Issue · 2026-06-10
The $30 GPS Dongle That Beats a $50/Mo Fleet Tracker
Fleet GPS costs $35-60/month per vehicle. For a solo tradie with one truck, a $30 OBD dongle and free app does almost everything you need.
The VettedCalls Newsletter
Every Friday at noon. One short email. Tips, tricks, and ways to make your business more profitable - especially around phones, leads, and voice AI.
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Past issues
Issue · 2026-06-05
Stop Paying $30/Mo for Voicemail Transcription
Paid voicemail transcription is a $30/mo upsell you don't need. iOS and Android both have free built-in options that work just as well. Here's the setup.
Issue · 2026-06-02
The $50/mo Stack That Replaces a $500/mo Agency
A Zapier-free-tier, Resend, and Twilio stack can automate lead follow-up and review requests for solo tradespeople at under $50/mo — no agency needed.
Issue · 2026-05-29
How to Charge for Travel Time (Without Losing Jobs)
Most tradespeople never charge for travel time. This issue shows you the exact pricing language and structure to fix that without losing customers.
Issue · 2026-05-22
The Only Time Tracker a Solo Tradie Actually Needs
Most time-tracking apps are upsells in disguise. Here's the minimal free stack solo tradies need to track hours, bill accurately, and stop leaving money on the table.
Issue · 2026-05-15
Auto-Transcribe Every Customer Call for Under $15/Mo
How solo tradespeople can auto-transcribe every customer call for record-keeping using Otter, Whisper, and free alternatives — without paying $200/mo for enterprise software.
Issue · 2026-05-08
Stop Paying $420/Year for QuickBooks You Don't Use
QuickBooks Online costs $35/month and most solo tradies use a fraction of it. Here's how switching to Wave saves you $420/year in two hours.
Issue · 2026-05-01
The Cheapest CRM Setup That Actually Works for Solo Trades
Housecall Pro costs $49/mo and was built for multi-truck operations. Here's the honest CRM breakdown for solo tradespeople who want leads managed, not buried.
Issue · 2026-04-27
Google Voice Is Free — And Costing You Leads
Google Voice looks like a smart free move for solo tradies. Here's why its three hidden limits are quietly killing your inbound leads and revenue.
Issue · 2026-04-24
Voice AI vs. Answering Services: The Real Math
Voice AI receptionists cost 40x less than human answering services. Here's the real per-minute math and when it makes sense for solo tradespeople.
Issue · 2026-04-22
Cut Your Phone Bill by $70/Mo With One Afternoon of Work
Most tradies pay $80-120/mo for a business line they don't need. Here's how to port to an eSIM + VoIP stack and pocket $70/mo back.
Issue · 2026-04-18
Welcome - One Email a Week, No Fluff
The first issue of the VettedCalls Newsletter. What to expect, why we write it, and one immediate action worth more than the rest of the email combined.