There’s a photo floating around on LinkedIn this week of an old green Ford Courier (featured here).

No logos, nothing fancy, just parked in an unassuming driveway. Doesn’t look like much. But if you’ve ever started a business from scratch, you know exactly what that ute stands for.

That was the start of The New Home Electrical Specialist (TNHES) and nine years on, that same bloke, (Alan Brannick), is running a cracking business with a solid team, strong systems, and a clear sense of purpose.

It’s a familiar story for many tradies, but this one stands out. While most small businesses don’t survive the first few years, TNHES is still here growing, adapting, and showing what happens when you back yourself, find your focus, and do the work.

When Alan started out in April 2016, the business was called PBR Electrical. One ute. A hot garage. A desk. And a whole lot of determination.

“We worked across all kinds of sectors… commercial, service, elevators, NBN, and your typical domestic jobs,” Alan shared.

“We got the work done, but truth be told, productivity and business know-how were limited.”

Then 2020 hit. Like many, he felt the need to reassess. He wasn’t just after more work, he was after more clarity.

“I realised I needed to take back control. That’s when I joined forces with Protrade United a game-changing move that gave me the tools, support, and mindset to shift gears.”

By late 2021, he’d rebranded to The New Home Electrical Specialist and doubled down on one clear focus: new home builds.

“That decision to niche down was the turning point. We said goodbye to being everything to everyone and hello to clarity, purpose, and growth.”

It’s easy to forget just how tough the early years of a business can be. According to Lawpath, around 60% of small businesses in Australia close within three years. Most never get a chance to truly find their stride.

Alan’s story is a reminder that you don’t have to get it perfect from day one. You just have to keep learning, keep refining, and stay willing to change tack when it counts.

“9 years later, we’re stronger, more focused, and still just getting started.”

That clarity, and the backing of a structured support network, has made a big difference. In his words, “Protrade’s support has helped me build not only a successful business but also a solid team and strong systems that keep everything running smoothly.”

The recognition has followed. TNHES was nominated for the Most Improved Business 2024 award, and Alan himself was recently named Business Owner of the Month. A proud, humble moment for a bloke who once ran everything from a single ute.

There’s something special about seeing a business find its rhythm, not just chasing jobs, but building something sustainable, and that’s exactly what TNHES has done.

“Reflecting on how far we’ve come, it’s been a ride.”

“No signwriting, no crew, just a lot of passion, long hours, and a drive to build something special.”

Here at The Good Builder, we reckon stories like this deserve to be told. Alan’s been a supporter of the podcast, and we’re proud to have TNHES as part of our community.

It’s businesses like his that help raise the bar. Team, trust, and doing the work properly.

There’s no perfect blueprint for running a small business, but stories like this prove that with the right mindset and a few hard lessons along the way, you can build something real.

You might even get to upgrade the ute too.

Author: Jonathan Tibbits

Starting his career as a lawyer, Jonathan transitioned into project management, compliance, and certification for companies throughout the industry supply chain in Australia and New Zealand. With international experience in green building, sustainability and stakeholder communication, he is passionate about innovation and building transparency and trust.