🎙️ Unscripted SEO Podcast
Grinding Out Success: How Tyler Mumford Left Corporate Sales to Build a Thriving Stump Grinding Business
From corporate software sales to running a successful stump grinding business in Utah — what entrepreneurship looks like when you bet on yourself and go all in on a physical trade.
In this episode of the Unscripted Small Business Podcast, host Jeremy Rivera sits down with Tyler Mumford, founder of Grind Time Stump Grinding. Tyler shares his fascinating transition from corporate software sales to running a successful stump grinding business in Utah, offering valuable insights for anyone considering a similar leap into entrepreneurship.
“UX & SEO Merge — Jesse McDonald on Search Experience Optimization” — Senior SEO Director at Siege Media on the increasingly blurred lines between UX and SEO, and practical approaches to optimization that serve both humans and algorithms.
— Jesse McDonald, Siege Media | Listen: Jesse McDonald on Search Experience Optimization →
Key Takeaways
- The trades are underserved by marketing — which creates opportunity. Most stump grinding companies in Tyler’s market have no website, no Google Business Profile, and no online presence. Being the first one to show up online in a local trade niche is a significant first-mover advantage.
- Corporate sales skills transfer directly to small business ownership. Understanding pipeline management, follow-up discipline, objection handling, and customer relationship management are all skills that directly apply — and Tyler arrived with all of them.
- The physical work is the easy part. What most people underestimate about trades entrepreneurship: the equipment and the technique can be learned. The hard parts are sales, operations, pricing, and lead generation — the same challenges every service business faces.
- Google Business Profile is the most important marketing asset for a local trades business. A fully optimized GBP with genuine photos of completed jobs, consistent reviews, and accurate service information generates more leads per dollar than any other channel for a business at Tyler’s stage.
The Corporate-to-Trades Transition
Tyler’s story: after years in software sales, he looked at what the market actually needed in his area and saw an opportunity in stump grinding — a niche trade with low competition, high demand, and no dominant local player. The capital investment in equipment was significant, but the path to profitability was clear.
What he brought from corporate: a sales process. He treats every estimate like a sales call, follows up consistently, and tracks his conversion rate. Most of his competitors are excellent at the physical work and poor at the business development. He’s competitive on both.
Connect with Tyler Mumford
- Business: Grind Time Stump Grinding — Utah
The Unscripted SEO Podcast features candid, unscripted conversations with marketers and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Jeremy Rivera.
