The Story Behind BidFire’s Work Order Management System

Arne Raisanen is a seasoned sales trainer, author, and business coach based in Washington State (near the Seattle area). Through his company ARBCO LLC, he specializes in coaching technicians, sales consultants, and entrepreneurs in the home services industry—particularly HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies.

With over 20 years of hands-on experience in business management and operations within these trades, Arne developed a candid, no-nonsense approach to training. He is best known for his unique “4 fragile bubbles” business methodology, which helps owners protect and grow their companies.

Arne is also the co-founder of BidFire, an estimating and sales software tool designed specifically for in-home service professionals (such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors). BidFire incorporates the proven sales techniques and business principles he teaches in his coaching programs, empowering entrepreneurs with practical, on-the-spot tools—like instant multi-quote generation—to help maintain profitable, healthy companies and avoid common operational pitfalls.

He is the author of books including The Power of Sale Number One: Six Proven Steps to Increase Sales and Hijacked: How a Contractor Was Hijacked and Robbed Blind by His Own Business. Arne also narrates audiobooks and shares practical insights via platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn, focusing on sales systems, financial control, and entrepreneurial success.

A Certified Professional Coach (C.P.C.), he continues to empower service-based business owners with proven strategies to avoid common pitfalls and build sustainable growth.

Raised in the small town of Moorcroft, Wyoming, Hugh Anderson grew up understanding the value of hard work, reliability, and community. After spending eight years working as an electrician, he experienced firsthand the daily challenges contractors face—long hours, tight margins, and the constant pressure of running a job while trying to grow a business.

Those experiences shaped his mission. Having faced many of the same obstacles himself, Hugh is driven to help tradesmen and small-business contractors build stronger, more successful businesses. He believes the people who build and maintain our communities deserve better tools, support, and opportunities to succeed.

Today, Hugh is based in North Carolina, where he lives with his wife and children. He enjoys a simple, grounded lifestyle and values time with his family. When he’s not working, you’ll usually find him outdoors or on the pickleball court, making the most of the coastal life. Known for his down-to-earth approach, Hugh believes in treating people right, building genuine relationships, and staying true to what matters most.

Morgan joined BidFire with a dynamic background in business management and a results-driven mindset, shaped in part by his experience as a business owner. Having run his own company, he developed a hands-on understanding of the challenges entrepreneurs face—from managing day-to-day operations to driving sustainable growth, including long hours, tight margins, and the constant pressure of running a job while trying to grow a business. This firsthand experience allows him to connect with clients on a deeper level and provide practical, simple, and effective solutions.

Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Morgan developed a strong work ethic and a no-nonsense approach to getting things done. Ensuring every client receives exceptional service and measurable results.

As a Time Consultant, Morgan is passionate about helping businesses streamline their processes, maximize efficiency, and elevate their client experience. Having faced many of the same challenges himself, he’s driven to help his clients avoid the common pitfalls that can hold businesses back. He brings a proactive approach to every partnership, focusing on practical solutions and consistent follow-through to drive real, measurable results. His priority is helping clients save time, improve efficiency, and uncover new opportunities for growth.
Outside of work, Morgan enjoys making the most of his time outdoors. Whether he’s at the beach, hiking scenic trails, fishing, or spending quality time with family and friends, he values balance and brings the same energy and enthusiasm to his personal life as he does to his professional endeavors.

Bryce is a Time Consultant at BidFire who brings an entrepreneurial edge and real-world business experience to every client interaction. Born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, Bryce developed a strong work ethic early on, which led him to start and successfully grow his own painting business from the ground up. Through hands-on experience managing operations, building client relationships, and navigating the challenges of running a small business, he gained a deep understanding of what it takes to drive efficiency and deliver results. After selling his company, Bryce transitioned to BidFire to pursue his passion for helping other businesses succeed, using his firsthand knowledge to identify opportunities for growth and time optimization.

At BidFire, Bryce is known for his consultative approach, high energy, and commitment to helping clients streamline their processes and maximize productivity. He takes pride in not just offering solutions, but in truly understanding each business’s unique challenges and goals. Outside of work, Bryce enjoys staying active and competitive—whether he’s snowmobiling through the Washington winters or hitting the pickleball court. He values time with friends and family and brings that same sense of connection and authenticity into the relationships he builds professionally.

Mike Hendrickson is part of the business development team with BidFire. Mike is a business consultant who specializes in working with small construction companies who provide B to C residential sales and services. He spent 14 years in a construction business in SW Washington and has spent the past 3 years running his own consulting and operational accounting firm. Mike is passionate about simplifying complex systems and turning them into simple to understand solutions. When he’s not working, he’s traveling, exploring new tech or spending time with his family.

In the heart of the Pacific Northwest, amidst the towering evergreen trees and the snow-capped summits of the Cascade Mountains, was a business coach who helped small construction companies named Arne. Day in and day out, Arne traversed the nation, helping his clients, teaching them how to take back control of their businesses, and helping them achieve the goal they had initially set out when starting their company.

However, Arne faced a recurring challenge that plagued the companies he was working with – the process of estimating costs for projects was laborious, time-consuming, and often prone to errors. Each estimate required meticulous calculations, referencing multiple spreadsheets, and sometimes even relying on gut instincts. It was a cumbersome process that slowed down their ability to provide estimates to their clients promptly and accurately.

One rainy afternoon, as Arne sat in his home office, and was preparing for his next appointment, inspiration struck him like a bolt of lightning. What if there was a software specifically tailored for small construction companies like the ones he was helping? A tool that could streamline the estimating process, automate calculations, and provide three accurate quotes in a fraction of the time it took many other software took to produce one. He had used and seen many estimating software’s before, however they were often clunky, had many unnecessary features that made the experience cumbersome, but worst of all, the salesperson had no idea if the estimate they created was profitable until they job costed the project once the job was finished!

Excited by the prospect, Arne started to piece together the flow of how the software would work, one step at a time. Once Arne had gotten the first draft of the software, he shared it with a couple local business owners. Initially met with skepticism, Arne’s passion and conviction gradually won them over. They recognized the potential of such a tool not only to improve their efficiency but also to differentiate them from competitors and attract more clients.

With unwavering determination, Arne embarked on a journey to bring his idea to life. He spent countless hours researching existing software solutions, interviewing fellow industry professionals to understand their pain points, and sketching out the blueprint for his own estimating software.

Arne quickly realized that he would need additional help with his software to ensure it would be exactly as he had pictured it when the idea struck him in his office. He set out to find someone who could not only help with the technical side, but more importantly see the unlimited potential of the software.

Enter Mike.

Mike had worked with Arne through a local HVAC company. Arne had noticed when working with Mike, there was something in his eyes whenever the conversation of business development was brought up. When Arne mentioned the idea to Mike about joining the journey to help with the building of the business side of the software, he was in.

With the two of them all working together, they grew more resolute in their mission. Finally, after tireless effort and collaboration, they unveiled their creation – “BidFire,” a user-friendly estimating software designed specifically for small construction companies.

BidFire revolutionized the way companies approached project estimation. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, they could generate three accurate quotes with just 6 easy steps, saving hours of tedious manual work. Clients were impressed by their efficiency and transparency, leading to an influx of new clients and glowing referrals.

With additional employees added to the team, word of BidFire spread within the industry, attracting the attention of other small construction companies facing similar challenges. Soon, what started as a humble idea born out of frustration had blossomed into a thriving business software, empowering countless contractors to streamline their operations and thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

What had once seemed like an impossible dream is now a reality, thanks to their unwavering determination, innovation, and the belief that even the smallest ideas could make a monumental difference.