything that worked, and didn’t, is what I now share through Hypotential.
The hypotential network
Business is better with good people around you
Running a trade business can be isolating, especially when most of the people around you don’t understand what comes with it. Hypotential brings Perth trade business owners together to talk openly, learn from each other and work through the business side of the trade.
You're not alone
Running a trade business is a different kind of pressure to being on the tools for someone else. There’s no one to check your pricing with, no manager down the hall when a job goes sideways, and no one handing you the answers.
That’s true whether you’re six months in or six years in with a team behind you.
That’s true whether you’re six months in or six years in with a team behind you.
That’s what Hypotential is built around, bringing trade business owners together to compare notes, ask better questions and learn from people dealing with the same things you are.
Built from a live business
The systems I share are running right now, in Perth, in the same market you compete in. Pulled straight from a live business, not a US playbook.
Systems over motivation
Knowing your trade got you this far. Growing it takes different tools: a quoting system that works, a lead flow you can rely on, and a team that runs properly without you standing over it.
Perth. Not a template.
WA labour costs. Perth customers. Finding and keeping good people. The realities of operating here. Hypotential is built around a local network, not advice from the other side of the world.
The Hypotential Podcast
Real conversations Forward thinking
Episode 24
Buy a House or Open a Shop? He Put Everything Into the Shop | Edward Maradona
I sit down with Edward Maradona, who put every dollar into one shop instead of a house deposit and built…
Episode 23
She Almost Deleted the Email That Changed Everything | Christina Papafilis
I sit down with Christina Papafilis of Connective Services Group, who went from employee to business owner in three weeks…
Latest Articles
Keep Building Your System
September 30, 2026
Stop renting your leads. Start owning them.
Ads stop working the day you stop paying. Good content keeps bringing in leads for years. Here is how tradies can own their leads.
September 23, 2026
Who Should You Hire First in a Plumbing Business?
Apprentice, qualified plumber or admin? How I'd pick the first hire in a plumbing business, with lessons from Rhys Booth and my own mistakes.
September 16, 2026
Mental Health for Trade Business Owners: What to Watch For
The signs I watch for in myself and my crew, what my worst year in business taught me, and where tradies can get help…
Tools & platforms used by modern trade businesses
What people say about Kane
Don't take my word for it
“Kane’s entrepreneurial skills have come to light as he steered Smartfix through both prosperous times and challenging hurdles. Hypotential is a great fit for Kane. He would be a great tutor if you are looking to expand your business.”
Mak Rullo
Director, Maine Finance
“I have known Kane professionally for almost a decade. In that time, he has expanded his business from a sole trader operation to a multi-faceted business. His success is down to his ability to recognise market opportunities, bringing out the best in his staff and working hard to achieve the goals he sets himself.”
James Freeman
Freeman & Associates
“Always calm under pressure and clinical in decision making. Willing to make hard decisions. Kane is honest and upfront. He does what he says and follows through on it. I appreciate his approach and is someone I can pick up the phone and get real feedback on where things are at in terms of a transaction or his business. Would recommend Kane!”
Luke Randazzo
Director, Burgess Rawson
“I’ve known Kane Smith since 2022 in my capacity as his insurance broker, working closely with him and supporting the growth of Smartfix during that time…I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand how Kane operates as a business owner and leader. He communicates clearly, makes well-considered decisions, and approaches challenges with a calm, solutions-focused mindset. He doesn’t cut corners…
Mark Chafe
BJS Insurance Brokers WA (North)
“During my time working at Smartfix, I was consistently impressed by Kane’s ability to lead with clear communication, apply a methodical approach to problem-solving, and develop practical systems that truly work in real-world conditions…He shows genuine care for both clients and team members alike, building trust and respect across the board.”
Mark Laruffa
Director, FixIt Trades
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kane from Smartfix on a number of projects over the past few years and have always found him to be honest, straightforward, and highly professional. Based on my experience working with him, I would confidently recommend Kane and trust the work he is doing with Hypotential.”
Sarah Morrissey
Owner Morrissey Blinds & Interiors
“I’ve been working with Kane just over 10 months now, & it’s been an absolute pleasure. He’s incredibly easy to work with, responsive, & consistent in the way he approaches decisions & growth. Kane brings a calm, solutions focused mindset to everything we work on & is always open to testing, refining & improving without ego. What really stands out is his reliability & the…
Jeremy Decker
Paid Media Plus
Want to work with me directly?
I take on a limited number of trade businesses one-on-one. Tell me about yours and I’ll be in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hypotential business coaching for tradies?
Yes, but not the textbook kind. Hypotential is business coaching for tradies built from running a real trade business. I grew Smartfix from one ute to 130+ staff and $30M a year, and everything I share comes from what worked and what didn’t. Join the private network for monthly workshops and events, or apply to work with me one-on-one.
What is included in my Hypotential membership?
Your membership includes access to the private Hypotential trade network, a monthly business workshop, and the member portal with workshop recordings, practical tools, resources and other business content. You’ll also be able to connect with other Perth trade business owners and access Hypotential’s official partners when you need specialist support.
Is Hypotential only for businesses trying to grow bigger?
Not at all. Growth doesn’t have to mean more staff, more vans or more revenue. For some owners, it means better margins, stronger systems, fewer hours on the tools or simply having more control over the business they already have. Hypotential is about helping you build a better business for what you actually want from it.
I’ve just started my business. Is this too early for me?
Not at all. Getting around other business owners early can help you avoid having to figure everything out the hard way. Hypotential gives you a place to ask questions, learn from people further along and start building better habits around things like pricing, numbers, systems and running the business from the beginning.
Weekly Email From Kane
Straight to your Inbox
Join the newsletter for a weekly email from Kane: the current challenges, honest thoughts and real business breakdowns he’s working through right now. No spam, ever.