280K
Subscribers
1.8M
Monthly Views
$5K-$11K
Est. Monthly Revenue
$3.00-$6.00
Est. RPM
240 videos uploaded | 58M total views
The Story
Roger Wakefield was a master plumber in Dallas who was frustrated by his industry's reputation. Plumbers were seen as expensive, dishonest, and prone to creating problems to charge more. In 2019, he started The Honest Plumber to change that perception - showing fair pricing, honest diagnostics, and calling out industry scams. His content educated homeowners on what plumbers actually do, what fair pricing looks like, and how to spot ripoffs. He showed his actual invoices, explained his markup, and taught people what questions to ask. This radical transparency built massive trust. The channel transformed his business completely. He went from advertising on Home Advisor and Angi to having more leads than he could handle from YouTube alone. He's expanded to multiple crews and now trains other plumbers on his transparent business model.
“I show people exactly what I charge and why. That honesty is my best marketing. Customers trust me before I ever walk in the door.”
— The Honest Plumber
The Transformation
Before
Solo plumber paying $3K/month for leads from Home Advisor
After
Multi-crew plumbing operation with 280K subscribers and zero ad spend
Timeline: 5 years
Content Strategy
Consumer advocacy plumbing content exposing overcharging, showing fair pricing, and educating homeowners on plumbing basics. Transparency about business practices builds trust that converts to leads.
Key Insights
Exposing industry problems positions you as the honest alternative
Showing actual pricing and invoices builds unprecedented trust
Local service content generates highly qualified local leads
Business Impact
Eliminated paid advertising - 100% of leads from YouTube and referrals
Expanded from solo to 4 crews handling residential and commercial
Average job value increased 40% - customers trust premium recommendations
Last updated: November 27, 2025